The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7652, 30 June 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1888.

The defeat of the Government on a motion for the adjournment of the Lust Night's debate on the Premier’s Division, proposal—“ That the House “ go into Committee of Supply “to consider the EstimatesWO are not inclined to think is of any political importance, although no doubt a source of annoyance and embarrassment. The vote was evidently a surprise one, and Several members who would presumedly have supported Ministers were not in the House. Sir Harry Atkinson is, however, to be commended for taking up a determined position, and not allowing himself to be trifled with in conducting the business of the country. The fact of the adjournment having been moved by Mr Seddon is satisfactory evidence that the action taken was not concerted on the part of those opposed to the Government, who, to do them justice, would not follow such a leader, and the division list is further conducive _of this. As to the amendment to the original motion proposed by Mr Monk, which is really aimed at reducing certain salaries fixed by statute, and at the abolition of the Audit Office, it would manifestly be impossible for Ministers to accept such an instruction from the House, implying, as it so clearly does, that they have not done their duty efficiently in the way of retrenchment and the simplification of colonial finance, Such reforms as are indicated must initiate with the Government, who, even if they approve, must be left to exercise their judgment as to the time and manner of bringing them about. We are quite of opinion that there exists no valid reason why salaries settled by Act of Parliament years ago, under a very different state of things, should not be subject to revision. The officers of the Legislature arc altogether too highly paid in proportion to the Civil Service, when it is considered that their work never extends much beyond one-third of the year. In respect to the Audit Office, the subject is too large to enter upon cursorily. The abolition would involve an entire change in the whole system of keeping the public accounts. The very high rate of salaries paivl to certain officers might, however, fairly be cut down to more moderate dimensions, and perhaps this may be what Mr Monk mainly desires. The large retrenchment already effected, as shown by the Estimates, should give confidence in the intention of Ministers to reduce expenditure wherever they see their way to do so ; and where certain classes of expenditure have been left untouched for the present, no doubt good reasons can and will be shown. Ministers cannot permit their hands to be forced, and in such matters must resist pressure from either side of the House.