MR HOBBS ON RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9105, 13 July 1888, Page 6

MR HOBBS ON RETRENCHMENT.

In seconding.' Mr. Withy's motion for a reduction •of £100,000. on ; the estimates, Mr. Hobbs said : It is useless for honourable members to talk about economy and retrenchment, and expect the Government to carry out these views without our being prepared to take our share either of the odium or of the responsibility which may attach thereto. I think there can be only one opinion, not only in the House, but throughout the country—namely, that further retrenchment is demanded of the Government; and, if that is so, it is our duty, irrespective of party, to loyally assist the Government in carrying this into effect. My desire would be that it should be done in such a manner that it would not bear hardly on any of those affected. Knowing, as I do, the feeling throughout the country, and that the Government are at the present paying more than the current rate of wages in some parts of the colony, I feel that they might so arrange these matters that, without any great hardship to individuals, they might effect considerable retrenchment. ■, I should be sorry indeed if the Government understood that the House wished them to reduce wages to any considerable extent. . The House desires, I think, as has been fairly put, by the honourable member for Newton, that the Government should, at any rate, pay the highest current rate of wages; and, if they do that, I am quite sure that the workmen , themselves will be perfectly satisfied. The workmen cannot expect more than that; it would be unreasonable. They cannot expect any Ministry to consider that they have any pre-emptive right to these positions. I know that there are hundreds of people who would be only too glad to get employment from the Government, even at a good deal less money than the Government are giving now. It is only right that we should look at this matter apart from party, and without considering the interests or feelings of particular people. We know that there must be further retrenchment. There is no use continually bandying words about the House, and calling on the Government to make further retrenchment, unless we are prepared to stand by them. We know that we have our liabilities to meet, and that we have had extra taxation placed upon us, and that the people are clamouring on account of the heavy burdens they have to bear. We must look the position fairly in the face. I regret very much that we should have to move in the direction of reducing wages; but what I say here is what I should be prepared to say before any number of my constituents, and what I should be prepared to say in the face of any honest man ; and to put the matter fairly to him, and if he expected more than the current rate of wages I would say that was an unreasonable thing. I am prepared to take my share of the odium, if there is any, in this matter. I say further that they are not the true friends of the working-man who are continually raising this question about the workingmen, and making them believe that they are the only, friends of the working-men. 1 know many men who have been induced to throw up situations because they thought they were going to be assisted by those socalled friends of the working-man, and who have ultimately regretted taking the advice of these people. In asking the Government to reduce expenditure to the extent of £100,000,1 am sure honorable members do not wish to lay down a hard and fast rule, and that is the reason why the words "if possible " were placed in the resolution. If the Government could make a reduction to i the extent of £80,000 or £90,000 I should not complain at all. I do nob think it would be right for us to tie the Government up by the terms of the resolution. That would be unreasonable. For my part, I shall be prepared to do all I can to carry out the resolution, so that it will not fall heavily on any class, and I shall do my best for the good of the country generally. I know this hardships which the country people have to bear, and, in supporting this resolution, I feel the responsibility I have undertaken.