The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1543, 29 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1879.

Tiik question raised tho other evening at tho East Christchurch School Committee election appears to lis worthy of more than passing Consideration, Ono of the ratepayers brought under the notico of the -committee the effect of tho prosont system as regards tho nomination by school committees of members of the Board of Education* Ho showed that under this system a small country school committee, representing perhaps fifty or sixty ratepayers, possessed as much power of representation—or rathor nomination—as tho metropolitan committees, representing perhaps as many hundreds. Now. without entering at all into tho epiostion of the desirableness of the members of the Board being elected, as is now the case, through the school committees, it does seem at first sight that the matter referred to by Mr. Harris is one requiring alteration. It will of course at once be conceded that tho majority havo a right to the largest representative power, although the claims of the minority must trot bo overlooked. It is apparently therefore an anomaly that all committees, whether largo or small, should bo ablo to nominate tho same number of members to the Board. Ono way of getting over the difficulty would bo to divide tho school districts into town, suburban and country, and allot a fair proportion of members to each. Tho school committees in each section might be grouped so as to provide for a due share of representation. By this means the larger bodies of ratepayer would have the power of electing a fair proportion of mombors, and tho lespooU-ro mkvcoio 0 £ ii;™. nnburb and country would bo consulted. Some sucn alteration as wo have sketched out might bo introduced into the Act next session, so as to remove what is undoubtedly an

anomaly. We are glad to soo that the East Christchurch committee proposo to consider the matter at an early meeting, It would bo advantageous if other committees would follow tho samo example, as, by discussing tho subject, many valuable suggestions might be thrown out, and porhaps a general outline of a scheme for alteration submitted to the Government. It certainly seems to us necessary that the present method should be changed, and that, while the claims of tho smaller districts are not ignored, they should only be allowed to have a voice in the election of members of the Board proportionate to their size. Now that the matter has been ventilated, we hope to see a general interest taken in it, affecting, as it does in a marked degree, the work of school committees.

The Hackney Carriage by-law, after much tribulation, may at last bo said to have reachod the haven of completeness, so far as the City Council are concerned. All will agree -with us that some such municipal legislation was required, and that, long ere this. However, it is better late than never, and we trust that now the days of the Jehuistic saturnalia in Gloucester street are numbered. The citizens of Curistchurch —closely resembling in their patience a very useful animal—have fcr years endured what wo venture to say would not have been tolerated a week elsewhere. At last, however, the dawn of better tilings approaches, and we only hope that a rigid supervision will be kept over the licensed drivers of cabs to prevent the infringement of the by-law. And this brings us to tho purport of our article, which is to brikg under tho notice of tho City Council the necessity for the inspector of hßckney carriages devoting more time than ho does now to this branch of his duties. Not that the officer in anj way neglects them—far from it, as he is both efficient and vigilant, —but he combines the most important dutr of city inspector of nuisances with that of supervising licensed vehicles. The former, it is unnecessary to say, is, with the growing population of the city, a very important and responsible office, and takes up no inconsiderable part of tho time of tho inspector. In fact, to perform this part of his duty thoroughly, and as we are sure Mr. Hcbbs would desire to perform it, his whole time should bo devoted to it. While this is so, it is patent to anyone who does nuch travelling in cabs, that thoir suporrision would employ tho whole time of an active and vigilant inspector. There will always be a largo number of cases whe'o the interference of such an official in the matter of extortionato fares, or of the condition of horses, cabs, &c, would be required, and when the by-law comes into force there will bo still ample' scope for a zoalous officer in this directbn. Henco we think that the time has rrrived when it is necessary to consider -whether it would not be judicious to sever tho office of inspectorship of nuisanes from that of inspectorship of hackney carriages. Tho duties of both increase duly, and it is not fair to saddle ono officia with tho responsibility of discharging duties which aro sufficient to employ two. Tho public would be tho gainer ir two ways —tho general public by obtaiiing a more careful and vigilant suporvisbn of the sanitary condition of tho city—a result most earnestly to bo desired—and tho travelling public by having :hoir special interests well taken care of. Those results would bo cheap at tho extra cost caused by tho increase in salaries which the severance of the two offices would necessitate. Bosides, it scorns <o us bad policy in public, as well as prkato service, to impose too much responsibility upon ono man. In tho end it is fa.se economy, and so we believe the City Council will find. Wo trust that some member of the Council will take this matter up with a view to the suggestion we havo made bci.ig carried practically into effect.

We are soihewhaib tit ;i loss to understand tho grounds of the objection of the Very Rov. the Dean and tlio Rov. Mr. Watson to the namo of tho Temperance Hotel Company. So far as wo understood, this company was projected to afford persons so disposed, accommodation fiVo from the temptations of a public-house. This being so, why object to the name "Temperance Hotel" ? Tlio Dean wanted some general name, such as tho " Cantorbury Hotel," and one gentleman suggested tho printing of tho word "Temperance" in Smaller type. Might wo suggest that the now hotd should bo called "Tlio Mitre"? Tho rov. gentlemen, indeed. appear to have boon evoking a shadow to fight against. The distinctive idea of

tho movement was that a temperance hotel should bo built, and why not therefore say so ? Anyone reading tho repsrt of tho mooting will fail, like onraelvos, to discover any valid reason for the change in title desired by tho Very Rov. tho Dean and Mr. Watson. All that tho Dean says is that a general name would bo more beneficial to the interests of tho hotel. Ho does not howovor toll us why, and it is quite open for any one to hold a very strong opinion the othor way. Let us perfectly understand tho matter. If tho projectors are to establish an hotel pure and simple, then make it clear that they are doing so. If they intend erecting an hotel on temperance principles, which we conceive they do, let this be put forth plainly. At present one is confused and unable to arrive at a very clear notion of the idtimate objects of the company. There is ample scope in Churistclnirch for a good hotel of either class, but judging from tho directorate, wo should hardly think it probable that the company would wish to found an ordinary ono. Tho outcome of yesterday's discussion, however, will leave the public somewhat undecided as to tho ultimate objects of the company, a result which is, to say the least of it, undesirable.