GRANDMOTHERLY GOVERNMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1389, 28 May 1881, Page 3

GRANDMOTHERLY GOVERNMENT.

I suppose the Penny-Stamp Savings' Bank is evidence of the paternal solicitude of Governments for the welfare of the people. "Paternal," indeed, is no word for it. There is a motherly and grandmotherly fussiness about the new invention which is a stroke beyond the most meddlesome forms of merely "paternal" government. The spare coppers of our youngsters are now the care of a Government department. The New Zealand small boy, in whatorer part of tha colony he may live, keeps an account with the Head Post-office, Wellington, and receives an official communication from the seat of government marked "On Her Majesty's Service," acknowledging 1 the deposit of each sereral shilling. Here is a specimen : — Savings' Bank Department, General Post-office, Wellington, N.Z. The Postmaster having reported to the Post-master-General the receipt by him of your Deposit of the 20th April 1881, amounting to One Shilling, that amount has been placed to the credit of your Account in the Books of this Department. J. K. AVarburton, Accountant. To Master Teddy Tompkins, &c, &c, Dunedin. Grandmotherly government can, hardly go much farther than that. Master Teddy Toinpkins, is already being educated by a Government, functionary at Government expense; the Bible-in- schools people advise that the Government should also ground him in religion; a Government Accountant sits in Wellington to enter in a government ledger the coppers he ■ has saved, and the Chief Postmaster reports to him officially as often aa his account in. the books of the department is increased by a shilling. The next thing will be that the Government will prescribe for him when Teddy is down with measles, or at least fee the doctor, and that his promotion from knickerbockers to trousers proper shall be authorised by the Governor-in-Council. I notice a charming illustration of the mischances apt to attend over- government in the proceedings of the Bruce County Council. I give an extract : An application from Mr D. M'Masters te painting Clarendon toll-bar, was read, It appears that seven years ago the Government forwarded a gallon 1 of paint for the purpose, but as no brush had been sent it still remained unused. It Was proposed by_ Mr Calder, seconded by Mi Duff, and rniamiously_ resolved— -" That the Government paint be utilised, and that Mr> M'Masters be informed that his request would be attended to., „ „, f . > The recipieiitof the gallon of paint ought to be promoted. ■• He reasoned that if the Government had meant the paint to be j applied, to^tho' toll-bar they would' have Rent a brush alpng , with t it> 1 and therein revealed a thorough., grasp of the whole theory of paternal administration. Blessed wjth a Goyernnienttwhiob. • undertake^ to be, your mother and grandmother, your sister, your cousin, and your aunt, you mast jbehave , yourself, r in , , all points eveu f as, a weaned clfild. , You "must hot attempt tp'B'aye ( your, own coppers without tlx'e iaidpf a i^pvernment , accountant, nor lay G'pyenimentjrain.t on ; ,a < .Government buUding uhles^' ,d,uly , prodded .withj a ; Goyernna,oht ;brußh.—^Passing , notes, , in , phe Ot'pgq TPitjieas." /.-' V> „ ' > "

< 'Froiii/the Dodltykrd f oun£3,,we learn " that thWWept'uifc, ( whioK' Vas"\ptirchased mfc/ 6 s raple|e,Ha^(ldBfcn^td v 'MaM f 31 last . £670,9741 The Inflexible is also revised as stipt ihoofaiFiletel'ftfter'fin.^'ipenditiire 04i3h6l »£f£7l4,Q27l'> aflW* cost of the of the r^ti^n^'thQ sunx of £619.739,