MR SAUNDERS ON MR CONYERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2289, 19 July 1880, Page 3

MR SAUNDERS ON MR CONYERS.

Mr Saunders’ case against Mr Conyers and railway management is just a "lectio too strong. I am not startled when Mr S. talks of the Civil Service generally' as “ a standing army banded together for their own interests.” If be had described them as a murrain, or a pestilence, or a locust swarm I should have no objection. For rhetorical purposes that would be an accurate enough description of the Civil service in any country'—where times are bad and taxation is increasing. But when Mr Saunders represents onr railway administration as a mere sy'stcm of freebooting, and Mr Conyers as the head of a Kelly' gang, he is a little too much for me. And that is what it amounts to. Indeed the sticking up of a bank would be nothing to the systematic loot practised against the public by its own servants if Mr Saunders is correct. They give 40s a ton for coal when the contract price is only' 28s lid and buy sleepers at 4s that are sold at Is 6d. They contrive the conditions of tendering so ingeniously, that they can ruin a contractor they' dislike, and throw enormous profits into the bands of one they' favour. None but their own friends, consequently', get a chance. All this and much more of the same sort, Mr S., as chairman of the Civil Service Commision, affirmed to the House the other night. I fancy bo has been over-read-ing himself in American politics, and lias bad a series of bad dreams. Certainly he will have some difficulty in persuading us on the evidence of anonymous letter-writers and servants dismissed for drunkenness that Mr Conyers is another Boss Tweed, and railway administration a mere parody' of New York municipal “ stealing.” The enemies of Civil Service Reform arc of course delighted at these exaggerations. Nothing would please them bettor than that Mr Saunders should accuse Mr Conyers of stealing a locomotive, or breaking up a Pullman car for his domestic fuel. The public would only' laugh the more, and would begin to think the Service perfect. All the sinecurists, old fogies, and languid aristocrats in public pay are anxious that Mi- Saunders should go ahead.— “ Civis ” in the “ Otago Witness.”