The Globe. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 877, 17 April 1877, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1877.

Several of our contemporaries appear to lie much exercised in mind at the reduction in rank to which Captain Andrew has been compelled to submit in consequence of the accident which happened to the s.s. Taranaki. Different views are held by various journals regarding the manner in which the Union Company have thoughtproper to deal with their servant. The Wellington papers especially are very angry with the Company for what they are pleased to designate undue harshness and severity on their part. One of our contemporaries, the Dimedin Evening Mtar, rushes however to the opposite extreme, and boldly lays it down that even if the accident was caused through sheer misfortune, yet the mariner in question should be punished for this ireak of the blind goddess. Our contemporary says : —'" The Company's decision must be interpreted as a recognition of Captain Andrew, as an old, careful, and most reliable officer; and while the position lie got Ins ship into could not be attributed to neglect, carelessness, or rashness, it could not be overlooked, even if only as a warning to others, who are perhaps not half as careful, but more //(<■/<■//." This is surely a rather startling theory, and one which would render the relations of employers and servants rather precarious. .Fancy the Admiralty punishing a Commander for losing his ship after a Court Martial had exonerated him of all blame in the disaster. Besides, the argument cuts in another way. Our readers may recollect the story of an Irishman who, when two ships were cannonading each other, put his head through a shut-hole freshly made as the safest place be could find, the odds, he thought, being considerably against a second ball hitting exactly the same spot. But as far as Captain Andrew is concerned, the evidence produced at the Court of Inquiry Avent to show that it was his anxiety to get the mail in as early as possible that has got him into his present position. In his desire to do the people of Dunedin a special favour, liis usual prudence seems to have forsaken him. VV hen the thick weather came on he should have sheered off in his course, instead of which he kept trusting to dead reckoning, and to luck. That Captain Andrew deserved reprobation for his rash foolhardiness can scarcely be disputed, and he has perhaps been fortunate in escaping so easily as he has done.

The Drainage Board has extended the time for receiving tenders for the works advertised lor, from the 7th to 21st of May, in order to give the public an opportunity of consulting the lithographic plans of the works, which have been prepared by the engineer. This postponement has been rendered necessary by the delay which has taken place in getting the plans out. This, of course, is to be regretted. The winter is fast approaching, when the need of surface drainage in some parts of the district will be greatly felt, and every week wasted adds to the difficulty of doing any work this winter. However much the public differ as to the manner in which the drainage of the district should be carried out, ad are agreed hat something must be done, and that ijeedily. While, therefore, it is the Liitv of the Board to take steps to consult the public on such an important question, it is equally their duty lo let no unnecessary delay stand in die way of some permanent work beiug commenced, j,

The question of early closing is one which we suppose will occupy the attention of those immediately interested as long as selfishness occupies ;i prominent place in the moral code of the community. The greatest happiness of the greatest number theory, may perhaps justify the wives of our artizans and working-men in indulging in the mild dissipation of Saturday evening shopping. It is true that this habit lias a prejudicial effect upon the health and Well-being of those who minister to their wants, but then they are but a small minority, and however much they may suffer, the aggregate happiness of the community will not be reduced. The aim then of the Early Closing Association should be to enter upon a crusade against the selfish school of morality, and to endeavour to persuade the public that a little self-sacrifice in this matter might result not only in benefit to those employed in our shops, but might produce pleasant results to those exercising this virtue. But till a change takes place in public opinion all the efforts of the; Early Closing Association to induce their employers to close early will be comparatively fruitless. But those employed in retailed shops are not the only sufferers by night work. Our bankers and merchants are, in many cases, even greater sinners in this respect. No one, of course, who has the interests of his employer at heart, will grudge occasionally working overtime, but the custom of some of the large establishments of the city of continually exacting more than a fair day's work for a fair day's pay is very much to be deprecated. Not only is such a policy unjust, it is short-sighted. In the long run, no more work is really got out of their who, we should think, cannot help feeling that they are treated as mere machines, to be made the most of as long as they can work, and then to bo thrown aside when no longer fit for duty. The sooner employers come to recognise that they owe something to their employes, Avhich is not satisfied when the monthly cheques are handed round, the better'it will be for the community at large.