THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1668, 25 June 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1879.

The ratepayers will, we believe, endorse to the full the vote of His Worship the Mayor on Monday evening in connection with the Rate Collectorship. Evidently, the committee to whom the matter was referred have very peculiar ideas, which we fain would hope are not by any means shared by the general body of the citizens. In the mind of the committee, the long and faithful services of an officer carry no weight, and, in fact, act in a contrary direction, for, although Mr. Tribe's services in the office can be made as useful as those of a younger man, the committee coolly proposed to mulct him of £25 per annum, and to place one who has lately joined the Corporation staff over his head. This would certainly have boon far from rewarding a long and faithful career in the service of the city ; it would, at first sight, have appeared as if a punishment wore to be inflicted for some offence committed. Perhaps the committee, however, wished to show how careful they were of the city funds, but if this wore the caso they certainly selected a most unfortunate example on which to exercise their new found eagerness for economy. It can never be the wish of the ratepayers that aiiy officer after thirteen long years of servic e should bo reduced both in position and salary, while capable of discharging the duties of the now offico to which ho is to be appointed. It seems to us somewhat of a mockery to say to such an officer that the Council recognise, in the highest possible manner, the sorvicos ho has rendered, but that he will havo to take an inforior position and submit to a reduction in his salary. Truly, some of our City Councillors possess vory peculiar notion on the fitness of things. Had the committee's idea boon carried into force what incontive would there have been for officers of tho City Council to do their duty faithfully? How could tho city have hoped to rotain tho services of really good men ? If after, say, ten years of sorvico, officers are to be told that they might indeed bo retained, but that they must tako junior rank under a now corner at a lower rate of salary, who would enter tho City employment ? Lot such a principle onco obtain in tho public sorvice, and none but the most needy and good-for-nothing would over enter it. It says but little for the kindly sympathy of tho committee, and those of the Council who thought with thorn, that such a proposition as the one referred to should have beon brought forward, and wo are sure that tho citizens will feol glad that tho Mayor and tho four Councillors who thought with him havo boon ablo to carry tho day, for a faithful public servant lias thereby been treated in a manner becoming his services, and tho citizens havo been saved from the imputation of being capable of meanness toward those employed in their service.

The torm of tenancy of tho present Post office by tho Government expiros very shortly, and tho building will then rovert to tho City Council. As it will bo some months yet even supposing that tho plans to bo irainodiatoly decided upon, boforo tho now Municipal buildings are oroctod, would it not bo wise to utilise tho present Post-office temporarily for city

purposes? Nothing could bo worse or more inconvenient than the presont offices, so that any change would be for the better. The cost of arranging th« building for the purpose wo have suggested would bo but trifling. The offices of the various departments aro ready to hand, and tho central hall, now used as tho sorting room, would make a much better Council chamber than tho ono now used. If this idea were carried out, another public convonienco would bo served by enabling tho Resident Magistrate's Court to occupy tho whole of tho presont promises, pending tho erection of tho long-looked-for Court House. Thus tho interests of tho Council and those of another important department of tho public sorvico would bo both furthorod. Of course wo only throw this out as a suggestion. It may bo found on investigation that it would cost more money than at first sight appears probable, to fit up tho present Post-office for tho purpose we have mentioned. If this is found to bo tho case, of courso it would not bo advisable for tho Council to movo as proposed. But if, as seems probable, tho building can bo utilised at a moderate cost, then wo say that tho increased convonienco afforded for tho transaction of the business of the city would bo worth the expenditure. It may be nine or twelve months before the now buildings aro completed, so that really the disbursing of a little money in tho direction indicated might bo founds to be true economy. Woro tho building not occupied as wo suggest, it would probably only bo allowed to remain empty, or it would bo pulled down. We commend our idea to tho notice of the Council, in the hope that something practical may be the result.