The Globe. THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 585, 4 May 1876, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1876.

The relations existing at the present time between the Superintendent of this Province and the Executive are of a very unsatisfactory character. The complication has arisen through the resignation of Mr. Maskell, the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer. It appears that the Executive recommended a gentleman to his Honour to 611 Mr Maskell’s position, of whom his Honour did not approve, and the Superintendent has appointed Mr, Jameson to the office of Proyincial Treasurer ; this appointment has not met with the approval of the Executive, and it has been submitted to the Provincial Solicitor for his opinion as to its validity—who states that “ this appointment is not in my “ opinion authorised by law.” It is very unfortunate that the Provincial Executive and the Superintendent could not carry on the business of the Government for the short period that it will be in existence without this unseemly interruption. There is not only the question of the appointment of Mr. Jameson as Provincial Treasurer, as a source of confusion, but that of the arrangements necessary for the completion of the vouchers and the signing of cheques for the payment of official salaries, &c., &c. It is but a few days since the public was placed to great inconvenience loss and annoyance, through the evident bungling of one of the Provincial Government Departments having been the means of bringing about a strike of the hands employed in the goods sheds at the railway station, and now we hear a rumour that there is a possibility of a general strike throughout the Canterbury Railways, should the employees not be in receipt of their pay at the proper time. The Provincial Auditor has given his opinion. The Superintendent has gazetted the appointment, and the Provincial Solicitor is of opinion that the appointment is contrary to law, and the Executive join issue. It is to be hoped, however, for the sake of the travelling public that his Horn ur and the Executive will not carry this matter to extremes. Cannot some course be devised by which the machinery of the Provincial Government can be carried on peaceably for the little time longer that it has to live ?