THE ESTIMATES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9188, 20 August 1895, Page 5

THE ESTIMATES.

Great discontent is being expressed in various quarters at the proposals contained in the Estimates to increase the salaries of Civil Servants in various depanments. Such a course ba3 been condemned by various speakers during the course of the financial debate, aud is being strongly denounced in the lobbies. Many of the iucreases ate certain to be energetically opposed when the Estimates come up for discussion, and many members feel inclined to advocate a motion to refer the whole of the Estimates back to the Government with instructions to make a very considerable reduction in the total for the several departments. It is contended that, in -view of a f(tiling revenue and the proposed iucrease iv taxation, the present is not the time to increase the salaries of the Civil Servants. It is also urgod that employment is scarcer, wages are generally lower, and the price of produce unsatisfactory, and therefore, even as things are, Government employees are better oil than those iv private occupations. This is said to be borne out by the numerous applications daily received by members from persons desirous of entering the Civil service. One politician informs mc that he has received sufficient applications from people desirous of entering the service to man any of the State Departments from top to bottom. Judging from the general trend of feeling in this connection, the discussion of the Estimates is likely to disclose a very considerable " skinflint" element in the House.