COUNTY COUNCIL RETRENCHMENT.

(To the Editor).

Sib—Like Rip Van Winkle, Mr Charles Brunskili has awakened from a prolonged sleep and ha* come to light again, this time as an agitator, certainly not as the working man's friend, as he intended. It is said that "fools rush into print where angels fear to tread," and in this 0.M.8. has been very successful. "Prompted by the recent eruption in the hitherto peaceful affairs o! tlie County' Council regarding retrenchment," Charles M. Brunskill has launched out in your last issue in a washerwoman sort of way with a long and pitiful epistle upholding the workman, which is neither wise or in any way conducive to the best interests of our well-being as a community. Charles M. Brunskill cannot afford to waste his energies in being antagonistic ta our mutual interests. Belt understood, Mr Charles M. Brunskill, that all local bodies and the Government of the colony find it necessary to retrench at times, and so long as the policy ia carried out in a legitimate way no obstacle should intervene. Someone say*: "A friend in need is a friend'indeed." True enough. But surely Johnny Byrne cannot look upon C;MB. as «uoh when he wrote of him iv the pitiful way he did, praying that he (Johnny Byrne) "should be spared," as if he were a pauper. Ain't it sieknin'! The " kindly " and " sympathetic " reference to two other gentlemen also, I think, can hardly be looked upon with favour. When the Council gets low down in funds it is the duty of the members in the interest of the ratepayers to retrench, regardless of respect to persons. If the " poor wages men " who have had such cosy corneis in the "good old County Council" for so many years had a holiday for a time it would freshen them up a bit. It would not be a very great hardship* for they have had a real good innings, and should in a large meisure be well financially fortified. In conclusion, Mr Charles M. Brunskiil, when you write to the press again, do, for goodness sake, bo Sensible and reasonable, and, perhaps, when the Council's carting you refer to is let by contract you and your two faithful ""noddy"partners may have a chance-to cut in —I am, etc., ■ "• •" .. ."■■.■" ... ■ ■ Vale.