THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1887.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8166, 18 August 1887, Page 4

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY).

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1887.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 1845, and the Neu Zealander, ,

It is utterly idle for the new Parliament to pretend to deal with the allimportant question of retrenchment unless members can make up their minds to be “ thorough ” in the matter. And if they are really in earnest they will begin at the beginning, and start ,with “Class I.—Legislative Expenditure.” This, as it at present stands, is a scandal and an absurdity. It must be remembered that the sum set down in the annual Estimates represents merely the annual votes in addition to a considerable sum permanently appropriated by Statute. A resolute and sweeping reduction should be made in these annual appropriations for Legislative expenses. No sensible person can doubt that they are altogether excessive and ridiculously disproportionate to either our means or our require meats. The great curse of this Colony is over - government. Mr Brodie Hoare’s shrewd remarks on that head, which we recently published and commented upon, have appealed forcibly to the public mind, and may now be constantly heard quoted with strong approval whenever the subject of the elections or of politics generally happens to crop up. His assertion that “A few policemen with walking sticks and two or three men of business to loqk after the finances, would do all New Zealand requires, mid do it better has elicited a perfect chorus of testimony to its truth and justice. Everybody really agrees with him, although it may not “ suit the book” of all to say so. But unless the idea is firmly grasped by the elec tors and carried into practical effect in their dealings with the candidates for their representation, we shall be no nearer than ever to real and solid reform. The electors should resolve only to give their votes to those candidates who are in favour of a wholesale reduction in the Legislative expenditure. The numerical strength of the Lower House ought to be decreased to 50 members. That is plenty for hklf a million people Surely one member to every ten thousand persons is ample representation. What do we want with such a multitude of numbers ? The only possible argumeit in its favour is that, while the Public Works expenditure lasts, it is the only way of securing to each district a share in the general scramble. And a nice state of political morality implies ! But the Public Works expenditure—out of borrowed money at any rate—is perforce very nearly ended, and very few works remlin for which money can yet be borrowed, so that reason may be dismissed. In every other way the excessive number of members is a positive public nuisance and a material hindrance to the progress of the country’s business,' and to the passage of much desirable legislation, ft has been said that with a smaller House a Ministry would be too powerful. Exactly, but apply the same rule to the number of Ministers. Cut it down! Four Ministers would easily do all that needs to be done by them. If they would have less time to spend in messing and muddling about with all sorts of things that would be much better let alone or left to the permanent officers—who know much more about them than Ministers do—that, would be a real blessing to the Colony. As to salaries, we have already expressed our opinion that they should be diminished to £IOOO for the Premier and £BOO for the other Ministers; and quite enough, too. Then the Legislative Councillors should be paid no more than their bare expenses, and the members of ' the House of Representatives should certainly not receive more than £IOO per session at the utmost. These reforms would promote economy not only by limiting the actual expenditure in these directions, but also by materially shortening the sessions, and by curtailing the “ fancy legislation ” which at present runs riot, and so saving expense in printing and otherwise. There are further directions in which Legislative expenditure can readily be reduced, and it is high time that the pruning knife was vigorously applied. Let the electors see to it that this is done.