The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1463, 24 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1878.

So far as Die approaching Mayoral election is concerned wo have at least one Richmond in the field. Councillor Ick has definitely announced his iutontiou of coming forward as a candidate for the honorable post of Mayor of Christchurch. In his address ho does not enter very extensively into his opinions on subjects of municipal interest, but this may bo perhaps because ho believes that they are pretty well known. We welcome Mr. Ick’s candidature for many reasons. One , particular is that he was the original ' mover ip. what wo consider a very important matter, mi., pho necessity of some regulation by the Council as m phe speed at which vehicles are driven round street corners. So far back as 1874 Councillor jtck brought forward a resolution on the subject as follows: —“ That Dr. Foster prepare a bylawyegulating the speed of horses

and wheeled vehicles round the corners of the following streets, viz., Hereford and Colombo street, near the Bank of New Zealand; Colombo and Cashel streets, High and Cashel streets, near the Bank of Australasia; the corner of Mr. Calvert’s shop, and such other places as the Council may from time to time appoint.” This was carried by five to threo, and a bylaw drafted. By some means this was thrown out; but the good intentions of Councillor Ick remain the same, and he has a right to claim the honor of having been the first to draw attention to such a dangerous practice, and propose a remedy. This foresight and care for the lives and limbs of the citizens should form a strong claim on the part of Councillor Ick for the support of the burgesses at the forthcoming election. That his action in this respect was necessary seems to us to bo amply proved by the rider to a verdict of a coroner’s jury forwarded to the Council some time afterwards, upon which the later by-law was founded. This also, wo are glad to say, received the consistent support of Councillor Ick. It is true that attempts have boon made to deprive this gentleman of the credit which is duo to him as being the first originator of so useful a measure,but the motion which we have given above shows incontestably his right to claim whatever kudos arises therefrom. It is said, with what truth wo know not, that Councillor Ick will be unopposed, and will, to use a sporting phrase “ walk over ” for the Mayoralty. So far as we can learn, Councillor Wilson, who was spoken of as a probable candidate, will not contest against Councillor Ick. Since the advent of the former gentleman to the City Council ho has, we are informed, discovered such a striking similarity of thought and idea on municipal matters between the candidate and himself, such unanimity of opinion on the principal subjects likely to come before the Council, that a contest between them would perhaps only tend to disturb the excellent fooling which has grown up, and sever an alliance which is touching in its fidelity as well as of rare occurrence. We are glad to find that such is the case, and that there is every probability when Councillor Ick receives the reward due to him, viz., the occupancy of the Mayoral chair, that he will have so able an assistant as Councillor Wilson as his trusted adviser on all matters of moment, With two such old and faithful servants at the head of affairs the interests of the ratepayers during the forthcoming mayoral year are bound to bo looked after. Councillor Wilson has already shown, by his assiduity and attention to business at the meetings of the Council, and the practical way in which he lias brought forward the many subjects initiated by him for the benefit of the city, that he has lost none of his interest in the work. Ho has already shown all the fervor of a Rees in a minor key. When, therefore, as is most probably the case, he will have in Councillor Ick a coadjutor as Mayor whose sentiments and opinions on municipal matters so entirely coincide and agree with his own, it is easy to imagine that the height of prosperity in city affairs, so far as Christchurch is concerned, will have been reached. We trust that if Councillor Ick is elected he will prove consistent in his conduct as regards so important a subject as the regulation of speed round street corners of horses and vehicles, as we have shown he some four years ago conceived the idea of regulating the traffic by means of a by-law. It is true that it was thrown out, but again enacted under his auspices, and no one can deny that it is one of the most necessary enactments ever passed by the Council, Hardly a day passes but that some narrow escape from serious accident occurs, owing to the speed at which vehicles are driven round corners. Hardly a day passes in which people do not save their lives by not standing gaping in the centres of streets. Therefore it is that wo trust Councillor Ick will, if elected as Mayor, use his influence to enforce the provisions of the by-law referred to. Should it be fairly brought into working order during his Mayoralty, he will be enabled to look back for several years with pride as having been the originator of a measure which has for its object the preservation of the limbs, if not the lives, of the ratepayers of the city.

The Gaol Committee have reported on the charges made against the police. From their report it will be seen that the strong statements made by Mr. Barton in his vehement denunciation have been shown, so far as the Wellington police are concerned, to have had a very considerable substratum of fact, even though the facts were described in somewhat exaggerated language. Thus it is true that violent prisoners “have been repeatedly chained down to rings in the floor of the police colls to keep them quiet.” This practice the police officers examined attempted to justify. It may therefore be presumed not to bo included in those matters to which the Committee refer as having occurred so long ago as to render it difficult to get accurate information concerning them. The practice is one which Wellington constables of the present era at least justify, and which, therefore, it may bo assumed that they would not scruple to adopt if they thought occasion called for it. This in itself is quite sufficient to warrant the very strong expression of opinion which the Committee embody in their report on this point. It is indeed hard to believe that such things should have been allowed to exist in New Zealand, aud however widely people may differ from Mr. Barton in some of his actions, they insist admit that he has done good service to the State in compelling inquiry into this practice, and the exposure of a very' serious abuse. In other matters also it appears that Mr. Barton’s charges are substantiated to a considerable extent, Generally it may be said that, although there was no direct evidence of the Wellington police having taken bribes, a strong suspicion was created in the minds of the committee that the police had been wrongfully influenced, particularly in regard to their action in the case of some publicans. Into the nature of the particular cases the report does not outer, but it seems to be implied that some publicans had been permitted to evade tJiP licensing laws. To wink at such things was doubtless very wicked of the police, but it, must bo granted that while the laws remain as

they are, and many Magistrates are such as they are, it is impossible that it should be otherwise. This shortcoming in the constabulary is at least one which is not confined to a particular district in the colony. The immediate question of interest in connection with this report is, how far the faults found with the Wellington police are also to be found with the Canterbury force. To a large extent we believe that the evils complained of have grown out of the utter disorganisation of the force consequent upon recent administration, and these may be expected to crop up, wherever this disorganisation has spread—that is to say, throughout Now Zealand. But the Wellington method of restraining violent prisoners is certainly not in vogue in most townships, and it is high time that it was stopped in all. The moral of the committee’s report seems to be that, if there was so much of an uncomfortable character to be discovered in the customs of the Wellington police, who may bo said to bo under the very nose of the responsible head, it is at least not improbable that in other districts yet more ample reasons for a searching inquiry exist. We have no reason other than the likelihood of the case for saying this; but surely that likelihood, taken with the committee’s report, establishes a good ground for the extension of the inquiry.