SHAM RETRENCHMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1820, 24 November 1888, Page 2

SHAM RETRENCHMENT.

It would be interesting to know whether all the boasted retrenchment is to be carried out on the lines of the Native Lands Court portion of it. If so it will prove both delusive and shadowy. East year, judges of the Native Lands Court were either pensioned off or superannuated ; this year, other judges are being appointed in their stead. This is a nice way of effecting retrenchment. Last year, men were superannuated, and retired on, a pension, and received compensation for loss of office. I hese men were active and strong, and thoroughly capable of performing their duties, but they were got rid of and now they are paid for doing nothing, while those who fill their places are paid for doing the work the superannuated men ought to be doing. Thus under the retrenchment scheme two salaries are being paid now for the work which bad hitherto been done for one salary. As an instance of this we may quote the case of the Hon. Dr Pollen. This gentleman was employed some 15 or 20 years ago in Auckland as a Government agent. The office was abolished and Dr Pollen retired on a pension of £SOO a year, and he has been receiving this £SOO ever since, together with £2lO as his honorarium as a member of the Legislative Council. Now is this good management? Would it not have been better if some other position bad been found for Dr Pollen, when his office in Auckland was abolished, than to pay him £SOO a year for doing nothing ? If another position had been found for him he would have had to work for his living ever since, and he would not have been such a nuisance as he is in the Upper House. The present retrenchment is on a par with Dr Pollen’s case. Judges of the Native Lands Court have been superannuated, and will receive money for doing nothing, and those who have to do the work which they ought to be doing will have to be paid also. This is shock ingly disgraceful, and it is no wonder that the Auckland Herald is demand ing an inquiry into it. Our friends who went mad about retrenchment, and were ready to bow down in abject worship of the present Government because of their retrenchment, might very well reflect on this question. Our representatives in Parliament, t6o, ought to enquire into it, and insist upon the truth being made known. Mr W. C, Walker, of Ashburton, tried to elicit last year information concerning retrenchment, but failed, and he, with some others, came to the conclusion that it was a sham, a delusion, and a snare. We have no doubt but it was, and we trust that during next session the trickery of the present Government will be fully exposed.