ECONOMY.
[To THE EDITOR Or TEl " SPECrATOR.") SIR,--We all know the Government is snendthrift, and we all censure it, but very few people pause to consider that this is largely our own fault. A Government inspector in my hearing quite recently refused to hire a taxi on the ground that it was wrong to charge the Government an unnecessary fare for what was merely a walk of one and a-half miles. .I repeated this to a friend, and had the answer, "What non- sense! I would take a taxi every time and charge the Board everything." Comment is almost needless, but until public opinion realizes that this way of looking at things is asking for Government extravagance we shall not see much redress. So many Government officials must feel that nine out of every ten people they meet will condone their extravagance because "it is only Government money," and entirely fail to realize that this same money is taken front their own pocket. If Government officials knew that needless expense would be severely censured by the men and women they meet one at least of the leaks by which public money dribbles away might be stopped, and such conduct as that of my inspector would be more universal. I enclose my card.—I am, Sir, &c., A BCSINTZS Woussf.
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