THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14577, 16 July 1909, Page 8

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

■ >* FURTHER RETRENCHMENT. (Per Uxiteu Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, July IS. In furtherance of the general 'scheme of retrenchment outlined liv Sir Joseph Ward some time ago,'the Cabinet has decided- upon radical changes in connection with the Stamp Department. The creation and issuing of stamps will be transferred to the General Pest Office, and wit' be henceforth under the.control of that office. The assessment and collection of deceased persons' estates duty will be transferred to the Land and Income Tax Department, and all work in connection with deceased persons' estates is to be centralised in Wellington. All accounts relating to deceased- 'persons must be forwarded to Wellington from the different parts of the Dominion. There is to bo no oflice for tho receipt of suchstamps except in Wellington. Tho assessment of stamp duty on deeds and all other instruments will be made by the district land registrar instead of, as at present, by the- Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, and the acl-unf (damping of documents is to be done by the post offices in the different centres," where tho deeds 'duty will he assessed by the district land registrars. All work connected with the swrotaryship of the Land and Deeds Department, and all other work accepted after a transfer is made as above indicated, will remain with the Stamp Office, together, probably, with ether work which may be transferred to that office. The changes so outlined will, perhaps, require some legislation to formally complete the operation, but in the meantime, as far as possible, and as soon as possible, t-lte proposed changes will be put into operation under the existing legislation. The purpose of the Prime Minister in making these changes is one of economy, and it is anticipated that a considerable saving will lie effected owing to the retirement of certain officers.