ECONOMY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170576, 6 August 1921, Page 2

ECONOMY.

REDUCTIONS AT HOME. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, August 4. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Sir W. Mitcholl-Thomson stated that the Board of Trade was considering a very substantial reduction in the Estimates for the headquarters staff of the Overseas Trade Department. The Australian Press Association learns that the reduction will not in any way interfere with the activities of the Commissioners for Australia, New Zealand, and the other Dominions, who will continue to -work on the present lines.

IN PUBLIC! SERVICE

Per Press Association. AY ELLINGTON, August o. Interviewed on the need for economy in the public (service, stressed in speeches made at the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Sir Francis Bell said the railway “cut” announced, and which was in course of preparation long before the speeches referred to vero made, shows that the Cabinet recognises the need for economy, and ia prepared to do what it can in the direction of economising in Government services. The difficulty is that all branches of the Public Service are subject to the classification lisle, and it will probably require th-o Intervention of Parliament before any great retrenchment can he carried out. In the meantime, a. certain number of temporary employees, who might have been dispensed with, have been kept on, hut it is not 4s a largo number, and was principally in connexion with the various public works throughout the Dominion. He was keeping Public AYorks on at a rate that he ought not to,. having regard to the present financial position, but tbo Government, in view of the existing unemployment, did not wish to throw men out of work during the winter montlis, and was utilising the funds at ita disposal so as to give as much employment as possible. In any case, said Sir Francis, the number of these men h? not large, and did not afford opportunity for any great retrenchment. AVlhmi Parliament mot. the matter would no doubt have to ■ha further considered.