THE EVENING MAIL. SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 287, 24 March 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1877.

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TttE absurd practica of granting free passes on the Colonial railways to members of the Legislature during tha recess, has resulted in a different manner to that which was so freely predicted when the rnothm was agreed to during the last sitting *>f Parliament. If we are to believe a statement matte by the LyHrfton Tow:* — and we see no reason for doubting the veracity of our contemporary, for it is nswalty well-informed upon public matters —the privilege thus aeorded to members has baen abused—most foully abus-d—as many predicted it would be. When the motion for the granting of the privilege was brought before the House of Representatives, thp chief argument, in fact the only argument, adduced in support of it was- that the granting of free passes to members* would afford them an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the capacities and requirements of the different districts of the Colony. It was urged that members were called upon to vote upon matters which they knew Httl« or nothing about, and that were they allowed the privilege of travelling free by the railways of the Colony they would thus be placed in a position to judge for themselves as to whether matt erst coining before their notice in their senatorial capacities were or were not f»>r the public good. flow far has this view of the att'air been borne out by facts J tb>w

many of the <W rt pr*:s*/ntative.-< of the people have availed themselves of the privilege which they so graciously accorded themselves I How many of them have nsed their free passes f*>r the purpose- of becoming acquainted with thu requirements of districts at a distance from their own particular places of abode t We venture to assert that the number who have done so is iuttnitesimally smalt. Indeed, we might fairly say that the number of those who have done so is almost n.i.L A fow, perhajH, have travelled at the country's* expense for the country's good, hut even they, we fear, have not clone so for that purpose alone. Pleasure or a desire to be lionised in distant communities have had more or less to do with their comings and goings. To this the public have but little objection. As lung as members were content to combine their own pleasure with a desire to benefit the country, there could be little objection to their enjoying the privilege of travelling at the public expense. But when that privilege is used for the sole purpose of personal benefit and personal aggrandisement, and for that purpose alone, we think the public are justified in proclaiming against the continttat.ee of the system. The privilege is being abused, and therefore it should be withdrawn. It may be said that innocent men should not be made to suffer in consequence of the misdoings of their fellows. That may be true

enough in most cases ; in this instance, we think an exception should be made. Free passes on the railways were granted for a special purpose, and if there use is being diverted into a purpose contrary to that for which they were given, the system should be terminated altogether. That a iiipn, because he happens to be a member of the Legislature, should be permitted to travel free by rail with the sole object of pursuing his avocation of commercial traveller is a monstrous proposition, and one that no right feeling and conscientious man would make. It is not fair to the country which grants the privilege, and, what is more, it is a gross injustice to the general public. In business all men should be on an equal footing, so fat as the Government are concerned. But are they so in the instance alluded to ? Has not the commercial traveller who is able to move from place to place at the expense of tlte country a very great advantage over his fellows who are compelled to pay, and that pretty dearly, for their locomotion ? Decidedly lie has, and a very grave injustice is thereby done to a large section of the community—an injustice much greater than that which would be done to the few members who use their free passes for the ostensible purpose of gaining knowledge for the benefit of the country, were the privilege withdrawn. Why, if the system of allowing members to t.avel free by rail wheresoe'er they will in pursuance of their business avocations i 3 once conceded, there will \-.c no end to the privileges of members. The next thing we shall hear will probably be that M.H.R.'s are to be allowed to forward their luggage free of charge by train, and then a little merc!:and:se may possibly be included. It appears to us that the whole thing is rotten to the core, and the sooner the present order of things is altered, the bett:r will it be for t'.ie country, the more fair will it be to the public, and the more satisfactory will it be to the few legislators who desire honestly to use the very ««reat privilege accorded to them. Were it not for the gross injustice inflicted upon the public, the audacity of the conduct of the " honorable " m.unbor alluded to by our contemporary would be charming. He has clearly demonstrated that he is a born commercial traveller. He has shown a keen sense of business ; but at the same time he has displayed a very great want of a proper appreciation of the very material diileience between right and wrong.