The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MAY 8, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1748, 8 May 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MAY 8, 1882.

Within a fortnight of the present time, i he General Assembly will meet for the despatch of business, ami under circumstances which are not apparently very favorable for political peace and quiet. Great changes has taken place since last hon. members enjoyed the privilege of snarking at each other. First we find that some, in fact many most able men, and old members, have been rejected in favor of gentlemen who have no political past, and who most probably in majority of instances have not much chance of a v ry important political future. This state of affairs may help the Ministry very considerably, or it may lead to its downfall. It is very certain that the Government are not in a very enviable position , at the present juncture. With the formei leader of the House out of office, and the Premier in the other branch of the Legislature, matters present a most peculiar aspect. We heat a great flourish of trumpets about the improved financial state of the colony, and are informed from all quarters that the Hon. Major Atkinson will succeed in producing a Budget which will show a most tremendous surplus, something indeed quite unprecedented in the annals of New Zealand. It limy be that he can do all this, but iiow has it been brought about that the Colonial Treasurer has such an opportunity of appearing in the character of the saviour of his country? In the first place, the revenue from almost all sources, has very largely increased during the present financial year, more especially in this the case with regard to Customs duties, the returns of which show that in all the most important centres of population throughout the colony, trade is more flourishing than it had been for a long time previous. Again, New Zealand has had to submit to a large increase of direct and indirect taxation, and that in almost every direction. The last Parliament was suddenly seized with a fit of economy, and while wholesale reductions were made right and left, the most ridiculonsly absurd cheeseparing system was adopted towards Gov<>rnmeiit officers wlr »e so-called salaries were bare! v sufficient to to k*vp body and soul together. Fancy (In* a'solute injustiev of making the ten per cent, reduction apply equally to the salaries of ebukwith fifty pounds a year, ami those of their superior officers with their thou sands? Even the small office bovs bad the ten per cent, carefully taken from their paltry few shillings a week. In one instance, the services of a boatman were required by the Marine Pep i t

menfc for a single day, the work was done, and after the customary d dav, the sum of eight shillings was paid, hut after the lapse of a week, the boatman received an official letter in which was an immediate demand for the restitution of the ineviable ten per cent. The The man sent hack a shilling, and a note, in which he stated that they need not trouble themselves to s *nd b mk the change. Under such a state of things, it >.s nothing stiange or wonderful that the Colonial Treasurer should show a large surplus. It would bo singular indeed if he did nob. But the saving has been effected in many instances in a manner which at one time threatened the complete demoralisation of the departments. The injustice and injuries inflicted upon the Police Department, csn never be remedied. The beat officers in the force, were ruthlessly driven out of it in a manner calculated to produce an impression on the minds of persons not acquainted with the real facts of the case, that very grave offences had been committed by the victims. All these are things which will not be lost sight of, but in ordinary justice, it must be admitted that only a certain portion of blame attaches to the Government, which carried out the instructions of the House. This will lie remembered when Parliament assembles, and will doubtless influence many members in giving a general suppoi’t to the Government now in office.