RETIRING CIVIL SERVANTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 106, 3 May 1909, Page 5

RETIRING CIVIL SERVANTS.

[from our correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Saturday. Still they go, the retiring civil servants. Yesterday's batch of retirements—and presentations—included Lieut.-Col. Loveday, so well known at one time in connection with Volunteering in Wellington, and of recent years commanding the New Zealand cadet corps; Mr C. A. St. G. Hickson, Commissioner of Stamps, and Mr Henry Blundell of the Treasury. Both the latter had spent most of their life in the public service of the Dominion. Mr Hickson's record was 44 years service, and that of Mr Blundell, 39 years. All three retiring officers were presented with handsome souvenirs by the fellow officers of their departments. Mr Hickson spoke out rather strongly, alleging that his staff was under-manned and the salaries paid to the officers were inadequate. However, he had done his best, and would always be glad to give the Government any assistance possible. "I shall be up at 5 o'clock on Monday," said a civil servant to me this morning. In response to my request for a reason for such unwonted early rising I got the reply: "Why, don't you know, we're all on the gui viye to see what the Prime Minister will say to-night at Invercargill about the retrenchment scheme." There can'be no doubt that the utmost anxiety prevails in certain departments, which, it is an open secret, are to be specially affected by the prunihg-knife. Mr Ritchie, formerly Secretary for Agriculture, but in future to be Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, left on a trip to England yesterday by the Moana. He expects to be absent about six months, and is to represent the Dominion at an International Conference of sheep-breeders _ to be held in June in connection with the Royal Agricultural Show at Gloucester.