The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 297, 26 May 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1875.

The members of the present Executive are economically inclined. This is evident from the fact that they do not see their way to sanctioning “ A re- “ spectful address to his Honor the “ Superintendent requesting him to “ place on the Supplementary Esti- “ mates a sufficient sum to carry on so “ much of the proposed additions to “ the Museum as can be conveniently " erected during the present year.” We have no doubt that the Executive

had very good grounds for opposing the resolution moved by the member for Port Victoria, and the majority of the Council agreed with them, that in the present state of the finances of the province such an expenditure would not be justifiable. But later on, yesterday, the House went into Committee of Supply, and on “ Class 12 — “ Miscellaneous, £11,051 75,” being moved, Mr Parker rose and moved the reduction of the vote by striking out the item “Railway fares” members of the Provincial Council, £350. This was a direct appeal to the members of the House, to show that they really desired to practice the economy they had preached but an hour or two before. But as this economy would affect their own pockets and convenience, the House would not agree to Mr Parker’s amendment, and on his demanding a division he found himself in a minority of six, in a House composed of twenty-six members. We hope, however, that Mr Parker or some other member of his way of thinking, will bring the matter forward again every session until this granting of free passes to members of the Provincial Council, except during the session of the Council, is abolished. We cannot doubt for one moment that the present President of theExecutiveis thoroughly in favor of abolishing the free pass system. The whole of his conduct and his speeches during the time he has been a member of the Council prove this. It may be urged that the sum required for these free, passes, namely, £350, issosmall that itcannotmake any appreciable difference to the Treasury, and that the passes are useful to members in order that they may examine public works whilst these works are in the course of progress. But the liability to the abuse of the free pass, by using it for journeys of private business, is, we think, greater than the advantage to be gained by the possibily of some members travelling through the country to spy out the defects in any works of importance that may be going on. That the free passes have been used, or misused, for journeys on private matters only, is the very general opinion, whether that opinion be true or false. Those members of the Council who do not charge the public purse with the expense of their journeys on the Canterbury railways are pretty well-known, and we wish them success in their efforts to remove the item of “ Eree Passes” from the Estimates on the next occasion on which they have an opportunity of taking the votes of the House on the question.