NOTES

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 285, 5 June 1909, Page 4

NOTES

The Government are steadily pursuing their scheme of retrenchment, and very large reductions are being made. While the dismissals are not on a huge scale, the overgrown Civil Sei'vice staff is being brought within reasonable proportions. When the colony was making large surpluses yearly, many- Government, de- j pavtments were inaugurated which, in "the light of a reduced income and wider experience, can be dispensed with, without in any degree impairing the efficiency of the public ser-. vice. It is inevitable that tho reductions must cause hardships aud ;n---convemenco. Where savings amounting to hundreds of thousands per year arc being carried out, there is bound to be dissatisfaction, but thoro can be no question the Government ser- i vice has assumed abnormal proportions, and it is to, the credit of the Government that they have been honest to their obligations, aaid have attacked an unpopular subject with such determination. In all parts of the dominion there is a mournful wail over the ' action of tho Government in this con- ! nection, and protests are being orgainisod in several quarters This is, of course, to be expected, but tlu« time is essentially ono for the exur- j cisc of a little self-denial and independence. The Government are carrying out an unpleasant duty with care and discretion, and should be given every assistance in making these economics. It does not assist tho situation to ask, Why did they not reduce tho proportions of tho Civil Service before? It is something to their credit that they recognise the work of government cannot now l>e carried on at tho same lavish and extravagant rate that was possible in former years, a-ral are engaged in tho unpleasant duty of .shortening expenditure- Some degree of .self-sacrifice will Im necessary. Economies must bo effected and so long as the retrenchments arc carried out in a fair, equitable., and reasonable manner the altered condition of things should bo accepted in a cheerful .spirit, in the hope, that more prosperous times may make possible a return oi : the former regime. The marvellous flight of nine hundred miles achieved by Count Zeppelin's No. 2 airship indicates thatilie ' 'mastery of" the air" is now '

Avithin measureablo distance. The initial difficulties have been solved. It may be some years .yet before the aeroplane becomes a successful commercial speculation, but sufficient has been accomplished to slioav s that in the near future, the air Avill be traversed with almost equal facility to that shoAvn in ocean navigation. It is an amazing triumph, and Avill prove one or the marvels of the cen■tury. Count Zeppelin Avell deserves the sincere congratulations that haA r e poured in upon liim on the success of his Avonderful and magnificent invention.

Although it is satisfactory to know that commercial conditions are improving, and that the applications for employment Avhich are coming to hand at the Wellington office of the Labour Department are much less hi number than the records for the corresponding period of last year show, it is unquestionably the fact that a large number of able-bodied men, Avilling to work, are unable to find employment. In two cases of tenders for stumping contracts, advertised recently in the columns of the Advocate, there Avere no less than 17 and 23 offers respectively received for the work, and the office is being l>esieged by men anxious to secure a fencing contract, tenders for which are now being invited. The Wellington Harbour Board is setting a good example to other local bodies by putting in hand several large contracts, which will absorb a large amount of labour during- tlie winter months, and other institutions would be alleviating the present stagnation by putting v■inhand'forthwith any-works for which they have funds available. There is no doubt but that it would prove a profitable proceeding, for the competition would ensure -.particularly favorable prices, while it. would assist to tide over t3ie distress that is nowbeing occasioned by the scarcity, of j j I | j