The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5. CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 October 1907, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5. CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS.

the agitation which has arisen through- i jut the colony iu relation to» the treatment meted out to Air. AlcCullough U the natural outcome of that sense of freedom which is supposed to be the inheritance of all Britishers. From whatever point of view the subject is regarded there is only one conclusion to be drawn, and that is, railway employees are now tied down by rules and regulations in such a way that they can no longer be regarded as part of the people, it is all very well for Ministers to proclaim that the interests of the public service demand the enforcement of certain rules. So long as such rules do not encroach upon the liberty of the subject no cause for complaint can exist. When that line of safety ;is passed trouble begins. It has for | years been the boast of this colony that it is governed by the people for the

people. Vet we are now face to faee 1 with a departmental regulation that, if enforced, would deprive a large section of intelligent workers of the privilege conceded to the rest of the community as to taking part iu this government by th'j people. That the rule under which Air. AlcCtillough was suspended should ever have been made is astonishing; tlmt it should have remained a dead letter h to the credit of the Department oliicers, but that it is altogether ultra vires is beyond question. We have only to look at the case of the Alinister of

the Department to see the injustice of the Treatment meted out to the unfortunate employee. The Alinister is paid for the services rendered, and it may be assumed that the salary attached to his office is to all intents and purposes sufficient to justify the expectation that he will devote his time and abilities to the work of his Department. Yet not only does a Alinister—the present Alinister is no worse in this re=pect than those of previous Administrations—en-

gage in active political campaigns to help candidates pledged to koop him in power, but he does so at the country's expense. Compare this with the action of such a case as that of Air. AlcCullough, who merely exercised the right of a private citizen, and after his day's work was | over showed his interest in the welfare | of the country and was suspended. ! What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, and for this reason we would hail with satisfaction the passing of Mr. l'arcliiy's Reform Bill now before the House, and which passed its first reading by such a substantial majority.