FURTHER RETRENCHMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 283, 21 July 1888, Page 6

FURTHER RETRENCHMENT.

WELLINGTON, July 18. Tiik outcome of a lengthy interview between the Premier and Mr Withy ye&ter. da was that the latter promised to withdraw his resolution, calling on the Govcrnmenl to make further retrenchment to the extent of ClOO,OOO, on condition that the Premier declared in the House that the Government would mate all the retrenchment possible. Whon the motion to go into Committee of Supply was called, Mr Fish said the amendment put him and others in a diiliculty, because, though they believed that further retrenchment could' be ellcctcd, they were opposed to reductions in the wages ot working- men. If the Premier proposed to reduce the payment to railway employees he (.Mr Fish) could no Longer support his policy. Still, ho did not think the Co\ eminent had an;, such intention, lie would oppo&e the amendment, which he hoped would be withdrawn. The Premier asked Mr Withy to withdraw his amendment. He said the Govemraeni had bhown their desire to make every pioper and reasonable reduction, and were already pledged to make cveiy possible reduction in public e\pcndituie. That was their lull determination, but to give effect to the amendment would mean very sweeping reductions in workmen's wages and the education vote. They would noL feel justified in 1 educing the latter without explicit directions from the House, and besides they looked upon the question as something iar above finance, and whatever education was necessary tor our children the country w ould, he was muc, prov ide for it. The w ages question in\ olved a large social question, for he had never known a countiy to prosper on lon wage 1 ;. It was their duty to .secure the best men, and theiefoie pay lather moie tlian less than the niaikct value. It might become necessary, if diiven to it, to ievice the whole rates of wages, and they should then ti\ the rate at a little above the average market rate ior a series of years. If the House passed a resolution culling for retrenchment in the Railway Department, the Gov eminent would be prcpaied to consider if,. He therefore asked Mr Withy to leave the matter in the hands of the Government, and in the meantime allow the House to go on with the estimates, accepting the distinct pledge which he had ju.st given. Dr. Hodgkinson hoped Mr Withy would not withdraw his amendment, (Voices : '• It's all arranged/) Retrenchment must, he argued, go to the utmost extent in every direction. Several members rose, including Mr Withy, but Mr Taylor was the first to catch the Speaker's* eye. The Speaker asked whether Mr Withy had risen for the purpose of asking leave to withdraw his amendment. Mr Witby lcplicd that such was his intention. Mr Taj lor objected to its withdrawal at all, and said the question must go to the vote. Mr Withy said the Premier had made such an explicit abatement that he was willing to accept his suggestion, and asked lea\e to withdraw his amendment. (Cries of "No.'') He contradicted a statement which Mr Taylor had made, to the effect that he had expressed his intention of effecting a general reduction of wages throughout the colon} . Some odium would no doubt be cast upon him for withdrawing, but he was prepared to accept this. His only object was the good of the colony, and he was quite prepared to accept the Premier's assurance in sincciity. The question was put to the House that leave be given to Xv Withy to withdraw his motion. A chorus ot assent and dissent followed. TheSpcaker : Ls there any opposition v MrLevestam: 1 oppose it. Leave to wibhdiavv was therefore opposed. Mr Kerr digued for a reasonable 1 eduction of workmen's wages, and ridiculed the claptrap cries made ostensibly in the inter Csts of the working men. Mr Levestam opposed the amendment. Mr Bruce &aid the amendment, it carried, would be purposeless, but it would noveltheless be a reflection upon the Government, and place them in a humiliating position. Mr Waid opposed the amendment, and said that, the inclusion of the woids "if possible " showed that Mr Withy was simply pandering tothea^itationfoi extreme retrenchment which had lately been going on in the Northern parts of the colony. It real retrenchment were desired, the San Francisco mail service should be abolished, by which from £15,000 to £20,000 a year could be saved. Dr. Newman said that if Mr Withy had not been politically a new chum, he would not have moved the amendment. Retrenchment could be carried out to the full extent of Cl oo,ooo by dispensing with luxuries without touching salaries (o any further extent, Mr Peacock defended the San Francisco mail oervico, and reminded Mr Ward that oflicial returns had shown that C 24,000 a year could be saved by doing away with the direct service, and retaining the San Francisco one. He hoped that Mr Withy would yet be allowed to withdraw his amendment. _Mr Smith strongly opposed any reduction in wages. Mr T. Thompson favourably viewed the attitude of tho Government. _Mr Hutchison taunted the Government with having retreated from the position they had taken up. The Colonial Secretary contradicted this statement. The amendment was merely submitted to tho Premier with a view of^ asking him how far it could go without being accepted as a no-confidence motion. Mr Withy was anxious to avoid embarrassing the Government, but it was surely reasonable that the Premier should give an opportunity for discussion of such an important question. Mr 11. Thompson said fche whole of the Retrenchment Committee, of which he was a member, were as much responsible for tho amendment as Mr Withy, and reduction of wages must take place, and he was prepared to take his share of the responsibility for it. On the motion of Mr Feldwick, the debate was adjourned till noxt day, in order that other business might be go* lo on with.