New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4837, 22 September 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.

Mb. Bastings, in moving yesterday that members of the House of Representatives should be gi.en free passes-on the railway lines, presented the question from an aspect which in one sense disarmed opposition. He stated plainly that in his opinion and in his case these passes were but a means to a most desirable end, namely, giving facilities to those who legislate for the country to make themselves acquainted with the natural features and resources of the colony. He gave a personal anecdote pertinent to the question when he mentioned how a want of knowledge two or three years ago of the magnificent timber resources of Wellington had caused him to give a contract for the supply of timber to a Tasmanian firm, when the timber might just as well have been obtained within the colony. Now, as has been said, this view of matters was in one sense unanswerable, but that sense implies the absolute truth of the premiss that members would only use their passes for the praiseworthy and desirable purpose mentioned by Mr. Bastings. The Premier, however, pointed out, and we are not disinclined to agree with him, that to assume this was really to draw too much on one’s belief in the goodness of human nature. For it may be as well stated at once, whilst our railways are situated, to use a Yankeeism, “in spots,” a free pass along them would be of little practical use for the purpose indicated by Mr. Bastings. Xn short, the result of giving these free passes to members would be simply to enable numbers of them who live along the lines running into the different cities of New Zealand to travel to and fro in connection with their business in town for nothing. But even from this point of view Mr. J. E. Bbown found nothing but advantage in Mr. Bastings’ proposal, for it seems that in Canterbury, where under the provincial management of railways members of the Provincial Council have free passes along the railway lines, the passengers are in the habit of airing their grievances concerning railway management whenever they can catch a legislative “deadhead ” flying, as it wore, and as a result the railway officials are always on the qui vive to ascertain whether any train may be carrying a legislative deadhead in order if such should be the case that they may bo particularly careful and attentive, and so answer complaints by anticipation. Mr. Bbown thought that the existence of this kind of thing promoted a general watchfulness and attention on the part of railway officials. Now that is just whore wo differ from him decidedly. There is little inspection needed to show that the result of the circumstances mentioned by Mr. Bbown amonnts just to this, that where a train is lucky enough to contain a legislator every possible regard for its safety and the comfort and convenience of its passengers will bo paid, hut that the train which is not so fortunate will be por-

mitted to look after itself, and its passengers to do much the same by themselves. However, as members have the precedent of most countries in which the railways are Government property in their favor, we are not desirous to condemn them for l< deadheading” themselves, as they did by passing Mr. Bastings’ motion yesterday. The only remarks necessary on the subject are, that the eminent purists of the present Parliament, Messrs. Bees and company, those who object to anything like making legislators derive special advantages at the cost of the country, are just the gentlemen who advocate payment of members and free travelling about the country.