THE GOVERNMENT'S RETRENCHMENT SCHEME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 30

THE GOVERNMENT' S RETRENCHMENT SCHEME.

OFFICIALS RETIRING. (Fboix Oub Own Cobbespondent.') -^ WELLINGTON, August 30. In accordance with the Government's ' policy of retrenchment in the public serj vice, whereby the Prime Minister hopes I to save a quarter of a million sterling 1 per annum a considerable number of officers will leave the service to-morrow. No exact figures have been made public by the authorities as to the number of public servants whose services have been, dispensed with, but the number, according to the Post, is estimated at b«tw«-en. 400 and 500, together with some 420 from, the Railway Department. The departments chiefly affected are the Agricultural l)epaitnient, from which about 50 men have received notice j the" "Roads- Department, consequent on its amalgamation, with the Public Works Department and the Valuation Department, and practically every part of the Dominion is affected. It was suggested, in view of recentMirfsterial utterances as to the improvedcondition of affairs, that the services of a large number of retrenched public servants would be retained. Inquiries made, hov-never. go to show that such, is not theintention, at present, at anyrate; whatever may .happen in future. Practically all those who have received notice will sever their connection with the public service to-morrow. Among those who .are leaving the Department of Agriculture ate Mr C. J. Fulton (qiief Fibre Expect* Mr W. Jacques (Fruit Canning Expert),. Mr D. D. Hyde (Chief Poultry Expert), Mr J. C. Blackmore (Pomologist), and Mr R. Bragato (Viticulturist). On the subject of the Railway Department the Hon. J. A. Millar says he has. now been abk to definitely ascertain how much money he might expect to be allocated by Parliament for his department, and was, therefore, able to make a start, with the building programme already foreshadowed, including 20 locomotives. It must not be supposed, however, that tho commencement and carrying out of that programme would in any way result in. the bringing back into employment of a* large number of permanent hands. Themer discharged had had to leave because the building programme consequent on tbe completion of the North Island Main Trunk railway had been completed, and * there was no more work for them to do. The present building programme was. merely a programme based on the expectations of the increase in the ordinary traffic. Men would be takes on as required, and when the -work for- which: they were wanted was completed tßey would.be put off.

The Mataura Ensign understands that - the Riversdale-Switxers railway will b» opened at the same time that the Oreputi-* Waiau railway is declared open for traffic'} Although the buildings at Switaers may, not be completed it is thought wise to> have the line .opened, as unless adyuiijLg& is taken of the- presence of a Minister ioi Southland at the end of September wbeii the Orepuki extension is opened the linn to Switzers may lie idle till January..