THE GREY MINISTRY'S EXTRAVAGANCE. TO TOE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6189, 9 December 1881, Page 4

THE GREY MINISTRY'S EXTRAVAGANCE. TO TOE EDITOR.

Sib,—Week by week, almost day b3> day, you keep repeating tho parrot cry that the " extravagance of the Grey Ministry " brought the Colony to the " vereo o( bankruptcy." Would you name the items and amounts spout that had this effect? Your vajfue statements cau then bo tested by figures.—l am, 4-c, Robert Stout. December Bth. [Wo refer Mr Stout to Major Atkinson's Statement on 17th November, 1879, in which a deficiency lor £131,824 {or the'year 18/8-9 is Bhawn; increased to £911,958 in 1870-80, duriug a coneideiable portion of which year tho Grey Government were in office -the Estimates on which these figures were based being those ol the Grey Government, fouud by Major Atkinson when ho aßSumed office; also heavy liabilities on loan account. We aIBO refer Mr Stout to Mr Downie Stewart's speech as to the administration of tho Grey Government, delivered on Ist August, 1879, - Eb. 0. D. T.J

SEPARATE ELECTORATES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Mr Fish last jiight at Battray streot is reported to havo said that ho regarded " the division of Dun--odin into four electorates as a gross blunder." To my mind no greater miefortuno could bo'all the electors than having the four members returned for tho whole city. It would revive the obnoxious practice of " tho ticket," by which a minority of electors working in compact can return tho ticket, the votes of the majority being split up amongst the othor candidates. Separato electorates gives to the electors the opporportunity of selecting tho best man, each successful candidate being returned on his own merits.—l am, &c., FBEB AND iNDBrESDBNT EtECTOR, December Bth.