CIVIL SERVICE REDUCTIONS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2363, 13 October 1880, Page 3

CIVIL SERVICE REDUCTIONS.

[By Telegkaph.] Wellington, Oct. 12. It was rumored to day that one of the Government measures in the direction of retrenchment would be the dismissal of all Commissioners of Crown Lands in the colony, and the abolition of their offices, I find that this is a mere canard, as the office of Crown Lands’ Commissioner is required by law, and could not be dispensed with unless by the authority of free legislation. This is not in contemplation, but in cases where Commissioners’ duties are very light, an effort will be made to economise by transferring to them the charge of other public departments in conjunction with their functions, by the amalgamation of several offices, and placing them under the care of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Natives went through the usual farce to day. The illness of Mr Hansford, District Judge and Resident Magistrate at Wellington, has at length compelled him to apply for twelve months’ leave of absence, which has been readily granted. It is not at all probable that he will resume his duties at the end of that period, but almost certain that he will then be pensioned. I fancy this Will prove another step towards the fulfilment of my predictment regarding ing magisterial and judical changes. Mr Mackay’s compulsory retirement from Greymouth making another vacancy, two magistrates can thus be disposed of b3 r being transferred respectively to Wellington and Ashburton, Mr Stratford,as I mentioned previously, being transferred from the latter place to Greymouth, as successor to Mr Mackay. These two opportune vacancies may possibly obviate the necessity for dispensing with so many magistrates as was first reported likely.—“ Press ” correspondent.