LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

& PETONE WORKSHOPS. Sir, —I understand that several mon, some of whom have been engaged for a jear, are being put off at tho Government Workshops |ust now, probably to bo put on again after . the close of tho financial 5 ear. Now, sir, provided tho rest of tho men are agreed, »hich I have reason to think they would be, would it not bo a judicious and kindly act to reduce the hours ot labour for all, so that all the men could bo retained in Government employ, instead of dismissing some, and leaving tho rest undisturbed? As an outsider^—but an interested outsider —I make the suggestion with all diffidence, but as one oonvinced of its practicability, e.g., presume that one-sixth of tho men are being dismissed, all requited to be dono is that all should work five days a week instead of six as at present. I earnestly commend .the suggestion to tho immediate consideration of the Minister for Eailwajs.—l am, etc., T. A. Y/ILLIAMS. Petono, January 29. GOVERNMENT METHODS. Sir, —To anyone acquainted with Govern* ment methods of carrying out public works, ' the squabble 3t the Adcnngton Workshops 11 ill be no, surprise. It is only a case of a now Minister staitmg to sweep up. Ho is ' starting just, as they all do, to sweep oub tho cellar, but you can give long odds that ho vill'nerer carry his broom upstairs, where nine-tenths of the waste occuis Not one of > the high-salaried holders of sinecures will either bo dispensed withjor reduced. The ■; state of labour to-day is a disgrace to any Government, and Sll Joseph Ward has done what, no ~ Conservative Premier ever attempted—i.e., he has deliberately flooded the country with unemployed at a -time when he had brought New Zealand to the verge of bankruptcy by insane squandenng of borrowed money. Ho did not hesitate to spend £12,000 of our mouoy to give a treat to a few wealthy men, and yet some of the men discharged from the Main Trunk line in Decomber are not paid up yet.—l am, etc., ' Lower Hutt." " JAMES BOWIE " ■ CIVIL SERVICE'RETIREMENTS. ' Sir, —In refcienco to the compulosry retirement of Civil Servants over 65 yeass of age, it is to bo lnped that the Government will show its bonii fides by retmng all above the age, and not making fish of one and flesh of another. There arc already some indications that soino of tho right colour, or with, friends m tho proper quarter, are not xo go like the' rest.—l am, etc., NO SPOILS TO THE VICTOR. February 2. ' ' \ " - CIVIL SERVICE DEFALCATIONS. Sir, —1-supposo jou aro awaio that in cases or embezzlement by a Government official, , the reat of the>Civil Son ice have to pay pro rata to make up the deficiency. There is no particular hardship in this, and I think it makes for vigilance on the part of each ono. But J think it is haid to pay for what might have been avoided by having an efficient ' check on the defaulting official. It surely indicates, great laxness uhen an individual can take money, for about twelve months without being discovered. In such cases tho Minis- '. ter might oider an inquiry bj some official outside the Department, siy an Audit official, and let him report to the Minister to 'see who is in fault, and if he should not be punished. < It is fibsurd to saj that no check could be instituted which wonld prevent such defi- 1 ciencies. The immediate heads of the Department and tho system must bo -wrong which * allows such a state of things to go on, and they should be made to suffer as well as the great body of the civil servants, who had no control over the affair at all. Hoping jour able pen mil take up tho subject.—l am, etc., * ( February 2. AUDITOR. -