CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 9

CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

the Primo Minister has put his hand to tho plough in the matter of retrenching because ho fell in by offering to supply England with a Dreadnought, which this over-taxed colony could not afford to offer, and which ho thought would never be accepted, why doe 3 he not induco Cabinet to tako at least £500 a year off Ministers' salaries, and lop off a hundred or two from the enormous 'Screws" paid'to tho army of officers who onlv work during tho sitting of Parliament, and loaf ( during the rest of tho year?—men whoso pay for three months exceeds that of equally competent officers who have to work the whole year round,' Heads of Departments should bo cut clown to £350, or bundled out altogether, for they arc figureheads for the most part, tho under-, strappers really doing tho work. Tho salaries paid to clerks aro also exorbitant, seeing that the duties are so light and requiring do little Tho "£4O steal" ot our M.P.'s, might easily bo restored, and another £60 also deducted without impoverishing our politicians. When the Primo Minister has the backbone to carry out this programme, ho will get the support of the bulk of tho colony by showing ho is in earnest about righting our finances, and will bo placing the burden on .those impst able to bear it.—l am, etc., ■■"■''■ '■•'."' , DRIPPING. April 7. ■