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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1297, 3 June 1880, Page 2

Sir George Grey yesterday gave notice of his intention to move for a reduction of the salaries of Ministers, This is only one step in the right direction. Had Sir George Grey gone further and proposed a general reduction in all Government salaries over a certain amount he wou'd have been acting more in consonance with the feelings of the public, and with more political expediency. Hitherto every effort at reduction in the cost of the Civil Service has been confined to the discharge of a few servants, generally to be re-appointed to some other billets, and to a little cheeseparing in the smaller salaries. The higher placed officers, men drawing from L4OO to LSOO a year, have been passed over, no attempt being made to effect reductions in their salaries. In its present position the Colony cannot afford to pay such large salaries, and, if the Government and the House are in earnest in their expressed desire for economy, they will make a determined stand and bring down these handsome salaries to limits more in keeping with the financial position of the country. Private citizens are compelled to make large sacrifices in order to assist the Colony out of its difficulties, and there is no just reason why high-placed and heavilysalaried officials should not be called upon to do their share by submitting to reasonable reductions. In the days of our prosperity many of them reaped the advantage of increased salaries, and now in the period of our financial difficulties they can reasonably be expected to accept salaries more in

keeping with the state of the Colony. We are pleased with Sir George Grey's motion, bat had he gone farther we should have been better pleased.