The Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1880.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3904, 21 October 1880, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1880.

Although it is our boast that we are esßentia'ly a party organ — although we claim to have adhered firmly in the paßt as we will in the future to the political leaderß representing tbe principles o£ liberality in legislation, justice in administration, and the cause of National advancement — still wo trnst that we are not incapable of acknowledging the acts of those to whom we are politically opposed wben they are fairly entitled to praise. There are several points however which, those who are disposed to fall prostrate in admiration of the retrenchment policy o£ the Hall Government would do well to remember. For instance, what ig being done now might just as well have been accomplished last year. The Government refused to proceed with the work of retrenchment last year because they had not before them tho report of the Civil Service Commission ; they have that report before them now, but there is not a scintilla of evidence to show that it is being carried out in either tbe letter or spirit. Messrß Lawson and Conyers have been dismissed, it is true, but neither the recommendations of the Civil Service Commission nor the Eailway Commission as to the future management of the railways have been adopted. A heavy blow haß been struck at capital by the Property tax ; a still heavier stroke inflicted upon the entire wages class of the Culony by a general and indiscriminate reduction of their rates of remuneration ; but the waste, recklessness and blundering — a reference to wlijh constituted the largest portion of the Civil Service Commissioners' report — apparently goes on as merrily a3 ever. Then it ia to be remembered that not only might fill that is Icicg dene now have been carried out last year, not only might it be much better — more considerately, wisely and beneficially — carried out now than it is, but tho Ministry actually proposed in Parliament to put off the duty until next year. No credit of intention, therefore, can possibly be extended to them, and as for executior, the Icbs tbe friends of tho Government have to say upon that subject the bttter. Added to all tbia there ia tho striking fact that, with all the savings the Government can possibly accomplish, they will never be able to recoup the Colony the money they recklessly squandered in the purchase of political support during the first yfar of their Ministerial existence. It ia not our business to forget the large Rums with which certain electoral districts in tho North were dosed for the purpoao of obtaining the votes of certain Parliamentary rodents ; on the contrary it ia our duty to remember it, and to tako care that tho people whoao wages very largely in consequence — have been made to suffer shall remember it also. It" the savings in the expenditure of tho Colony effected by Ministers, in many instances curlly ; nd most unwisely, are de.lru.trVl from *.l:e amount, of. their cxtravcgaiim-s — B«.t to cay corruptions— th(j balance

which they owe the people of New Zealand, in a financial aspect only, will still be found very large.

If, however, the Ministry are honest in their desire to effect all the savings possible in the expenditure of the Colony, how comes it that tho golden opportunities presented of doing so legitimately and honourably are still persistently neglected? Sir Julius Yogel has resigned ; the Colony is not now carrying out any great public works; Government immigration has practically ceased ; in short, there is now no work in England for an AgentGeneral to attend to, and yet cnother Agent- General is to be appointed to the Tacant position ! Here is an office of a most expensive character, a body of officials for whom the Oolony has no preaent need, and yet they are to be maintained. We commend this fact to the consideration of the working classes whose wages have been reduced in order toeffect a paltry saving of afewhundreds. We ask those wbo have been induced to make this country their home by the representations of the machinery of the A gent- General, whether — in such a time of reductions, dismissals, and general depression as thiB — that office should not have been the first to be attacked P Now, actually it is vacant— but the Governnient propose to fill it up immediately. Some political hanger-on — who doubtless has already got quite sufficient out of unhappy New Zealand — must be propped up with the position. Such an opportunity for the exercise of political patronage in a big thing could not possibly be allowed to go by. How can it be expected that, in full view of these facts, and with every desire to do the Hall combination justice, we should be able to find one word of praise for them in our vocabulary p Let those who are dispoaed to worship at their Bbrine ponder the facts we have laid beforo them.