THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FRANCHISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 259, 1 November 1890, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FRANCHISE.

(To the Editor.)

Sib,—l am delighted to find thab my speech at Mr Greenwood's political meeting has stirred some people, because I had begun to fear thab we were all too apathetic bo bo moved by argumenb, and albhough I highly appreciabe discussions in the press, I would much prefer meeting an " Eden Elector" on a public platform in our district, and discussing the political situation before a public meeting of our fellow electors.

The writer challenges me on my proposal to disfranchise the Civil servants. I with Mr Withy believe thab course to be right and necessary. Of the twelve thousand Civil servants who are said to be paid by this ill-used colony, an immense number of them are, I believe, no worse arid no bebber than the thousands of other taxpayer* who aro nob so liberally provided for as themselves. But, good as they undoubtedly aro, ib is generally urged that they oughb not to be entrusbod with a vote when their own wages aro ab stake. Numerous insbances of such a principle in practice can be adduced ; thus : The Amended Education Act passed last session, re-affirmed thab teachers in our public schools or anyone in the pay of Education Boards shall nob bo eligible for election to School Committees. Why nob? I believe thab our teachers aro as honourable and trustworthy a class of people as any in the world, and I would trust all of those whom I know with almost anything; bub the Legislature would nob trust them with a seat on School Committees lest their own self-interest should warp their judgment, frustrate justice, or lead to political corruption. Now, if teachers, who are undoubtedly a superior class of public servants, are nob to be trusted with the lesser responsibility of a local vote in a School Committee, hew can we trust the whole of the Civil Service, in a crisis like this, with the greater responsibility of a national vote? If the best of men possibly may not be faithful in that which is least, how can bhe ordinary run of them bo depended on in that which is greatest? If self-interest is considered a bar against a vote in School Committees, it must) nob be wondered ab if some fear that self-interest is likely to jeopardiso tho colony's welfare far more in bhe election of members of Parliament, who have to vote the wage 3of the Civil servants. Contractors, boo, in Governmonb employ are not allowed to sib in Parliament. No person interested in the liquor traffic is allowed to servo on a Licensing Committee ; members of Parliament are nob allowed- to bring forward or promote any measure in which they have a pecuniary interesb; and even judges of the Supreme Court are not trusted to adjudicate upon their own cases, because self-in-terest is feared. lam nob singular in the opinion thab wo have now arrived ab such a crisis in the history of the colony, and bhe Civil Service has become such a powerful political factor in general elections, thab ib musb be disfranchised before we can seb our Now Zealand finances in order. Befora a million of money can be retrenched Civil servants will have to be denied bhe righb to vote for and work for tho election of those who have the fixing of their wages: Tho power of the Civil Service at Wellington in a general election is noborious, and Washington was proclaimed a neutral zone in a Presidential election because of Civil Service abuses like those rife here. But "Eden Elector" turns up the whites of hi 3 eyes, places his open hands across his broasb, and says : "Mr Ewington, with cold - blooded determination, would rob Civil servant!, of thab great birthrighb." Yes I would; bub how singular thab "Eden Elector" can callously wink ab, and take part in the robbery of women of their birbhright—intelligent, good women and taxpayers "in the body politic who aro of just as much importance and equal rights " as "Eden Electsr ?" "Pray do not let us add hypocrisy to political dishonesty. For "Eden Elector" to stand coolly by till now holding the clothes of those who "rob" intelligent, honest, women-taxpayers of their political rights, and then shriek oub for the police only when ib was proposed that some of his own sex ahould be similarly treated, is the most ungallanb elecbionearing larrikinism I know of. Well may he hide his face under a mask, although ib surely cannob be broubled with blushes. One aeb of political justice to women who manage their businesses, and pay taxes, and are as well able to vote for members of Parliament as barloungers, street-corner loafers, old men in their second childhood id the Refuge, or the itinerant Chinese are, will do both " Eden Elector " and his cause more good than his quotation of Scripture will.—lam, etc., F. G. Ewington,