The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 792, 23 March 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1871.

One of the first duties of the Assembly should be to institute a rigid scrutiny into the numerous appointments made by the present GrovernuiQnt. Auy investigation must necessarily meet with the most determined opposition, from the fact that many members, bavin" benefited by the lavish expenditure of the Government, aro directly interested in the continuance of the present state of affairs. It is the presence of this objectionable and, we had almost said, predominant featuro in the Colonial Parliament thatwould either embarrass the efforts of a conscientious Ministry, or iurr-ish to one less scrupulous, the ready means of securing a continuance in offico. A thorough investigation will show how largely the Government have availed themselves of this method of gaining political adherents. In evtry direction unnecessary

oilices have been created ; and in the few instances that an increased departmental expenditure became necessary men least calculated to fill the offices satisfactorily have been elected to the appointments. Commissions of inquiry have been instituted upon every conceivable subject, some of these may have been justified by the importance of the matter under consideration, hut the majority appear to have served only as a means of rewarding the needy adherents of Government. Under the pretext of collecting useful and necessary information lionorahle members, who have voted with the Government or whoit is understood will do so, are comfortably provided for at the public expense during the interval between the sessions. We shall bo curious to see what has been tho expenditure of the Government during the current financial year in rewarding party adherents.aud we trust that the most searching enquiry will be instituted at the earliest moment. It is useless to point to the economical management of tho various branches of the public service, when, at the same moment, the most lavish expenditure is incurred for special and unnecessary purposes. Few will deny that tho Customs, Postal and Telegraph Departments are economically managed; in fact there is too great a parsimony in these departments. Tho extensive seaboard of .New Zealand and the large number of ports at which duties are collected entail a very largo staff of customs officials in proportion to the total Customs revenue. Taking these facts into consideration, we believe that, in point of efficiency and economy, the Customs Department , will bear very favorable comparison with the corresponding services of the neighboring colonies. The Postal and Telegraph Departments will not, we are sure, admit of any reduction without injury to the public service. Indeed, as a class, the officials employed in these two branches are not adequately compensated. While admittedly the most arduous services the pay is certainly smaller than any other, tho promotion is slower and there are fewer positions of honor and emolument than in any other department. So far from advocating any reduction in the ordinary departmental expenditure, we think that, if possible, some attempt should be made to increase the pay of all the subordinate officers of the Postal and Telegraph Departments. The contrast presented by the General Government and the Provincial Government services is at onco striking and absurd. We find that a mer e clerk in tho latter service, whose duties arc certainly not in any degree arduous, and for the performance of which but ordinary intelligence is necessary, receives double tho salary of a skilled telegraph operator. Yet, their relative duties are in an inverse proportion. Whilo tho public interest demands that the strictest attention should bo paid to economy, it is equally necessary to guard against a manifest injustice being done to the officers of any public department. It is perfectly practicable for the Goveunment to effect very important savings in tho annual expenditure without prejudicing the interests of the community, and at the same time to provide for the more liberal remuneration of a deserving class of officials. If governing bodies were but purged of the political loafers and charlatans whose presence is both costly and detrimental, larger sums would then be available for matters of magnitude and importance.