THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1672, 30 June 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1879.

Men arc oagorly looking forward to the commencement of next session. The inefficiency of the Government has reduced affairs to such a chaos that a great party contest must of necessity occur. It will have to settled early in the day whether the country is to carry on its shoulders for another year the “ Old Man of the Mountains,” under whose deadweight it at present groans. But, in the midst of the struggle that is sure to take place, it is to bo trusted that social measures, essential to the well-being of the community, will not be overlooked. Foremost amongst those is the question of the disposal of our juvenile criminals. The present state of affairs is a permanent scandal. Judges, Magistrates, and all who are in any way connected with the administration of tho law, are constantly protesting against the system, or rather the want of system, which year by year may fairly be said to thrust into hotbeds of crime children in whom the germs of evils are not fairly established. To send juvenile criminals into the common gaol is to reduce their chance of reformation to a minimum. All that gaolers can do—and wo believe they do their best —is to keep these young prisoners as much as possible apart, but tho fact of their associating in any degree with hardened criminals must have tho moat baneful effect on their future life. Those who administer tho laws are put to

groat shifts in their endeavors to avoid an evil which it should be the first duty of the State itself to remove. The spectacle of a humane man endeavoring to ward off from a young hoy or girl the evil which the law would inflict on that child, is not an elevating one. The law, which, in theery at least, is the power which guards over for good all that are submitted to its jurisdiction, in this instance absolutely forces into the paths of vice those who are unfortunate enough to fall within its power. The Judge or the Magistrate does not refer to the law as to a saving power, but as to some principle whose mandate it is necessary to avoid at all hazards. Take for instance the case of Henry Chiverson that occurred last Tuesday. Mr. 0. Whitofoord was compelled to strain every nerve in order to prevent the sentence provided for such an offence as the boy had committed being carried into effect. Wo ask, is this a satisfactory state of affairs F Is is not rather a crying disgrace that while thousands are being spent in constructing, for instance, such a lino as the ThamesWaikato line, not a sixpence can bo spared to save hundreds of poor children, whoso crimes should bo laid far rather on their parents’ heads than their own, from a living death. Looked at impartially, the idea is monstrous, and wo fool confident that the country will not allow the evil to continue. Tne necessity for an immodiate reform in this matter is so pressing that not a moment should bo lost in sotting matters upon a satisfactory footing.

As will bo seen by reference to our telegram column, Mr. Ballance has resigned bis portfolio, owing to a rupture with the Premier. The Ministry is becoming small by degrees and beautifully loss. The cry of “breakers ahead!” is causing the crow to tako to their boats with alarming rapidity. Mr. Stout slips down tho starboard side muttering “ urgent private affairs,” while Mr. Ballance loaves on the port side, having judiciously picked a quarrel with the skipper. Mr. Ballance evidently recognises the hopelessness of the present position of the Government, or he certainly would not depart for such a trifling occurrence as a disagreement with Sir George Grey. Why, the Treasurer has been at daggers drawn with his chief for months and months; on tho Luckio affair and on a number of other questions they have been hopelessly at variance for an unlimited period. It is no secret at all that Sir George has expressed very strong views with regard to his associate ; has, with reference to him, openly used epithets containing contemptuous expressions as to tho straightness of his limbs and the calling with which he is, or has boon, in some manner or other best known to Sir George, connected. When a Premier airily calls a colleague “a knock-kneed grocer” it can hardly he said that cordial relations exist between the pair. However, Mr. Ballance has for a length of time borne his cross with a patience worthy of all commendation, and it is, apparently, only when tho ship is on tho point of sinking that the Treasurer has taken to tho water. It is an old game of the Treasurer. His conduct to the Atkinson Government is well remembered as a fine specimen of elaborate treachery.