Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 356, 29 March 1856, Page 7

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the " Lijttelton Times."

Sm.—l see by the reports of the doings of our Provincial Legislature, that there "is a desire on the part of some of the members to appear to have a great love all of a sudden for economy and retrenchment. When the Estimates come to be voted honorable members are seized with financial qualms, and endeavour to thro.v some unfortunate Government Jonah overboard to allay the storm of public opinion * It is very amusing to a looker-on, who is supposed, to see the most of the game, to observe how the ball is passed round. One honorable member thinks that the office of Provinc;al Duck Master is a sinecure, and that the duties can be performed by the Master of the Hounds. A second honorable member opines that the Duck Master is overworked but that the office of Swan Keeper is a sinecure, and will lead to great confusion in the state at some future day ; a third honorable member agrees with neither, but thinks that the work done by the Provincial Oyster Eater at a salary "could better be done by the job. Thereupon a grave debate ensues upon the respective merits o<* oyster.eating by the job or by the year. Truly, Mr. Editor. tln:se our Legislators; do things on such a large scale that they cannot afford to look at home. Like the people who subscribe to sent! flannel waistco*;Us and moral pocket handkerchiefs to the Neirroes, their exertions tend to a distant object.' " Charity," %say thej , \' begins at home." We can discuss the pretensions of the Duck Master, Swan Keeper, and Oysrer .tater ; but we, the P.C., must absolutely have out of the year's income £500, or close on it • we absolutely cannot legislate without our Clerk, Chaplain, Messenger, Speaker ; our members' expenses are "only £'150;' our

contingencies are £iO. These are absolute necessaries; touch them, and the Constitution Act goes by the board. We s:iv not hi about the furniture, carpets. see* for our Council Chamber: but touch our vested salaries, and good bye to freedom." Verily, Mr. Kditor, in the "hiniruaire of an M.P.C., we have grown " too biir for our turn's." Can we not beg-in do novo, remodel our civil list, and not io:get our Legislators, who, in their pure disinterestedness, have shown such f'onjretfulness of self? \Ve simple people out. o!' Uoors, who do things „--v' a small scale, think that if we wish to cut down a tsee, it is best to chop at the base instead of prusjiujr the brandies. I remain, iSir, yours truly.