THE EVENING MAIL. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 331, 16 May 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1877.

" Words are things, and a drop of ink falling 1 upon a thought may produce that which makes thousands think."

Our County Councillors do not appear to be satisfied with the free passes on the railways granted by the Government, and, as we shall show, are rightly indignant at the paltry manner in which they have been treated. At the same time, we cannot go to the length in the matter that the Councillors have. On a previous occasion we pointed out the absurdity of granting free passes to members of the General Assembly during the recess, and showed pretty clearly how the privilege thus accorded was liable to be abused ; in fact, how in one particular instance it had been abused in the most flagrant manner, by a member of the House of Representatives using his free pass on the Colonial railways for the purpose of prosecuting his calling as a commercial traveller. We see no reason at present for changing the

opinions we then expressed with reference to the folly of granting free passes on the railways, even to members of County Councils. They are but mortal, and they would, therefore, be just as liable to abuse the privilege as the members of the higher Legislature. We do not say that they would do so, but still there would always be the probability of such a thing occuring, and for this reason we think the request of the Waitaki County Council, as expressed by resolution at its last meeting, should not be acceded to by the Government. At the same time we freely admit that there is a great deal to be said in favour of the view taken by members of the Council. Seeing that they are called upon to give their time and attention to public matters without receiving fee or reward, it is manifestly unjust to expect them to put their hands into their pockets and pay their travelling expenses while so doing. The passes already granted by the Government do not meet the case fully, and some alteration in the system is needed. At present the passes are only available for days on which meetI ings of the Council are held, and members are absolutely required, according to the statement of Mr. Wheatley, to give notice to the railway authorities of their intention to travel on the railways. To our way of thinking this is as great a piece of humbug and nonsense as could well be conceived, even by the strictest adherent of red-tapism. The mere fact of the passes being available for use only on the days of meeting-of the Council does not even afford Councillors the privilege of returning from meetings without having to pay their own fares. The Council, as was the case at the last meeting, often sits until after the departure of the last train, and members are unable to return home until the following day. Their passes are then of no use to them, and they must either pay their fares themselves or remain in town. Then, again, there are times when members are called upon to perform duties of a public nature j : altogether independent of meetings—such ' 1

as inspecting roads, &c.—and it is rendered necessary for them to travel some little distance by railway. Is it to be expected that they will not only lose a lot of time, which to them may be of great value, but actually pay for the loss "into the bargain ?■ However well many or all of them may be able to afford the loss, the supposition that they will quietly submit to such an injustice is too absurd to be entertained for a moment. While working for [the public weal they are entitled to every consideration, and no obstacles should be thrown in the way of their performing their public duties. Some alteration in the present system is imperatively demanded, otherwise men will not be found willing to devote their time to the carrying on of the work of the County Councils. Still, we do not think, the alteration should go in the direction indicated by the resolution of the Council. The granting of free passes over the whole of the railways, available at all times, would be opening the door to abuse—a proceeding which the Government, in justice to the country should be careful in adopting. We willingly admit that the Waitaki County Council is composed of gentlemen who would shrink from the bare idea of being guilty of a paltry or dishonest action. We do not for one

moment imagine tliat anyone of those who sit at the table of the Council would, turn their free passes, if granted to them, to other than the legitimate purposes for which they might be granted. It must be borne in mind that the privilege sought for, if granted at all, must be accorded to members of every County Council in the Colony, and it would be strange indeed

if there were not some amongst all the hundreds of County Councillors capable of using railway passes for their own benefit. To suppose such a thing possible would be to take a somewhat too elevated view of human nature. It must also be remembered that even the Waitaki County Council may not always be composed of the same honorable class of gentlemen as at present. Changes must of necessity take place, and changes, as everyone knows, are often for the worse. Therefore, we most strongly protest against the granting of general free passes on the Colonial railways indiscriminately to members of County Councillors simply because they are members of those bodies. In taking this line of action we are actuated by a wish to support the public good, and not by any desire to cripple or curtail the usefulness of County Councils. In our opinion, the best way of getting over the difficulty—for difficulty there is—would be for the Government to empower the Chairman, or some other responsible officers of the County Councils, to grant passes on the railways within their districts, as occasions might require. By adopting such a course all chance of the privilege being abused would at once be removed.