THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 775, 5 June 1877, Page 2

THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

The ■« Otago Witness' Has. the following article.on the extravagance of the Now Zealand people:— Economy in general, and the most layinh expenditure in individual cases ; a reduction of the estimates by fifty thousand pounds, and then a putting on of one hundred thousnnd on the supplementary estimates; this is the general and popular idea of democratic economy. The Department of Justice mu3t furl jts sails and, run under shelter of the good headland 'rigid parsimony/ while Skippers, Tokomairiro, and even Arrowtown, want a. magistrate, clerk of the court, and bumbailiff each. The Telegraph Department is worked to a loss, say of ten thousand per annum, but the Mayor of Serewtowri requires the use, gratis, of the line to send his congratulations to the Mayor of Paris, and the Hon William" Fox uses it freely to send cold water comfort to despairing hydropholists. Vogel used to sit in his gouty arm-chair and telegraph at a cost which has never been estimated, because he suffeivd from mal de mar, and didn't like goiug to Sydney. Mr Stafford said the other day that we were the most extravagant people on the face or" creation, aud we quite endorse h.s sentiments. It is only necessary to look at the midday meal of a carrier or shearer to realise that they are living, to pub it mildly, like fighting co'ks, ami that they are very unlikely to deny themselves anything in the way of official luxury that they can by any possible means niinage to enjoy. We entertain Sir George Grey's opinion—that the Civil Service list might be*" reduced by .£150,000 per annum. We have not the remotest idea that this will ever be done, because the real truth is that the people want the money all spent, and want a great deal more spent. They think they have it, and don't see why they should not spend it. While the very ploughman on the farm thinks himself wronged if he does not get fried rump steak two or three times a week for dinner, it is not likely that he will be contented to do without a private post-office at the nearest pub. to save his having to go three miles farther to the next shanty. It is improbable that he will consent to have the wrongs proven by a broken head and black eye adjusted at the cost of a trip of twenty miles to Court, when he can get it done by going ten. The true argument against economy in the administration of the affairs of the State is to be found in the luxurious habits of life to which all classes have readily taken out here. We are very much struck by the development that is being shown in this direction by the County Councils. Here was a noble opportunity of showing the bona fides of that liusttings outcry for economy which rings so familiarly in all our ears. The yoang Councils were hampered by no claims, they had no old servants to send about their business, they had no clientele hanging at their heels to demand a snug little billet witk nothing to do, they had the world berbre them and every chance for getting the maximum of utility out of their revenues at the least possible cost. To say that they are rushing into unmeeessary expense is .0 describe their action very gently. I'hey are seen to be utterly reckless and improvident ia their arrangements. They are at oace, and without waiting for anything, about to sot up a staff' of officials, who will in

the long run, eat out the very life's ■r blood of the county, arid leave it with a good revenue, and nothing at all to spend on roads and bridges. Of course all com ci 8 are not eqnaly foolish, but with ihe exception of one or two, they are all of them beginning after a fashion far too big for their boots, to use an expressive: colloquialism.