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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9090, 26 June 1888, Page 4

The public meeting held last night at Lome-street Hall, for the purpose of considering further retrenchment, was significant of the strong feeling entertained in the district on the subject. On the necessity for the utmost decrease of expenditure that is possible in the public service the large and crowded meeting had but one opinion ; although it must be admitted that when the test was applied as to whether the people would admit of practical retrenchment, by consenting to forego some of the privileges enjoyed at the expense of the public Treasury, the meeting exhibited a divergent feeling, lietrenehment ia very desirable in the abstract, and, so long as it is far removed from us individually ; and man is everywhere prepared to shed the last drop of his brother's blood for his country ; but when it demands personal sacrifice, it is a business of another character altogether. As to the great and needless cost of the educational system of the colony, there is but one opinion among all intelligent men. Indeed comparisons with other colonies in more prosperous circumstances prove it ; but when the retrenching knife is pointed at it the repugnance to sacrifice protects it. This question will no doubt be further debated, and one good result arising from the meeting of last night is that the issue is fairly before the public, and the true state of public opinion on the subject will be put to the test.