The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1890. THE MARITIME COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2072, 15 July 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1890. THE MARITIME COUNCIL.

One of the things which ought not to escape notice is the dispute between the Marine Officers Union and the ship-owners. The Marine Officers Union consists of the officers of the steamers plying along our coasts, and it is generally accepted that that they are men of education and intelligence —in fact, a superior class altogether. Now what has happened ? These officers have been negotiating with the ship-owners for some time for certain privileges which they think they ought to enjoy, besides an increase in their salaries—and very possibly, for all we know, they have justice on their side. The ship-owners did not come to their terms, and they threatened to strike on the 14th of the present month. There is also in existence a Seamen's Union, consisting of tbe sailors of the same vessels, and when the officers decided to strike they applied to the Sailors Union, or the Maritime Council, as the governing body is called, to assist them. The Secretary of the Maritime Council told them that he could not think of such a thing until all other means of settling the dispute had been tried, and suggested that it should be referred to arbitration. The result was that tbe officers withdrew their threat to strike, and that the Maritime Council is to inquire into the matter, at the request of the shipowners. Is there not in this sufficient to make those who habitually run down the working man blush ? The unfortunate sailor is regarded as the most reckless and irresponsible of all working men, yet here we find him, when under responsibility, behaving i with a sagacity and prudence that induces his master to call him in as a judge to settle the dispute with the officers of the snip ! Who can imagine anything more extravagant than Jack Tar coming from that forecastle to lay down the law as to the relations which shall exist between the pompous, proud-gilt-buttoned officers who adorn the saloon with their very -■t,error and high-toned ways, and the t ’v ship-owner, who never in his Efe before J id , B .° ““ ch " Bod f aristocratic head ,' n recognition of the aristocratic neaa Albert and presence of a sailor. ■ 0 Sullivan have drawn some very u£T e sketches in their comic operas, but none of them exceeds this. If it had been said a few years ago that such a thing would come to pass it would be frowned down with the monosyllabic “ Bosh !” just as Bellamy’s “ Looking Backwards ” is. The real point to which we wish to direct attention, however, is that we need not dread any evil resulting from unionism guided by so much prudence. It shows, we believe, that nothing will be done unless necessity demands it. It was not that the Maritime Council doubted its own power. Only a week or two previously it brought two of the wealthiest and most powerful firms in Dunedin to their knees with a few scratches of a pen, and compelled them to comply with its mandate. It was not through lack of confidence in its own strength; therefore, that the Council declined to side with the officers but from an innate sense of justice and fair play. Such actions as these must not only command the respect but also the confidence of the people, and if the Council is to be always directed with equal prudence it will soon constitute the tribunal to which all will look to settle the disputes of capital and labor. One thing should not be overlooked in connection with this. When labor is assuming such responsibilities as this it is absolutely neceesary for the good of all that the,

