THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1743, 20 September 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1879.

It has become the fashion for members of the so-called Liberal Association to laud Sir George Grey and his Government to the skies as the working man’s friends. When enquiry is made as to what they have done to merit this title, it is found that their claims rest upon an exceedingly small basis. As an instance of the fallacy of such statements, we may quote the dealings of the Government with reference to the County and Road Board subsidies. Just before the polling for Christchurch, and in the thick of a contested election, the happy thought struck the Mayor of Christchurch that the municipal subsidy would be probably forthcoming if applied for. The new formed and new found ardent love for Christchurch, which had so suddenly blossomed forth in the breast of the Premier, gave every promise—which was subsequently fulfilled—that the request of the Mayor would he granted. We all remember the alacrity with which the money was forthcoming ; the curt hut satisfactory telegram despatched by the Premier, conveying the information that the subsidy would he paid that day, or, in fact, only a few hours after the application. Contrast this with the delay which has occurred in the payment of Road Board and County subsidies. Letter after letter has been sent, to be answered officially that the payment of these subsidies is under the consideration of the Government. With the advent of spring many large works could ho put in hand by the public bodies alluded to, if they only had the money due to them on account of subsidies. By this means employment would he afforded to many who are now in sore distress, and the cry for work, which is now heard in every direction, would, to a great extent at least, he silenced. But this paternal Government, these gentlemen who make an election cry of being the working man’s friend and use him until ho has recorded his vote, do not interest themselves to pay over this money, which would enable the Road Boards and County Councils to employ a large quantity of labour. Had the application perhaps been made on the eve of the election—as was the case with the City Council —it probably might have fared better. Now the excitement of the elections is over, having scored a trick by the prompt granting of the Christchurch money. Sir George and his Government think that they can ignore the claims of the other bodies. By thus delaying the payment of money depended upon by local bodies in order that they may carry out a number of useful works, the Government prevent the profitable employment of a large amount of labour—employment that would be profitable in two ways, firstly in the direction of executing works necessary for the development of the country, and secondly in the way of giving bread and cheese to a considerable number of men who are at present out of work. The political morality of paying over a subsidy that had been long overdue to a constituency two days before an election is certainly open to grave doubt. The only circumstance that could lift the affair out of the category of extremely shady transactions would be the coincidence that the money chanced to ho first available at that particular date. We trust that political crises are not absolutely necessary to unlock tho Treasury chest. The money is wanted, and that immediately. Moreover the money is owing, and the Canterbury settler and working man have a right to expect and demand it.

The comments upon the holding of an inquest recently in the building erected for a morgue seems to us to point to the necessity of something being done to prevent the repetition of such a state of things. The erection of a public morgue is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but in its present state it is unfinished, and therefore the public convenience is not studied to the extent it should be. As was pointed out at the time of the inquest, to ■which wo have referred, being held, it is manifestly impossible for a jury to bo assembled in the present building. There is no need to go into details, because it is so patent to every one that such a state of things as then obtained should never bo permitted. This being so it becomes necessary to at once make provision for the holding of these inquiries. The proper place for the erection of sucha bnildingis undoubtedly in close proximity i o the city morgue. It need

not be an extensive or elaborate building, but its necessity and urgent want is so pronounced that we hope some steps will bo taken to bring it under the notice of the Government. Probably the channel through which the application should go is the Coroner, and we have no doubt but that that gentleman, equally with the jurymen, feels the want of a room in which to hold his inquiries. When it has been necessary in the past—as it has been on several occasions—to hold inquests at the Hospital, the want of accommodation has been most apparent. This, however, was borne with in the hope that, when the morgue was erected, provision would be made for the holding of a Coroner’s Court. This has not been done, and wo would dcsiro to urge upon the authorities the necessity of immediate stops being taken to rectify what must have been an oversight.