ECONOMY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5023, 11 July 1891, Page 4

ECONOMY.

TO THE UDITOU. Sir,—l am pleased that someone has broken the ice at last regarding our Harbor Board affairs. I think "Retrenchment's " letter is just what was wanted to show the favoritism which is existing in our local bodies. But this is nothing new. It seems to have been a long custom, from the Government- down, that if you scratch my back I will scratch yours, and so this abominable practice has gone oil until it lias brought this beautiful country well nigh to ruin. But these vile customs only have their day. We have hope when" we see such honest and straightforward men as Dick Seddon and John M'Kenzie put into power. They are going to the very root of these evils and exposing them to the wide world. Now, sir. it is my opinion that we want a few of these men in the Oaninj.ru Harbor Board to adjust tite.se things a-little bit. Since the harbor works are finished, what does the Harbor Board want with an Inspector, with a salary of between L4OO and LSOO a year, a clerk with L 250, a timekeeper with nearly L2OO. a Harbormaster with L:J0O, and a pilot with about Ll5O. to look after two or three men i Now, I do not blame these men a little bit for holding their billets as long as they can. It is the Harbor Board's place to see to this, *utd to ijOt the most expensive men in their stuff dispensed with when there has Wen little or no revenue coming in and nothing for these men to do. Why were they not as prompt in paying ofi these men as they were in paying all the the poor laboring men off when their work was finished. Now, sir, it is plain to be .seen by every person that the Harbor Bnartl must face the matter, whether they m ike friends or foes, and unless immediate steps arc taken by the Board to do away with this enormous and unnecessary expense at their first meeting, I would suggest that a public meeting be called to discuss this question and to show the public's disapproval of the present state of affairs. Now, sir. one word more, and I am done for the present. In your leader of the Sth inst. you seem to give all the praise to these officials of the Board for otir harbor works, which are now complete. What about all the old laboring pioneers who were on the breakwater works from first to last, and who rolled the first stones into the sea and put the lirst shovel-full of concrete into the first concrete block, and who did all the hard grafting for a small wage, and were exposed to all the dangers that attend such works, while these officials were standing at a distance looking on. with their big salaries. I think, sir, if there is any pnki.se to be given, it is due only to these mcu who risked their lives and did all the hard graftimr, and, if an opportunity should take place, these men should be respectfully dealt with when the trade of our harbor will afford such consideration. I am, etc.. Eco.vom v.