The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1445, 3 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1878.

The disasters from flood which have just befallen a large proportion of the people of Otago and Southland are, it seems to us, such as should be regarded in the light of a national calamity. The full extent of the damage done it is of course impossible as yet to estimate. But the accounts are sufficiently full to justify the assumption that in numerous cases worldly ruin, and severe distress has suddenly fallen upon many struggling settlers through no fault of their own. The occasion then seems a very proper one for a public subscription for the relief, in some measure, of those whose little property has been swept away by the flood. As to the large runholder and extensive farmer, they are probably able to bear, and will in due course recover from their losses, heavy though they may bo. But it is the numerous cottagers and peasant proprietors, the working people, many of whom had established humble homesteads by years of thrift, and who have now lost everything or nearly everything —it is these who have a claim to the sympathy and prompt assistance of their fellow-colonists throughout New Zealand, We believe that the appeal would only need to be made to be cheerfully responded to. A people who gladly send abroad many thousand pounds for the relief of famine amongst an alien race, will surely not shut up their bowels of compassion when there is distress amongst their fellows at their own doors. A few years ago much suffering and heavy losses were caused by floods on the West Coast of this island. Subscriptions were started in other parts of the colony, and material relief was given to many who had been reduced to poverty. The occasion now is very much greater than it was then, if we may trust the accounts already received, and if this is so, we feel confident that there is no necessity for enlarging upon the propriety of the step we are advocating in order to ensure its being taken. A month ago the metaphorical union of Miss Christchurch with Mr. Dunedin was celebrated over the flowing bowl. What better opportunity could be afforded than the present for proving that the union extends beyond metaphor into earnest reality: that whatever political differences and disputes may exist or have existed in times past, they are powerless to affect the underlying bond between fellowcolonists? Will not the same gentleman who so happily alluded to and beamed over the late railway wedding, and who has been the moving spirit on fifty occasions when the call of humanity or recognition of merit demanded joint action in the community, take this matter also in hand ? If Mr. Ollivier should see fit to move, as we hope ho may, in the direction indicated, we are quite confident the community will heartily move with him.

The Government do not propose to introduce any measure to deal with the question of charitable aid this session. The subject, said Colonel Whitmore, was difficult to deal with, but as the existing system had been more or less successful in the past it did not demand reform at present. Had the Colonial Secretary contented himself with simply stating the intention of the Government in the matter, ho would still have left to that particular portion of the public, who believe in his intelligence, whatever light to maintain that belief may have been afforded by his past career. But he was too anxious to give reasons, 'and in the absence of any better, he has advanced the astonishing argument that because a subject is difficult to deal with, therefore the Government of the colony should religiously abstain from dealing with it. From a member of the late Ministry whose avowed policy was, at least latterly, a search for rest, such an argument would not be altogether surprising. But from a member of a Government whose head possesses such unequalled capacity that he can reform a whole fiscal system in half an hour —a Government which scorns rest, and professes to regard a difficulty as merely an additional incentive to action, such an avowal is very strange. If Colonel Whitmore had argued that the Parliament was not in a fit mood to deal with this question, that the minds of honourable members were already taxed beyond their capacity by the amount and scope of the work which the Government

had provided for them, his process of reasoning would have been intelligible, and he would have found many to agree with him. But to say that a task is to be shirked simply because it is difficult is an admission of weakness which, though praiseworthy in its candour, is nevertheless very little to be commended in a Minister of the Crown.

But Colonel Whitmore’s further observation was, if possible, yet more absurd, at least as reported. The existing system had boon more or less successful in the past, and therefore did not demand reform in the present. Although this expression must not bo treated as the ipsissima verha of the Colonial Secretary, it is nevertheless legitimate to assume that it represents the gist of his sentiments. Treating it thus then, it follows that we must ask—where is the existing system P Has the colony yet heard of any system in the matter having been established P Is it not on the contrary notorious that former systems have been destroyed by the Government’s repeated refusal to continue them, that some hospitals and charitable institutions in the colony are in consequence at the last gasp, while others are staggering along hopelessly to dissolution under a burden too heavy for them to boar ? Where and of what kind is the system to which Colonel Whitmore alludes, and is the impecuniosity of such hospitals as those of Greymouth and Hokitika, caused by the withdrawal of a large part of the Government aid, to be set down as the greater or the (less degree of success alleged to have atended the system alluded to ?