LOCAL RETRENCHMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2173, 10 March 1891, Page 2

LOCAL RETRENCHMENT.

It is rumored that no policeman will be appointed to replace Constable Egan in Temuka; that Constable Morton will be relieved of the duties ot clerk to the Eesident Magistrate’s Court, and that he will have to attend to all police duties. The Resident Magistrate’s Court will be worked from Q-eraldine, Mr Sherratt coming down one day per week, and attending to whatever business there may be to transact. This is the rumor at present afloat, and in support of it we notice that no policemen has as yet succeeded Constable Egan, and that the chiet officer of the department is about to visit Temuka. It is therefore likely that an effort will i be made to carry out the proposed changes, and if so it will result in great inconvenience, while the saving will not be great. Mr Sherratt cannot do the business at Temuka and come down one or two days a week' without additional salary, and thus the saving will only be small, while the people of Temuka will be greatly inconvenienced by the fact that they cannot transact court business except on stated occasions, as

regards the police the district is very large, and we doubt whether one man can do the work efficiently. We are afraid that the result would be serious in the course of time In our opinion it is desirable that the Town Board should make inquiries at once, and if they find these rumors are founded on fact take immediate steps to prevent it. If the business of the court is to he transacted by the police two constables is not too much for the district, and we certainly think no arrangements can be made which will otherwise be satisfactory.