THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 124, 14 July 1871, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1871.

The Provincial Council has closed its labors, and though the financial disclosures of the Treasurer were sufficiently startling to have shaken the strongest nerves, struck terror and alarm Tnto the boldest hearts, and inspired even the most reckless with at least a show of prudence and caution, no spirit of true economy or systematic retrenchment appears to have been evoked in the hearts of our rulers. With the exception, indeed, of a little parsim >nious and contemptible cheese-paring policy, by which a miserable reduction has taken place, or has been appointed to take place, in the salaries of all employes of the Provincial civil service, nothing has been effected which will, m any ostensible degree, tell upon the great deficit under which the Province labors. Nor can we look upon the contemplated reduction in the salaries of the civil servants (police included) in any other light than likely to bring such service into disrepute and dis" grace, by driving from its ranks men of worth, reputation, and ability, and introducing in lieu thereof persons unable or unfit to obtain employment elsewhere. Surely fifty able-bodied and well-conducted officers, at the pre sent rate of salary, would do the Htate more real service, and conduce more to its reputation for respeetaoility, than a much larger number of men of the class which the proposed reductions, will have the effect of introducing into the service. But that of which we particularly wish to speak, and to which we desire to draw particular attention to-day, is the fact that sums of money placed upon the Estimates and passed, are not necessarily ex 'ended, and will not drop into our mouths like ripe cherries. They must be asked for again and again, until the Government find the pressure such as to compel them to open the jaws of the Treasury chest, and with reluctant and unwilling hand, draw forth the voted sum to be applied to their legitimate purpose. Nor can this be wondered at when we bear in mind the fact that, *vith no more respectable or reputable motive than that of catching votes in the Council and retaining place, power, and pay, the Government, year after year, allow themselves to become a party to the very questionable, if not absolutely disreputable, practice of passing votes for works which they must be fully aware the revenue of the Province is perfectly insufficient to supply. Hence arises the scramble for obtaining the expenditure of votes for which Otago has been for years past unenviably notorious. The rule has been "first come, first served,'' and thus works of comparatively little moment have been commenced ani completed, while others, alike of greater magnitude and importance, and for the construction of which votes had been also passed by the Council, have remained neglected and untouched. This has arisen from the fact to which we have above allu led, that those who come first, and first make and continue to press their application for the expenditure of their vote, get attended to, while those who hold back for too long a time receive, as a rule, upon at length making their demand, "Too " late "—" Money all spent "—" Be " placed again on the Estimates next " session ;" and thus many works of importance are, by our own neglect, allowed to be passed over, session after session, with no practical result. Our object on this occasion is to point out to our readers that, although sums have been passed for t e removal of the school, the »onstruclion of an hospital—and a resolution to the effect that, should the General '-ovvrimient agree to apportion the Loan for Water ; Supply on Goldfiehls for other pur- ; poses, there will be some hope of the

construction of a Sludge Channel at ' Naseby—these votes and resolution will remain as mere waste paper unless we set to work to get the money at once, before we come to the " Too "late," •' Money all spent," &<•., <fcc, part of the year. A good deal has been done by our members during the late session, and they will, we doubt not, continue still to work, and work honestly, for their constituency. There has, however, recently obtained a practice of private communication between individual members of the community and our members, on public matters, which may result in the acceptance by them of the op nions of one or more members of the community as a reflex of the opinions of fie whole constituency. This we think a practice very much to be deprecated as likely to lead to grave errors *,nd, not impossible, criminations and recriminations. Upon whatever subject our members receive opinions, those opinions should be those of the constituency collectively, and not of private or individual members thereof. We invite the constituency to take this matter into their serious consideration, and join us in again attempting to secure the election of a Committee which shall represent all classes and all shades of opinion. Then, and then only, will the evils of which we complain cease; and then, and not till then, shall we be secure in having our votes expended, and expended in a proper and legitimate manner.