THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1887. A Delusion.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 12 November 1887, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1887. A Delusion.

Many of Major Atkinson’s proposals in connection with tho much-talked-of retrenchment do not, when carefully considered appear to have that genuinness about them winch a casual reader might at first imagine. For instance in regard to lbs proposal to commence at the top of the tree by cutting dona the Governor’s salary by £2500 the Premier must have been fully aware that at a previous poriod a similar attempt was tried but the English Government would not l ; sten to it and the probability is that the same thing would follow now. If the proposal is to be made it will not bo done during tho present Governor’s term of office in this Colony, so there cannot be any immediate saving. Another proposal is that the Legislative Council shad be reduced to 35 and that these gentlemen’s honoraria shall bo reduced to £IOO. There are at present 48 of these conservative gentlemen in this particular chamber, and is it at all likely that they wi 11 agree to 13 of their number being cast into political extinction. It is true they ought to, but those ! ole] gentlemen are not quite so philanthropic as to commit political suicide, and Major Atkinjcinson knows it as well as any man. The members are for the most part rich men, and ought to pay their i ow.i expenses They have no election expenses to hefty, and if their honorarium was reduced fq SSOJt would only be just and nroper, In regard to the House or Representatives being reduced to 70 members w<s also regard it as another sham, became jt cannot take place for another three y,e,7.ys ; and is not likely to then.