THE ESTIMATES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 162, 13 July 1867, Page 2

THE ESTIMATES.

To the Editou of tub Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — As our new Superintendent's unnecessary aud uncalled for additions to the salaries of the already well-paid aud underworked officers in our Provincial Government have recently been under cosideration, I would direct the attention of the public to an article in an Auckland pfaper (New Zealand Herald, 20th June) relative to the reduction not only of the staff of officials, but also of their salaries, from which the following extract is made : — "In addition to the reductions above mentioned, the salaries of all officers who receive £250 a year are to be reduced 20 per cent. . . It is the feeliug of partisanship which makes it so difficult to make reductions in a Government establishment, but we trust that the public service and the public benefit will alone be kept in view by members, and not the interests of particular individuals, however deserving they may be." Canterbury too is reducing her expenditure, and cutting down the salaries with an uusparing hand. Every necessary of life is remarkably low; producers in the country are suffering from two bad. seasons, and the little they have to sell they cannot get a payable price for; and the town tradesmen consequently suffer. And yet in thi face of all this the delegates of the public have most inconsistently supported' ' the Superintendent in adding to their burdens. The country memhers especially will assuredly be called npon by those who sent them to the Council to explain their reasons for voting away the public money for salaries instead of for roads, bridges, &c, &c. Yours, etc., Economy. July 11, 1867.