THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 76411, 12 January 1903, Page 2

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

FURTHER RETRENCHMENT RUMORED.

The Auckland Star Wellington correspondent wired to his paper on Saturday :— Rumors 'are "current in tho Government buildings that .the retrenchment knife will be applied to, various departments of 'the- service, but I cannot ascertain any reliable confirmation of the same. It is, however, notorious that one vory important branch of 'the service is ooverr r manned by officials, who if they had their due would have been dispensed with- long ago. It is no uncommon thing to see them perambulating the streets for. hours, fat a . stiretcjh, or chatting with friends in some hotel parlor. All this has been going, on under the eyes .of one who is generally credited with feeing k martinet in his official relations with his.-sub-ordinates. . Surprise has {been expressed that ,no steps have been taken to suppress what everyone kno]ws is nothing short of a scandal. - The Minister in charge of the department cannot be cognisant of the existing state of ' affairs, otherwise he ~ would certainly step' in and end the abuse*. It would be well if the example of the head of another department were emulated. When this gentfceman asefumed a newt and responsible position he discovered that several of his staff under " the old regime had matters pretty well in ' their. , own hands, and did just as their inclinations suited them. He lost no time in t nutting his. house thoroughly In order, for 'which he was execrated by those affected and their < friends. Events have since proved the wisdom of his policy.