THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1992, 13 July 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1880.

The case of the railway employees, as stated in their petition to the House, calls, we think, for careful consideration on the part of that body. It is put very fully in that document and, stated briefly, comes to this, that though they are now receiving a lower rate of wages than the rest of the employees in the same branch of the Now Zealand railways, they are still to be mulct in the uniform rate of 10 per cent. On the face of it, this appears to us to be an injustice. Given two bodies of men under the same employ, doing precisely the same work, it can hardly be called fair that without re-adjustment they should equally suffer the same reduction. The first step, therefore, it seems to us, is to place both on the same footing, and then comes the question of reduction. Whilst admitting the great necessity for retrenchment; indeed. the fact stares us in the face, that unless we do retrench it will bo impossible to meet our engagements: we do trust that an adjustment will be made before the details are carried out. The House has affirmed the principle that all classes are to suffer alike by the present depression, and that the wages classes of the public service can, in their degree, bear the strain as well as the remainder of the service. But the argument evidently fails of application whore one section of service is not paid up to the standard of the others in the same position. It is manifest that the possibility of such a state of affairs being in existence did not strike our legislators when they passed the resolution affirming the principle of the general 10 per cent, reduction, or at least that they took it for granted that a uniform rate would boos-

tablishod previously to anything being done. The present state of affairs is hard enough as it is on employees with small incomes and largo families, but when an additional grievance is added in the shape of disparity of pay as compared with men employed on similar work elsewhere the case becomes peculiarly hard. Wo trust that the railway employees here will obtain the services of some member of the House able and eager to advocate their cause, as they certainly appear to have established a well founded grievance.

The Orange procession has been held, aud the peace of tho city has remained unbroken. So far there is every reason for congratulation. Tho members of the Orange Institution felt that it was incumbent on them as free men to vindicate their right to pass through tho streets in procession, particularly after tho attempt which had been made to abolish this right. So far as tho groat body of the people are concerned, they cannot see what harm there is in such displays as that of yesterday. But there are many who consider that there will always be a certain amount of danger when they are carried out, and that they are more or less unnecessary. This being so, and tho Orange Institution having vindicated most completely and fully their right, aud having besides tho sympathy of the bulk of tho people with them in so doing, we put it to them whether it is necessary on another occasion to repeat the gathering. Yesterday there wore many reasons for its being held. After it was held these reasons ceased to exist, and wo only hope that tho members will act on the advice given them by Mr. Watson, and remember that tolerance of the opinions of others is just what they as Orangemen claim for themselves.