RETRENCHMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 71, 22 February 1884, Page 2

RETRENCHMENT.

. .■ » The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says : — " As yet nothing is known, ot the talked-of reforms m the Civil Service,; l\ r othing has leaked out as regards the intentions of the : .Cabinet. , Still retrenchment is going on. A good many junior clerks have, been dismissed, and the printing office* has been greatly reduced. The Property Tax Department employs 70 cleiks, but as there aye about 26,000 accounts) \n the ledgers . qss % yast .

ftmount of Gflrßspmutenfce to ht gttt thvotigli, there will p-rbbttbly ba Bit little reduction tn this depaHmctit. The tax is cheaper to collet -than most. One thing, J& certain r the "clerks have lo woik vei^long hours for scant pay. The Insurance Department gives work to upwards of 50 clerks, and here retrenchment may take place. The clerks are overworked, really are worked night after night without extra- pay ; are unfairly overworked. The fault lies m the management, which is not good. In view of the low state of the Colony's t fuods, ,the,.Pul)lic. . Works Department shows considerable shrinkage; as there is less woik to be done fewer hands . .^re needed. The Native .Department is small, and, owing to the new feos imposed on Native transactions, is no great burden ou the State. Maoris now-jdb not. geb presents of sugar and marlile waslistands. The constabulary will be greatly curtailed, and should be entirely swept away." !