The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1868. FINANCIAL REFORM.—No.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 213, 8 September 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1868. FINANCIAL REFORM.— No.

(CuMMUNICATED.) That the late Financial Reform Association if honestly conducted, was capable of effecting great good, no one can deny. But it was bom with the germ of disease; and those who had seen the rise and fall of similar attempts tojioodwiuk the public, by getting up a Taper or Tadpole * cry,' foretold its speedy dissolution. The trip to Wellington one day and the return on the next, of a certain prominent member of the committee of the association ; the public meeting at once called on the return of this messenger ; the selfelection of the two members of the press, and a few expectant place-holders ; the adhesion of Mr Stafford, doubtless the prime mover ofthe scheme ; the stranger adhesion of Sir David Munro, who thought it a 'good joke' to join it ; the resolution not to meddle with corruptive extravagance in Provincial institutions, — all hastened the end of the Association, and the public may congratulate themselves on not having heen dragged through the dirt, although all the strength of the conductors of two of the ' organs of public opinion ' (whatever that phrase may mean) was brought to bear in the most Holloway style to bamboozle an easygoing public. With all these advantages, had the Association been started with an honest sincerity, it might have lived till it was weaned, but it died iu infantile convulsions, caused, it is supposed, by the unnatural throes produced by its efforts to eject some half dozen long essays, written more for the self-glorification of the authors than for the enlightenment of the public on the gross corruptions of our complicated Governments, Provincial and General. What good could come of a society started to introduce a system of economy and efficiency in all departments of the Governments of the colony, when it was once swamped by the introduction of several placemen ? Although this society succumbed to a cougenital taint, that is no reason why another should not be established on a sound and healthy basis, on a foundation of stone, not of sand, having for its object the good of the public by cleaning out the present Government cattle byres, discharging the idle and incapable, and compelling those to work who can but won't work. By beginning at home, the public would be assured that the intention waß good, and that such a course of action would keep out placchuutiug toadies of all

kinds. „With due deference we would suggest that to begin at the beginning ' would be a good start. To limit tbe Superintendent's salary, and to elect a man in future unencumbered with other business, is the first step. To cut down the salaries of those over whom he is placed in authority, is the second. Aud to discharge all incompetent and useless hangers-on is the third: this last could be easily done by a resolute Superintendent, insisting that all under him should work the four or five hours a day they are supposed to be doing duty at the Government offices. In connection with this part of the subject a stop ought at once to be put to the monstrous practice, of members of tbe legislative body arrogating to themselves the right t'o move additions to the salaries of any of their friends, or to whom they may in some way be uuder an obligation, in the Executive departments. To this foul practice may be attributed the anomaly of the Superintendent at the present moment receiving less thau one of his subordinates. In the scramble on the Supplementary Estimates, the session before the last, a member moved an additional £50 a year, which, to the disgrace of the Council, was passed without comment, showiug the ignorance of the men who were sent to save the money of their constituents, and not squander it away in large salaries for the performance of very light duties. A standing order ought at once to be introduced by which it would be impossible for any member sent to check the Government, from aiding and abetting, and even superceding it. Many years ago this gross usage was well commented on by a gentleman, who, we are sorry to say, is not now in the Council. Mr D. Sinclair denounced the practice with considerable force and energy, showing how easy it was for a servant of the Government to earwig a member, and induce him to commit such a breach of all constitutional practice, aud thus lay himself open to the implication of personal interest in the matter. This would be the first part of the programme of any nev/ association, started with a view to cheapen and make efficient our governments, and would take away the main argument of the centralists, in their desire to destroy proviucial or local self-government by the not unfounded chirge of cumbersomeness, expensiveness, and extravagance.