The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 894, 7 May 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1877.

Wk had occasion a few days ago to speak of the remarks of Mr Ollivier with reference to the Madman defalcations, and to the impolicy of underpaying and overworking clerks and others placed in positions of trust. Since then we have received a report of a sermon delivered by the Itev. Id. L. Stanford, of Dunedin, in which he discusses at some length, the same question. He holds up to well deserved reprobation the conduct of those mercantile linns and banking establishments who compel their employees to work long after business hours, and also on Sundays. The ostensible reason given for this is the pressure of business, but as the rev. gentleman, we have referred to tersely puts it, the real fact is that it arises from a desire to work a large establishment at the minimum of cost, to increase dividends. Such a state of things is not only injurious to the individuals immediately concerned, but positively mischievous to its effect upon society as a whole. It encourages —nay absolutely forms —habits of dissipation, depriving as it does, the clerks and others of all means of legitimate recreation. Young men first entering life are driven to form habits, the evil results of which are seen in intemperance and worse vices. And yet when one of those sad cases so frequent in colonial towns comes to light, of some one weaker than the rest, yielding to the temptation thus placed in Jus way, society holds up its hands in pious horror. No one thinks of accusing bank directors and leading merchants —many of them churchwardens and regular attendants at places of worship —of indirectly being the cause of this, through the practice of keeping their clerks at work till a late hour every night. The life they lead is one incessant round of work, unrelieved by rational amusement of any kind. Until their hours of work are shortened, it will be useless to encourage the formation of young men’s associations for mutual improvement, or to deplore the the lack of interest taken by our young men in manly sports. As the rev. gentlemen truly says:—“ It is simply

impossible to hope that a young man, often a mere lad, entering one of these places, can go on leading a healthy God-fearing honest life, with nothing to ho ashamed of, and nothing to conceal, such as I love to think of as

the ideal of a young man’s life. * * * To turn him out of his office at 10 or 11 o’clock at night after a whole day spent more or less in the vitiated atmosphere, is to deprive him of all means of healthy recreation, and as an inevitable consequence to drive him at last to unhealthy amusement.” These arc plain spoken words, but there are unfortunately too many instances of their truth in these colonies. The sooner a healthy public opinion is termed on the subject, the better it will be for society at large. There is no reason at all why the present state of things should continue. We question even if the imaginary saving is actually a saving after all. The human machine is so constructed that it can only undergo a certain number of hours of labour every day. Any continuous lengthening of these hours must be at a sacrifice of efficiency. We shall perhaps be told that the remedy is easy and that the clerks and others should ref use to sacrifice their health at the bidding of those who employ them. But what would the result of this be ? Simply dismissal, and a filling up of their situations by others. The remedy must come from the employes, not the employed, and those who are the principal culprits must be shamed into making the reformation by the formation, of a strong public opinion on the subject.

We learn with satisfaction that some further official inquiry is likely to he made into the circumstances attendant upon the removal of the late Mr. GHI- - from the Hospital to the Lunatic Asylum. The action of the (xovernment in requesting the forwarding of the papers connected therewith seems to point in that direction. As matters at present stand, the case has been left in a most unsatisfactory condition. No evidence has been adduced of the reasons which actuated the two medical men to sign a certificate that a man, suffering from typhoid fever, was a fitting person to be sent into a crowded Asylum. In view of the danger attendant upon such a course, a step of this kind should only he taken after a most careful inquiry. That such inquiry was made does not in any way appear from the evidence at the inquest. Besides this, it is only fair to the medical gentlemen that an opportunity should be afforded them of making an explanation. A grave error of judgment was committed, it appears to us, in not taking their evidence at the inquest; as, if this had been done, the public would have been enlightened as to the reasons which induced them to sign the necessary certificates. Should an official inquiry take place- — which is in the highest degree desirable —this no doubt will ho explained. Under all the circumstances, it is to he hoped the Grovernment will institute a searching investigation into the whole affair.