The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 138, 10 November 1874, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

The case decided in the Eesidenl Magistrate's Court on Thursday last with respect to railway compensation, in which Mr R. M. Morten appeared as defendant, is important as illustrating the impossibility of a man serving two masters, and bringing not only more forcibly before his own colleagues, but also the Minister for Public Works, a matter which has been a subject of universal complaint on the part of those who have had land taken for railway purposes. When Mr Maude took office he was asked by Mr Kennaway in the Provincial Council as to whether he intended to resign his General Government offices; to which be at {irst

r plied in a somewhat flippant manner that he intended to slick to every tiling he then held; but subsequently announced, on the question being repeated, that he had resigned his appointment in the Stamp Office, and it was generally understood by the Council that his other work was either nearly finished or that it would in no way interfere with the discharge of his duties as Secretary for Public Works. Mr Kennaway at the time was considered by some as bearing hard on Mr Maude; but we well remember Ins pointing out very earnestly his objections to a member of the Provincial Executive being at the same time a servant of the General Government; and doubtless his long experience had satisfied him of the incompatibility of the two offi-es. JS T <>w what has been the result? The columns of the newspapers of the province bear evidence of the general dissatisfaction which prevails with regard to the administration of the provincial works department, and also as to that portion of the department of the General Government which was left in Mr Maude's hands, viz, the purchase of land for railway purposes. We do trust in this case of Morten's we shall not have a second edition of the Keetley affair at Kaiapoi, and that Mr Maude will not be allowed to air his little knowledge of law which he is supposed to be studying—at the public expense; but that all fair claims will be settled promptly, and without litigation, if possible. But whilst blaming Mr Maude more directly, we cannot relievo the other members of the Executive from their share of the responsibility for this state of things, which is now becoming intolerable. The Executive were clearly alive to their shaky position when they declined to call a special meeting of the Provincial Council when asked the other day by the deputation, headed by Mr lieeves, M.RH, although for a purpose which they cordially approve, as they are well aware that they would not be in office many days after its assembling. Our Provincial Government has indeed fallen in public estimation since the accession to office of the present Executive. When we look back to the time and remember the circumstances under which they took offiee, how they turned out their predecessors on a question on which they were equally as determined as those they were the mears of removing, assisted by his Honor the Superintendent, who, in order to justify his womanlike spitefulness to a man far abler than himself (Mr Kennaway) agreed to a course of action with one set of men which he straiuously opposed with the other, we are not surprised at the low estimation in which the present Executive is held, and the blow they have given to Provincial Institutions in this Province. And when we think of the high flown language of the saviour of the country, tbe President of the Executive, Mr Montgomery, and his claims on behalf of himself and colleagues to be as the most pure and high-minded set of men who had ever occupied the Government Benches, and wdio declared that they would not hold office one moment after they ceased to possess the confidence of the Council, and remember the ignominious position they occupied during the last se.-siou, beaten night after night on vital questions of policy and finance until their warmest supporters felt fairly ashamed of them, we are not surprised that even amongst those who were reckoned Ultra - Provincialists there is now apathy at any rate concerning their prolongation if not a desire to see an immediate abolition. Such a power as that possessed by a Superintendent, and wielded by Mr Eolleston to make use of a disobedient officer for the sake of getting rid of an Executive which did its work well and to the satisfaction of the public, because of his personal dislike to one or more of its members is a dangerous weapon in an unscrupulous man's hands,as thepeople of Canterbury have found to their cost; and if they now seek a change in the abolition ol Provincial Institutions, no men will have more contributed to to this course than the three champions of Provincialism —the three "Williams, Rolleston, Eeeves, and Montgomery ; the former from his action as Superintendent, the second from the course be pursued with regard to the printing tenders, and his subsequent conduct, and the latter from what we must designate his political charlatanism.