THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1881. MUNICIPAL REFORM.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2300, 17 August 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1881. MUNICIPAL REFORM.

Councillor Huluekt, in Lis municipal capacity, is well meaning, and has the merit of having the courage to apeak his mind when it is necessary to do so. But with all this ho unfortunately manages to put his intentions into the shape of resolutions in a manner so devoid of tact as to oblige oven those favorable to his views to vote against them. A notable instance of this occurred at the last, meeting of the Council on the subject of the dismissal of three members of the staff by the departmental committee, and

sanctioned by the Mayor, without tho Council as a body being consulted. Now., no oae could more strongly reprobate so direct a broach of the principles which shenld govern public bodies than we do. But, though this was so, it was not necessary to propose a sweeping vote of censure, includingthe Mayor and the members of the committee. However strongly the members of the Council might feel on the matter, they could not bring themselves to vote for such wholesale condemnation as this. Nor was it at all necessary. All that was wanted was an assertion by the Council of their tight to control the dismissal of any employes, and that this should not, without their consent, be delegated to any committee. A simple resolution affirming this principle would have been carried unanimously. This may seem a small matter, but really it is not, because on the books of the Council appears the bare record that a vote of censure was moved, that it was lost, and that the action of the committee—which without doubt was ultra vires —was approved. This is why it is matter for regret that Cr. Hulbert did not frame his motion in the shape we have suggested. Wo now come to another phase of municipal reform, one which, we feel sure, will meet with hearty approval from the ratepayers, whatever may be the result in the Council. Wo allude to the motion for the complete reconstruction of the departments of the Council. In saying this, however, it must be understood that our remarks do not apply to the whole of the officials. Some there are whose services to the ratepayers, and fitness for their position, it would he impossible to estimate too highly. But there can be no donht of this that urgent necessity exists in the interests of the ratepayers for a change in the head of the department, viz., the Town Clerk. The fact has been patent that the city has now assumed such importance that its Town Clerk ought to he, as in England, a gentlemanof ihe legal profession. A movement in this direction was mado some little time ago, hut adroitly shelved. How, however, an opportunity presents itself of carrying this very desirable change into effect, and securing for the citizens the services of a gentleman who will not only discharge the duties of his office with courtesy and efficiency, hut also by his legal knowledge save ns from many of the dilemmas in which the over zeal of the present Town Clerk has landed the city. So far as that officer is concerned he conld well exclaim, echoing the words, with a difference, of Bonis XIV., “ Christchurch —I am Christchurch.” However satisfactory this may be to some, we feel shire the general body of the ratepayers will agree with ns that the time has arrived when a change in the direction we have indicated is necessary. This conld not be effected except by a complete reconstruction of the staff, as proposed by Councillor Hnlbert’snotice of motion, and therefore we hope that on its proposal at the next meeting of the Council it will ha carried unanimously. THE DANGER OP POST-NUPTIAL-SETTLEMENTS.

Amongst the varied scenes of Mr. Gilbert Butler’s colonial career there will, we think, be none more vividly impressed upon his mind than the execution of the post-nuptial settlement by which he generously placed himaelf in the power of Mrs. Butler. Animated, no doubt, as the legal phraseology of the document runs, by “ natural love and affection,” he settled, it appears, some £3OOO on the wife of his bosom, reserving only the rents of some tenements, producing, as we are told, £95 per annum. Let ns pause here awhile to contemplate the complete abnegation of self displayed by Mr. Butler. Not only did he divest himself of all control over this large sum of money, but he relinquished the trade of a carpenter to carry out the parcels of the millinery establishment. Could the force of devotion further go ? It is sad to find how all this was rewarded, but still the “ ower true” tale of the woes of Mr* Butler may serve as a beacon to warn deluded and confiding Benedicts off the lee shore of post-nuptial settlements. Matters appear to have gone smoothly for a while ; but, alas, how frail are the hopes of human happiness ! Nothwithstanding the fact that he had settled his all upon his wife he is had up before the Bench, charged with having failed to provide for his wife and children ! I Thera seems to us to bo a bitter irony in the way the charge is framed. After a man had given up his all in favor of his wife to bo charged with having failed to provide for his family is a grim joke. Of course the Magistrates dismissed the case, but Mr. Butler has this solace, that, like Sir Peter Teazle, he has made an example of himself for the benefit of all married men who contemplate making post-nuptial settlements. EXIT FROM THE THEATRE. In an article on this subject a few days back we made a suggestion as to the substitution of baize swing doors for the present cumbrous and dangerous sliding one in the stalls. This suggestion, we are glad to see, has met with the approval of the City Surveyor, who, in his report to the City Council on the subject, recommends that this should bo done. There can be no doubt that, as now arranged, a great deal of valuable time would be lost in opening the slide door in case of a panic, whereas the large swing doors would give to almost the slightest pressure. As this is a matter affecting the public very largely, we hope the authorities will at once call upon the proprietor of the Theatre to have the necessary alterations carried out. There is no knowing when a panic may arise, and probably loss of life ensue. It is therefore, we think, incumbent on the Council to insist upon the recommendation of their officer being strictly and promptlyattended to, and the ratepayers will hold them responsible should any accident occur whilst the exit referred to is in its present unsatisfactory state. THE “ LIBERTY ” ASSAULT CASE. There will, wo think, bo but tno feeling in the public mind with regard to the decision in the case of Mosley v. Milos, and that is, intense satisfaction. It may appear strange that in a law-abiding community such as this is, pleasure should be expressed at a person charged with a direct breach of the law being only fined nominally. But, strongly as the feeling of obedience to the law is implanted in the hearts of Englishmen, there is another and far holier feeling also part of their nature, viz., a chivalrous respect for the weaker sex, who are defenceless, more aspecially against slander. It is this Peeling which has so roused the sympathy if the public hero with the assailant-aw-breaker though he bc—aud, despite

the fact that, looked at coldly andcalmly, it ia wrong, we cannot help joining in the general chorus of congratulation. It is a lesson that those engaged in the vile work of disseminating through our homeu the slanderous effusions of disappointed malice and of dark treachery; of encouraging the formation in our midst of a number of domestic lagos, have richly deserved. They should have counted the cost ore they ventured to drag journalism in Canterbury through the mire. Hitherto we have been able to boast that our newspapers were conducted in an honorable and manly spirit. If we reckon the production referred to as one of the newspapers of Canterbury, we can no longer do so. But the time has now come when the voice of public opinion is far too strong for the existence of such a thing, and unless the salutary warning which has been given to those stabbers in the dark and traducors of innocent females is heeded, they may make their minds up for the consequences.