THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1881. THE MILK – AND – WATERY “STAR.”

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2396, 7 December 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1881. THE MILK - AND - WATERY “STAR.”

It is somewhat amusing to notice the change which has come over the spirit of the leading columns of our contemporary the “ Star.” From breathing forth defiance of the most warlike character against the Hall Government, it has descended to the milk-and-watery and enormous gooseberry style. A collection of miscellaneous paragraphs strung together on various topics now occupies the place formerly filled by trumpettongned denunciations of the treatment of the Maoris by a brutal Government. Alas, how are the mighty fallen! We have called attention to these erratic and juvenile productions, evidently the outpouring of some newly - fledged journalist, for the purpose of commenting upon one particular gem which appeared the other evening. Our juvenile friend anxious, no doubt, to show the care he is exercising for the public welfare, has discovered that there are springs on the Hanmer Plains equal in medicinal efficacy to those at Rotomahana and elsewhere in the North Island. Immediately our friend flies at the Government and demands to know why special advantages are not provided for anyone who wishes to visit the springs on the Hanmer Plains. It is difficult to gather from the somewhat incoherent sayings of our young friend what he desires the Government to do. He asks that the Government shall do something, but what he fails to put clearly. Does he wish that the Government shall provide free baths for anyone who may desire it, or establish a sort of hospice there where all shall partake of the bounty of a paternal Government, and bless it and the “ Star ” P Probably a free pass over the railway and a free coach at Amberley to meet the patients would he in accord with the sentiments of the newly fledged occupant of the editorial chair. But had our friend taken the trouble to enquire ho would' have found that the Government were going just so far in the direction of utilising the springs as they are entitled to do. A paragraph published by us the other day states that the Government are taking steps to establish a sanatorium there, which is all that can bo expected from them. The rest can he very well left to be developed by private enterprise. We trust that our contemporary will gain experience ere long, an experience which

■ will teach him that the surest method to demoralise a people is to teach them to , loek up to the Government for every- ’ thing, instead of depending upon their own exertions. ' THE FOLLY OF PUBLIC NOMINATIONS. If there is one anomaly connected with the ballot calculated to defeat the very object for which it was introduced it is the system of public nominations. The most zealous care is exercised to prevent the way in which a man votes being known, yet the law makes it compulsory on a man to stand forth in the broad light of day and declare in which way ho is going to vote. Can anything be more inconsistent and more opposed to the secret principle of the ballot for which such fierce fights have taken place ? There is no earthly reason why it should bo retained. In Mayoral and other municipal elections the system of nomination is by written papers, signed by two electors. Why should not the same process be gone through with regard to elections for Parliament P If it is essential to tho working man—and we believe it is—that he should be protected in exercising his franchise, why should he be compelled to nullify tho privilege accorded to him by declaring at a public nomination tho way in which he intends to vote. With one hand the Legislature proffers to the voter secrecy of the ballot, and with the other it violates that secrecy by compelling a man to hold up his hand, and thus reduce his political creed. We trust that the new Parliament will remedy this anomaly, and sweep away from tho Statute Book what we cannot but think is a blot upon it. The substitution for public nominations of the delivery of written papers similar to the municipal form will not take away from the public any privilege or any right, but rather will substitute yet another safeguard in the ballot. As it is at present, the ballot with public nominations is simply a delusion and a snare. THE COST OF A CRY.

Peobably those citizens who, beguiled by the specious cry raised by Mr. Samuel Clarkson and his coadjutors of “ more taxation,” voted against the water supply, are beginning to find out how they have been gulled. If they have not, then the proceedings of the City Council on Monday last must have opened their eyes somewhat. To flush a few side channels in the city where the artesian water does not avail, coats, as stated on the authority of a committee of the Council, no loss than one-seventh of the whole rates, or about £I7OO per annum ! Yet our friends who so bitterly oppose a scheme which would serve the whole city efficiently for a tithe of this sum, are content to pay this amount yearly out of the rates for a miserably inefficient method of flushing the side channels by means of water-carts! Have any of these objectors taken a walk of a hot summer night along by these side channels P If they have, surely they cannot but see that even for the sake of health some more efficient system than the water cart flushing io urgently needed. Even if they do not, perhaps the revelation that they are paying one-seventh of the rates for what is of no practical use may move them. They have decided that they will not grant the permission to raise the necessary funds, yet at the same time they are quietly paying out oneseventh of the whole rates collected for nothing. We trust that Mr. Clarkson and his co-mates in agitation will ponder over this matter, and, if they can, try to repair the mischief they have committed. It is not yet too late for them to repent, and we have no doubt that the knowledge thus gained will alter considerably any opinion they may have formed as to the necessity of an increased water supply.