The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3939, 13 August 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1881.

It is very significant, Mr Bryce, a friend of the Ministry, moving that the estimates for departmental salaries should be reduced by £30,000, and that the Government, during the recess, should, by the amalgamation of offices and the equalisation of salaries, retrench to the extent mentioned. It is probably done at the instigation of the Government, in order to take the wind out of the sails of 3ome member of the Opposition, and perhaps save them from a defeat upon the estimates. It will be remembered that last session the Treasurer said he hoped by amalgamation of offices and retrenchment, to reduce tho cost of the civil service by a small sum, but the House said £50,000 should be so saved, aud the result proved tho correctness of the statement, although the Treasurer took all the credit for the saving. Now, a disposition has been already shown by the House to cut down salaries, and Ministers, probably seeing that such will take place, prefer getting a friend to move in the manner Mr Bryce has, and so save their dignity. If such a motion is accepted the Government may get their estimates passed as they stand, and while they will have an excuse to those they may wish to deal hardly with, that the House ordered it, a large amount of patronage .will be left in their hands to treat liberally their friends.