The Globe. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1643, 27 May 1879, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879.

The Sydenham Borough Council may congratulate themselves upon the easy solution of a very difficult question with reference to tho formation of the South Town Belt. This question had, prior to tho joint conference of the Councils, been very keenly debated, and the position taken up by the city was that they could not reconcile it with their duty to the ratepayers to consent to pay any share of ths cost of tho formation. They pointed out that tho city had already borne the cost of the formation, &c., of their side, and that therefore it was only fair that tho Borough of Sydenham should also contribule its share to the work by forming tho Bolt to the southward of the city boundary Up to the agitation by tho unemployed, the City Council firmly refused to have anything to do with the work. But taking into consideration the desirability of obtaining work for the unemployed, it was felt that a case existed in which, as the Mayor of Christchurch puts it, the city might well stretch a point. Cr. Binstead, it is true, put in a protest on the part of tho ratepayers against the money of tho city being expended in this work. Wo cannot agree with all that Cr. Binstead advanced, considering tho special circumstances of tho case. Here we have an appeal made by tho unemployed, which if it bo found to be based on lona fide grounds, demands tho sympathy and assistance of the local bodies, Tho work in question is well-known as ouo which will, when completed, bo of great benefit not only to Sydenham but the whole district around Christchurch. In tho winter mouths, under present circumstances, tho South town belt is little bettor than a swamp, spreading disease around. If therefore this slate of things can bo remedied, and at tho same time employment afforded to a number of men, it is worth while spending a few pounds out of tho rates. We cannot therefore side with Cr. Binstead when ho says that tho ratepayers of Christchurch will have good cause to complain of tho wrongful expenditure of their funds. The present is altogether an exceptional case, ouo which we hope will not occur again, and it may well bo dealt with in an exceptional manner. This fact was, wo think, recognised by tho majority of tho members of the City Council present at the conference, and hence the change in their opinions which was referred to by Cr. Binstead. It is satisfactory that a matter which has been the cause of some acrimonious feeling tho borough and tho city should have been so far settled in an amicable way. All wo would desire to remind tho Sydenham people is that they ought not to forget that in this matter they have boon met most liberally by tho City Council. Ideally tho latter were not called upon in tho slightest to contribute to such an extent as ouo half of the cost, but tho fact of it affording the employment, which is so much needed, had the effect of inducing them to forego tho strict letter of their rights, and to give to Sydenham more than they some time ago asked for. It is to bo hoped that the Government will see their way clearly to aiding the municipalities to tho extent required. If they do this, and this work together with others, is carried out, not only will relief bo afforded to those out of employment, but a great public benefit will accrue.

The promoters of the meeting' re the unemployed question, to ho hold to-morrow evening, are to he commended for the course taken by them in withdrawing one of the resolutions originally intended to he proposed. This resolution had reference to the importation of Chinese, which, it was alleged, was in some degree the cause of the present depression in the labour market. Now to introduce the Chinese question into a meeting such as that of to-morrow evening, would open up by far too wide a field of discussion, and the main object of tho meeting would, to a great extent, be lost sight of. So far as this part of the colony is concerned,

wo could not with truth say that Chinese labour is in any way competing with European. The Chinese in Canterbury are but few, and principally engaged in market gardening, which does not in any way interfere with the labour market. Such being the case, and seeing also that the groat object of the mooting is to urge upon the Government the necessity of aiding the local bodies in their efforts to provide work, wo think it would have been extremely injudicious to have allowed what would have been a rodherring to bo drawn across the scent. The promoters of the mooting will, wo trust, take care that the speakers to the resolutions confine themselves to the matter in hand, and that nothing which is likely to induce discussion is referred to. In a mooting such as the one tomorrow, when it is wished to bring the weight of popular opinion to bear upon the Government, it is imperatively necessary that, not alone should decorum bo preserved, but that unanimity should also prevail. If this is not the case, the moral force of such a meeting is lost.