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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6330, 2 March 1882, Page 4

The country asked for retrenchment, and the Government retrenched. The country still asks for retrenchment, and the Government is still retrenching. Parliament sitting, a Ministry has its hands full. A long recess affords an opportunity for investigating the condition of the departments and the Cabinet is utilising it. Administration is to legislation what the practical is to the theoretical, or nearly so. The strong point of the Ministry is its administrative ability. It is not a talking Ministry, or a Ministry overburdened with tact, but it is a working Ministry. It soars to no seventh heaven, is preoccupied by no great ideas, might be a little more ideal, but works hard. In so far as it occasionally yields to influences which it ought to defy it is neither better nor worse than any other Government. It is a sad truth, but a Ministry which turned neither to the right nor the left would have but ! a short life and not a merry one. Its I enemies would taunt it for its superlative virtue, ridicule it for its folly, and displace it. No Ministry is stronger than circumstances, and many much I weaker.

Circumstances are generally favourable to the Ministry, and they have known how to take advantage of them, and especially in the matter of retrenchment. They touched it doubtingly, but have gained courage from public approval. They commenced by imposing the responsibility on Parliament, and then themselves adopted it. Beginning hesitatingly, they have pursued the matter persistently and steadfastly, sweeping out many a dusty corner, and relieving the finances. The Ministry were told that large retrenchment was possible, and inevitable, and the event has justified the opinion. A c moot of dopa*-tmon.tc savings have been effected, and are still being made, especially with regard to the railways and the law department. With respect to this last a sweeping change has been accomplished. There is no longer a Department of Justice, it has been abolished as costly and unnecessary. The Government proposed amalgamation of departments, where practicable, and here we have one instalment in fulfilment of the promise. The Department of Justice has been amalgamated with that of the Colonial Secretary. Rumour has given the saving as £30,000 a-yeav, but our special correspondent at Wellington intimates that this is an exaggeration, but it will

doubtless be considerable. He makes, however, the pleasant announcement, that, on the reassembling of Ministers at the seat of Government all the other departments will come under review, and that further retrenchment is tolerably certain. It is most satisfactory to find that the Government is keeping its hand to the plough. The legitimate demands on the Treasury are much larger than can be met, the interest on the new loan will form a serious charge, and it is essential therefore that the departmental expenditure of the country should be confined within the narrowest limits.