The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1526, 8 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

The discussion by the City Council of tho proposals of tlio Government respecting Hospitals and Charitable Aid, was remarkable for a peculiar trait displayed by ono of its members. In those days of growing scepticism on the part of the people as to tbo fulfilment of its promises and obligations by the Government, it is quite refreshing to road tbo remarks made by Councillor Gapes, Ho considered that tbo granting of subsidies to local bodies by the Government liaviug boon promised by them, was a compact not to bo broken. His deprecation of tbo want of faith on tho part of bis brother Councillors was quite touching. They placed but little reliance on tlio promise of the Government ; but still tlio faith of Councillor Gapes was unshaken. Has lie forgotten tho fervid eloquence of tho Premier as ho painteci tho down troddou condition of tho working man, who was to have his political rights wrested from tho unwilling hands of tho squatters and capitalists by the measures of tho Government ? Only a few mouths back who so lavish of promises of measures for the adjustment of tho representation oi m&abopd suffrage as the head of that Government y/hiph Councillor Gapes still believes will bold their promises sacred? We all know how tboeo promises have been kept, W ith the support of the people of the colony, with a majority in tlio House, not ono of them ,]iavc bepn fulfilled or oven attempted to be. Tlio measureo brought in ostensibly to carry them out wore n-cuo chains and delusions, and only kept tho word ot premise to tho ear to break it to the hope. What tangible ground therefore there is for believing that the Government will

act otherwise with regard to theso subsidies we are unable to soo. As regards the particular institutions spoken of, there can bo no doubt as to the intention of the Government. They desire to bo rid of the responsibility of their management which they would like to shift on to the local bodies. Once lot them succeed in doing this, and the position will be that the local bodies will have in their hands expensive institutions which they will bo unable to get rid of again with only the very uncertain chance of the subsidies to supplement voluntary contributions. As to the subsidies, the furthest the Government ever wont was to say they would continue them for two years; but they may cease at any moment. What security is there that, if the local bodies take over the Hospital and Charitable Aid, the subsidies now payable may not cease in three months P None whatever. Lot the exigencies of the Government finance require the sacrifice of those, and they will bo done away with without any scruple. Our position would then be that we should have to support the institutions by voluntary contributions. What that means all who have had anything to do with institutions of this kind in the colonies know too well. A few may contribute, and doubtless will, but this would bo a mere drop in the bucket. The great majority would not, and how then is the cost to be defrayed ? No one will for ono moment controvert the assertion that the fairest and most equitable method of providing for the necessitous and sick is from the consolidated fund. To this all contribute, and this is the only way in which everyone can be compelled to pay their share towards the cost of the maintenance of those institutions. We trust, therefore, that the result of the deliberations of the Conference, on Friday, will either take the shape of a recommendation to the Government such as suggested by us in our article of yesterday, or a direct refusal to take over the responsibility sought to bo thrust upon them unless provision is made by the Government, either by endowment or a charge on the consolidated fund, for the cost of maintaining the institutions referred to.

The City Council deserve very great credit for haying grappled with—and we trust successfully —an evil which has too long existed unchecked in our midst. We refer to the intolerable nuisance caused by the standing of cabs alongside the side walk in Gloucester street. For a long time past the southern side of that street from Colombo street to the Theatre has practically been closed to decent people after a certain hour of the evening. Anyone whose business or pleasure compelled them to walk along this part of the city has had to push through a crowd of men, who monopolised the whole of the footpath, and whose language was anything but of the choicest. That this should have been allowed to continue unchecked so long as it has speaks volumes for the patient endurance of Christchurch citizens. Ladies have either been hustled from the path or been compelled to witness such scenes as no one with a spark of decency in him would care to expose any female to. Attention has been called to this disgrace to our city time after time, and yet up to the present no effort has been made by the authorities to bring about a change. Ifow, happily, we are enabled to see the dawn of better things. The provision made by the by-law now before the Council will make it imperative on the cabs to stand away from the sidewalk, and thus prevent the congregation of objectionable characters, which nightly takes place in the locality referred to. We are glad to see the firm stand taken by the Council in this matter, and that the proposition of the cabmen to perpetuate what has grown to bo positive evil was rejected. The deputation which waited on the Council the other evening seemed desirous to make it appear that the cabmen were not entirely to blame in the matter, and that others were responsible for the obstruction of the footpath which nightly and under the eyes of the police took place. This may be so. It may bo true that others besides cabmen formed part of the crowd. But we would desire to point out one thing, and that is this, the cabs being there formed the nucleus around which, as in the case of an army in the field, a certain number of followers and hangers-on congregated. Take away the cabs, and the consequent assemblage of Jehus on the side walk, and the attractions for the larrikins of both sexes will to a great extent disappear. It is not so much the cabmen themselves, though in a thoroughfare like Gloucester street their congregation is not desirable as the associates they bring with them. It is a curious fact as illustrating this that when the cabs are absent the street is as easily traversed as any other in the city. It is only when a long line of vehicles is drawn up to the kerb that the nuisance complained of is at its height. By the proposed by-law the public wi}l be served just as efficiently. Anyone who desires the services of the city cabmen can obtain them just as readily as now, and the footpath will bo cleared of its present obstructions. We trust that no untoward fate will prevent the legal completion of the by-law, and that when it comes into force care will be taken that no infringement of its provisions takes place. Any such should bo visited with immediate punishment, which will effectually prevent any recurrence of scenes such as never ought to have been allowed in a city such as Christchurch.