Our Wellington Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3783, 11 February 1881, Page 2

Our Wellington Letter.

(PBOM OTTE OWN CORSESPONDENT.)

Wellington, February 2nd, 1881 A MOVE TO EEGAIN POPULAMTY.

I understand Ministers have in contemplation the re-payment of all ten per cent, reductions to all civil servants whose salaries are under three hundred pounds since the date upon which the decrease was calculated. This, if true, will be welcome intelligence to the poorly paid civil servants whose salaries should never have been touched. Every day now brings the Premier and his colleagues nearer the end of their political rule, and no doubt it is intended to hold out hopes of doing their part towards keeping sweet with many of their clerks and their following in anticipation of the general elections looming in the early future. Whatever comes of these rumors, which are general all over Government buildings, I have no doubt that Parliament would support the refunding of the retrenchment sums taken consequent on executions which were carried out without the slightest consideration by the present Government; and that in future, if such reductions are to be entered upon, it must take the shape of amalgamation rather than cutting down of salary amongst the lower grades connected with the several departments. That the Government mean to do something to get the Press Association to popularly telegraph them, is now getting pretty clear, so that it is not unreasonable to suppose that there is more than rumor in the statement that the ten per cent, reductions will be re-paid to a number of those civil servants who could ill-afford to have it taken off when the unexpected ukase went forth.

THE EEABOJfS OF ME BBYCE's BESIGNATION. Murder will out, and gradually the better informed politicians are beginning

to learn than the late Native Minister resigned his portfolio on grounds connected with Patatere land business. Parihaka and Te Whiti were, of course, made the stalking horses for the Ministerial journals to wire the cause of his leaving the Cabinet; but the real truth is, Ministers wanted the interests of their land friends protected berore Sir Arthur Gordon went on his friendly visit to Kawau, and, as Mr Bryce would not give way to the pressure he considered was being brought to bear on him to perform the happy despatch for Patetere land sharks, a rumpus followed, and the Hon. Mr Bryce went out. Whether Mr Bryce will again go in is another question, out the way in which he has been treated by your morning contemporary here, and by the Otago Daily Times/-of which the Hon. Mr Oliver is one of the principal shareholders, has so politically upset him that lie is sure to be one of the first when the House meets to.wire in and largely contribute to capsize the driver and occupants of the Ministerial coach. The coming sitting of the House of .Representatives promise to be one of the hottest sessions ever known, and it is the absolute opinion of all reasonable thinkers that it will take a power stronger than the Bank ; yea, a power mightier than man's to save Johnny Hall and his colleagues from getting the kick out.

BIINISTEKS GET A WIGGING PEOM THE COLONIAL OFFICE. The Governor has been advised that the Ministry have exceeded their functions in getting a law passed compelling Imperial pensioners to produce a penny stamp before getting their pittances. The Act only received Boyal assent on condition of it being amended during the early stages of the next Assembly. The revenue derivable from this source amounts to about five hundred pounds per annum, but this gain which Ministers will obtain when they go to the country from this handsome Act will be something like a block note of fifteen hundred' against them and their followers. This with the "united and willing support" of the whole body of civil servants and their friends must be a matter of the deepest satisfaction to the Honourable J. Hall and the other Ministers, when they go as the immortal Pickwick did on election tours, wooing the free and independent electors and kissing the babies. The two latter modes of winning popularity will, no doubt, be adopted by His Excellency's advisers at the proper time, but the refrain will be :—

Oh Slippery Johnny Hall, we have had.enough of your colleagues and you, ; And can never again believe you, if you talk till all is blue.

THE REDUCTIONS IN THE NATITE IXPENDITITBE. Government organs are loudly proclaiming about the large decrease in this year's expenditure in the Native Office. What rot. The whole cost of the Native Lands; Court, judges, staff and sundries being taken from the Native Estimates for the current financial year, and transferred them to the Justice Department is the sole reason for the large difference in total for this branch of the State service for the present as compared with the previous years. The next thing I suppose one will hear, will be the immense decrease in the public expenditure, owing to the number and nature of the hundred and one Commissions which the Governor's advisers have thought fit to issue.

ANOTHER PEEIOD OF DEPBESBION. The banks are likely to further reduce the interest On deposits, and in all probability, raise the discount tariff. At present, there is so much capital lying idle in all our local monetary institutions, that it is a matter of difficulty to usefully employ it, and the end of it will be that large sums for outside investment, will have to be sent out from the colony. This must be very consoling news for the Taranaki Major, who holds the position of Financial Minister. 111-natured people will say, "Oh, no matter;" but I am sure the honourable and gallant Colonial Treasurer will put two and two together and have to acknowledge that the sending of monies for investment outside New' Zealand has been brought about by the obnoxious assessment measures of his government. The date of collection is close at hand, and a host of hard swearers will soon be heard from one end of the colony to the other, cursing our rulers for adopting such means to make our already over-hardened people still further contribute to the consolidation fund.

GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. There is a rumpus going on over some petty matters connected with the Government Life Insurance Department. The Commissioner, Mr Luckie, is actively interviewing Major Atkinson, whilst Mr Knight is making minutes and hunting up all old records connected with the impending investigation. The sooner Mr Luckie gets rid of Mr Knight, the better it will be for the several officials, and I do not think any but dry eyes would follow the announcement that he had. retired on a pension, got an allowance, or was drafted to another office.

A KETBENCHMENT MOTE. Your readers will remember the flourish of trumpets which took place over the fact of Mr Hammerton taking, the office .of, Public Trustee, and retaining the positiojt of Deputy Commissioner of Stamps >wßp out pay. The Government said a gr3|t saying would follow. However, the picture is now changed—a youthful gentleman having got the appointment at the same salary which the late deputy got. This is the sort of retrenchment which the present Ministry like to follow, but how can the public feel when such an important office as that of Deputy Commissioner of Stamps is given to a friend of some Minister whose previous connection with Government in no way entitles him to jump over hundreds of his seniors. Truly the picture is a most glowing and "pleasing" one.