RETRENCHMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2492, 30 June 1888, Page 3

RETRENCHMENT.

TO TIIH KIHTOK. Sik —Your leading at tides on retrenchment have given general satisfaction in this vicinity, as far as they have gone ; tliey do however, not go far enough. We arc quite prepared to submit to a reduction in the train service, and regarding the mail service are quite willing to submit to a bi-weekly one if a tii-wcekiy cannot be tjiven. 'I here is cousideiable room for retrenchment in the Post and Telegraph department, for instance take ti.e Auckland oflicc. From the estimates 1 -n-e it is proposed to continue the employment of forty officials in ttic post olliee and forty three in the telegraph olliee, eighty three ollieials at a coat of over "''tc-.f l I!■ tins includes |lj letter carrier:; ate, rust of il I ,(557, these carrier- deliver letters not only in the he-art of the city but to the outskirts of the suburbs. The Wellington olliee employs I2!l otlicials at a cost of over rI 1,000. 1 will not follow through the inie' list but take a few cases ill our own district. Wo iind the Alexandra postmaster, who performs all duties, receives £140. TeAwumutu, all duties, £180; Cambridge : Postmaster, i'2!io ; teleyia-phi-'.t, .ClOo : letter earlier, .£7O : Tota', Hamilton: Postmaster, i'li.jO; cadet. Clio, letter earlier, £7o : Total, Xow, why is there sucl a ditierenee in the salary of these lour postmasters? lam confident that with the assistance the two larger olliees have, smaller ones arc worked by far the hardest. Why cannot there be an amalgamation with the railway station:!, and

thus save largely in 1):<1.11 services ?\\ hy should tho ein". n? of Auckland or any l la'chare a luxury in tin; shape of letter earners? \\ hy not dismiss the lot at once, an l if any of the-e people consider themselves of such importance, let the carriers bt uaid mi!, ol the Borough funds and not grind the pour settlers by increased Customs duties. No matter how u iU'mil.'any Government may be to retrench, if the people are not willing to assi-t, and suggest how and where savings mi-ht be affected, very little will be accomplished. Lot subsidies cease, let betrginy for public buildings, for hospitals, briilg etc.. cease, and let ever}' di.-trict stand on its own legs, and we shall be better off. With J our permission 1 woul : like to continue on this subject.—l am, yours etc., Tacks. I'ateranei, ■) une '2N h 1888.