men should be well educated. None j but enlightened, educated men could | steer this Council through so success-1 fully as it has been steered. It has so far settled many disputes and righted many wrongs, and if the management had hitherto been in ignorant hands the result would have been different. We, therefore, regard the education of the working classes as absolutely necessary, and it is a great mistake to try to curtail it in any way. We congratulate the Council on its many successes, and hope that it will continue to be always guided by the sagacity and wisdom which has hitherto characterised it. CHARITABLE AID. A beatjtipfli specimen of humanity is Mr McLaren, of the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. At the last meeting of the Board Mr D. M. Boss presented a petition, signed on behalf of 951 members of Friendly Societies, asking that the members should be allowed to consult the hospital doctor free of charge, and also to enter the hospital at £1 per week, when any of them required it, instead of £1 15s as at present. With regard to the request about a free doctor, it is doubtful whether the societies needed to have gone to that length, but that they ought to be allowed into the hospital for £1 per week will, we think, meet with general approval. There can be no doubt but that these societies save an immense amount of money yearly to the ratepayers, and the fact that they do ought to be recognised. Besides, the contribution of local bodies is not raised by direct rates. It is the tax of twopence per pound on tea that goes to support charitable aid. In addition to what Friendly Societies save to the colony through mutually assisting one another, they contribute largely to the tea tax. _ The effect of granting such concessions to Friendly Societies would iu all probability be to greatly increase the membership of the lodges, and the more members they would gain the less would be the need for charitable aid taxation. As a matter of justice these people are entitled to consideration, and as a matter of public policy one would think that the board would gladly jump at the chance of fostering and encouraging them to the very limited extent asked. But the moment the question came up Mr McLaren fumed and raved like one three parts demented, and likened Mr Boas to a “ clap-trap politician seeking £200,”. and said the friendly societies asked to be bribed in order to make them thrifty. The Timaru Herald, in one of the best articles we have seen in that paper, points out that the least the societies ought to receive is a courteous and respectful hearing. Courtesy from McLaren, Esquire ! Thepoorfellowdoesnot know the meaning of the word. With the exception of" Mr McLaren, all the members had something kindly to say, even though they did nothing. Now it is men of this stamp who are disorganising society by driving the people to form trades unions and become communists and socialists. I hey are types of the French tyrant who told a starving people to “ eat grass.” In the present temper of the laboring classes it is quite evident they do not mean to “ eat grass” much longer, and no one but a near-sighted narrowminded person, who has not thought beyond the miserable little farthing in his own miserly pocket, could fail to see it. It is net by publicly insulting the best and the most thrifty of them, as Mr McLaren did, that they can be conciliated. If we mistake not, the day for that is gone by, and they will require to be met in a respectful manner. What we cannot understand is that while the Charitable Aid Board is so very niggardiy in .charitable aid matters they are extravagant in other matters. After last month’s meeting we asked them to explain why they did not give Mr Duval the ventilating contract, which he offered to do for LSO, instead of paying close on L2OO for it. They have not done so, however, because it was a job. They turned away from their door a poor woman suffering rrom septicaemia, but months previously they admitted alb. iLadies-’ suffering a fashiona- '-'•nuiaiot- ThW Are from the same really a humane and _ disposed set of men on that Board.

THE GOVERNMENT,

The Christchurch Press of yesterday says:— Mr M'tcbelson tells mo that in his speech in reply closing the financial debate he intends to go fully into the Rotorua land purchase, and will give explanadons which will effectually dispose of Mr Kerr’s accusations against him of having acted as the agent of the Bank of New Zealand “in doing its dirty work.” Ha will also inform the House that during his ten years of public life the Bank of New Zealand has never, either by word or deed, attempted to influence his actions. Mr Mitche'son complains bitterly of the abuse and reckless accusations which have been hurled against the Ministry, and points out that such conduct does not encourage good men to enter politics.

So what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander with Mr Mitehelson. The guttersnipe scavengers who fished out the fact that Sir Eobert Stout, when occupying a G-overnment residence, paid out of public money far a sardine opener, think now that it does not encourage honorable men to enter politics if they are asked to explain very questionable transactians. Now,

what is the Rotorua land purchases which Mr Mitchelson is going to explain. Simply this: The Government had a 99 years lease of this land from the Natives, and they went and bought it for £B,IOO. [See Hansard, page 69], Now, would any man in his own private business buy land of which he had 99 years’ lease. Mr Mitchelson has already tried to explain this. He said it was bought because some illegalities rendered it difficult to collect the rents. Of course if such is the ease it would be easy to pass an act of Parliament to remedy the defect in existing law. The question is Can the men who bought land of which they already held a 99 years’ lease be trusted with another loan to buy more land ? CORRUPTION. The Tirnaru Herald of yesterday says : , “The Government fought bo hard on the question of the appointment of a committee to inquire into Mr Hutchison’s charges against them, as to lead people to believe there is something substantial in the chargee.” So the Tirnaru Herald is coming round to feel disgust at the Government it has idolised for years. It believes they have been guilty of corruption. How can anyone believe anything else F The position was this: It was agreed to place on the committee four from each side, and the whole fight was over the odd man. The Opposition agreed to give the Government a majority—that is five to four—that was fair, but they wanted Mr Saunders to be one of the majority. Now, Mr Saunders is a Government supporter, and why did the Government object to him ? Why did they object to one of their own supporters, and insisted on getting Mr Withy, an Auckland member, on the committee instead of Mr Saunders. Simply this ? They knew Mr Saunders would tell the truth, and they knew he was not under the influence of the Bank. Then why did the Opposition prefer Mr Saunders to Mr Withy. Because it has been made plain by Mr George Buckley, that almost all the money lost by the Bank in New Zealand has been lost in Auckland, and consequently Auckland men cannot be regarded as impartial judges, If there was nothing in the charges the Government would not have been so frightened about the matter.