Retrenchment.

Speaking as to the question of [unclear: retrement] generally, Mr Ballance said that [unclear: M] Aikinson, though condemning the Government as extravagant failed to [unclear: place] finger on a single item on which [unclear: he] charge them with extravagance. [unclear: He] general statements regarding the [unclear: expe] ture but there was no direct [unclear: attempt] to show that the Government [unclear: had] guilty of extravagance. This he [unclear: tho] must be taken as the strongest [unclear: dence] of inability on the [unclear: part] Opposition to point out any [unclear: defects,] must be taken for granted that [unclear: the] mates were brought down [unclear: framed] economical basis.