Peking, April 6.
In connexion with the Government's retrenchment policy, it is announced that a committee has been formed, consisting of representatives of all the Ministries and official bureaux, the Vice-Ministers forming the Executive Committee. The first official meeting of this committee was held to-day, after which there will be meetings each Wednesday and Friday, until a plan has been completed and put into operation, which is estimated to-occupy a month.
At the inaugural meeting, the Prime Minister pointed out that, since he resumed the Premiership last year, the military expenditure had been reduced from $13,000,000 to $5,000,000, being equivalent to 24 divisions disbanded.
As the military expenditure had been reduced, the administrative expenditure must also be reduced. The intention, he said, was to reduce the military and administrative expenses $3,000,000 and $2,000,- 000, respectively, which would bring the expenditure easily within the legitimate scope of the Government.
As regards administrative retrenchment, the Government intended to cease the payment of concurrent salaries. Officials might be asked to hold more than one post, but in that case each would only receive one salary. In the second place, superfluous officials would be dismissed. Finally, the Government were determined to cut out waste in all departments.
The Finance Minister ably supported the Premier, whose statement was well received.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.