THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1883.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1841, 16 January 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1883.

There is one point in connection with the trial of the persons connected with the late riots which appears to us worthy of consideration. Wo allude to the remarks of the jury on the “ truck system.” As His Honor observed, the remarks so made wore exceedingly pertinent, and touched upon the existence of a system which is perhaps more widely spread than is generally supposed. Wo do not refer specially to the case under notice, but, speaking generally, there is no doubt that the payment of men on the truck system does exist. The Drainage Board and and other public bodies who have largo works in hand, do their best to discountenance it by inserting clauses in the contracts making it unlawful for the contractor to use the system. But there is no means provided for the discovery of such a state of things. The men know very well that it is not to their interest to speak. If they did so, their chance of employment would be very small, so that really their mouths are closed. The contractor of course makes no sign, and so the system, though discountenanced by law, goes on under the rose. It is rot necessary here to point out the evils arising from the truck system. They are too well known to need comment. But what we would desire to call attention to is the desirableness of some legislation rendering it possible to detect the existence of such a state of things. No doubt should the question bo raised in Parliament some means would be discovered whereby this could bo done. If the law were amended in the direction we have indicated, the hard-earned wages of the laborer would be protected in a great measure from the unscrupulous. As a rule, the men employed on works of a contract character are not remarkable for any high degree of intelligence. Hence they too often become the easy prey of contractors who are not over nice about the way in which they make money. The evils arising from the system are intensified when the temptation of drink is added. Too often then the men unthinkingly place themselves almost wholly in the power of the contractor, and perhaps a night’s carouse ends in the entire proceeds of many weeks’ labor finding its way into the pockets of the employer. The class of labourer to which wo have referred are, for the reasons we have stated, almost powerless to protect themselves.andit becomes the duty of those who make the laws of the country to so frame them as to afford them the greatest amount of security possible.

The statement which has recently been made public that suburban registrars of dogs have been in the habit of registering dogs belonging to residents in tbo city is more important to the ratepayers of Christchurch than would at first appear. It is plain that, in view of the subsidies hitherto paid to municipalities being ex-

ceedingly likely to be discontinued, wo shall have to look to our local license fees for city revenues. As already pointed out by his Worship the Mayor, on more than one occasion, the city finances are now, even with the subsidies, in anything but a flourishing condition. It will at once bo seen that, if the practice of suburban Road Boards registering dogs belonging to residents in the city is continued, the revenue from this source coming into the city coffers is likely to be very seriously diminished. Speaking generally on the subject of dog registration, it may bo pointed out that legislation is wanted, so that oao registration, in any part of the colony, will stand good should the owner remove to another. As the law now stands a man owning a dog, who travels much, may find himself called upon to pay several times during the year. It seems strange that, once having contributed to the revenue, the receipt so given should not stand good anywhere during the currency of the year for which it is issued. As regards the registration of town dogs by suburban authorities, wo hope the City Council, when the subject is brought before it on Monday next, will take steps to prevent the practice, now said to bo prevalent, from being continued.