The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 26. ACTS OF BENEVOLENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8068, 27 March 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 26. ACTS OF BENEVOLENCE.

A while ago, it was allegeil that th average policeman gut into the fore because lie had been able to " pull th •strings" through the agency of i member of Parliament. When al legations like this are made, it is th< duty of the Government to lind ou if they are well-founded. In th ca.se of appointments to the police force, Commissioner Dinnie was ask ed to send in a report stating th number of appointments obtainei through the instrumentality n M's.ii.K. His report was not a loiij one. It was, " Nil," Which is, o course, a comforting thing, and ; pretty fair indication that the aver age private member is on the whol an honest man, When allegations o this sort are levelled at the men wh< represent the people, they are ex tremely uncomplimentary to the peo pie of the colony. If the members o Parliament are rogues, it naturall; follows that the people who modi them members are also rogues, Tin person who wants to get a billet In doesn't deserve in the public scrvici of New Zealand does not as a rule gi to the tributary. He goes to tin fountain-head. That an mormon; number of public appointments o people not qualified by examinatioi ire made, is, of course well known ind that several departments of tin public service have too little worl there is not the slightest doubt That drastic reform would place f ;ood many incompetents idle is onl) ;o be expected, but tho morality ol lrnstic reform which would throw nit of employment a great number ol >eople unable to earn a living pri'ately, might, be questioned. In re .urning the Government by a tremenlous majority, the people, who, ol ourse, knew that a system of bene'o.'euce existed, emphasised the fact hat they agreed with the methods mployed. The prevalent idea in s T ew Zealand seems to be that the te.ik should not go to the wall. Inividuals are, of course, unable to irevent the weak becoming mural deorations, and therefore the people in ombinatioti have decided, by endorsng the benevolent acts of our legisitors, that the weaker the inau the letter the billet. That is not as it liould be.