THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14685, 19 November 1909, Page 4

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Altuough not much has been heard outside Wellington on tlio subject, it is commonly believed that the .Civil Service has been greatly agitated by the fact that an inquiry by two judges of the Supreme Court has been deemed to bo necessary with respect to the conduct of a responsible public official, whoso advancement in the service to the important position ho now holds has been more rapid than is the usual experience. And now that the inquiry is at an end it is not unnatural that there should ba a good deal of curiosity with regard to the result. Our contemporary tho Dominion has advanced the contention that it is imperative that the Government, in view of the character of the inquiry it instituted, should place Parliament in possession of full particulars of the ease and of the finding of the judges. As wo apprehend the position, this contention does not seem to us to be very sound. If the Government may be depended upon to see that the official whose alleged foibles and neglect of duty have been the subject of investigation is dealt with in a manner that will meet the requirements of justice, we are less concerned with the question of whether the report of the judges should or should not be presented to Parliament than we are with the fact that judges of the Supreme Court were employed at all to conduct tho inquiry. This was, we imagine, not a case in which tho judges acted as a Royal Commission in virtue of a warrant issued under the hand of the Governor. If it were such a case their report would, we take it, be laid on tlio table of Parliament as a matter of course. And,, so long as the work of their Court is aot allowed to suffer, there can bs no objection to tho utilisa-

tion of tho services of the judges as Royal Commissioners, just as they havo been utilised in the past. But in this instance two of the judges seem to have conducted a purely departmental I inquiry at the instance of the Cabinet. " so, then, a departure of an unfortunate kind lias been made from established custom. The Supreme Court Bench is in theory, mid, we should like to think, in practice also, entirely independent of the executive authority of the country. And that its independence may be completely it seems to lis to bo most desirable that there should be a full observance of the principle, which has been laid down in the United States, that neither the legislative nor the executive branches cf the Government can constitutionally assign to the judiciary any duties but such as are properly judicial and to be performed in a judicial manner. There is, moreover, a danger that the dignity of the Bench may be weakened when the services of any of its members may be engaged for tho conduct, on behalf of the Government, of a private inquiry concerning the manner in which a departmental officer, however important his position may be, discharges his duty to the State.

The Telegraph Department announces that charges for conversations on trunk telephone wires or bureau communications after the first three minutes will be assessed minute by minute and a pro rata chargo lr.ado for each minuto or fraction of u minute 'in excess. Thus the charge for a distance not exceeding 25 miles is as follows:—For subscribers, minimum charge 3d first three minutes or fraction, Id per minute or fraction of a minute thereafter; non-subscribers double these rates. Over 25 miles and not exceeding 50 miles, all persons, Urst three minutes 6d each, succeeding minute or fraction of a minute 2d. This also applies to long-distance communications—minimum charge six minutes or fraction 2s 6d, and 5d for eacli succeeding minute or fraction o[ a. minute. The now scale came into operation on.Tuesday last.

It is notified in last night's Gazette (says a Wellington message) that the maximum weight of any class of cereal or other agricultural produce contained in any one Sack to bo carried by railway shr.Jl ha 2001b. Any sack of any clas3 of corcal or other agricultural produce containing a. greater weight than- 2001b shall bo charged for at four times the ordinary rate of freight.

Yesterday Mr Widdowson, S.M., gave his reserved judgment in the caee in which Sydney Wynne, » bookmaker, was charged with street betting. His Worslup said he considered the evidence insufficient to convict. The evidence seemed to him to materially differ in many respects from that in the case against Forrester. The case was dismissed.

The usual monthly meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Town Hall yesterday, when there were present the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers (presidoht, in (he chair), Mr Duncan Wright, Mr F. Cummings, Rev. E. A. Axelsen, Rev. Vincent B. King, Hey. W. Slide, Mcsdarats Fry, Roynolds, Withers, and Gordon, Adjutant Tweed, and Mrs Ansell. Apologies wore received' from his Worship tho Mayor, 'Mrs G. L. Denniston, and Dr E. Siedcberg. All tho correspondence was read and' dealt with, and several cases were tabled for dis-cuss-on. The treasurer's statement was not rendered owing to the absence from town of Dr Siedeberg.

The Rev. P. B. Eraser and Mr D. T. Fleming, with Mr P. G. Prydo (secretary of the Education Board), left on Thursday morning on a tour of inspection of schools at Evan's Flat, Rae's Junction, and Tapa"ui. Mr M'Kcrrow, another member <f the board, was (o have gone yesterday,bbust s was detained.

Six thousand trout fry and 1000 yearlings were liberated in the Tokomairiro River this week from tho Clinton hatcheries.

The Southbridgo (Tokomairiro) School Committee objects to pupils in the upper standards being sent for examination to (he local High School, and has passed a resolution of protest against this course. The committer holds tiiat tho scholars should be examined' in their own school.

A conference, of the leaders of the Prohibition party has been proceeding in Wellington for several days (says a Press Association telegram) in connection with the proposed amendment? to the Licensing Act, making drastic changes in the provisions affecting local option voting. Tho proceedings havo been of a confidential character. It has now been ascertained by a New Zealand Times representative that tho conference has decided to hold a Dominion convention of leading representatives of the Alliance and prohibition authorities, to commence, in Wellington next Wednesday,

A Well-atlon'ded meeting of ratepayers of the Bay Town district lest night, paweti a resolution approving the scheme to secure tho Anderson's Bay inlet as a public recreation reserve. Messrs T. Begg, T. Pryor, A. 11. Tonkinson, and S. S.llycrs were appointed a committee to wait on the Bay Town Board with the request to use every endeavour to havo the scheme earned into effect. Crs Burnett, Shaeklcek, and Marlow from tho city wore present, Mid spoko warmly in supnort of the project.

At ru meeting last night the following series of resolutions in connection with the Government land proposals was passed by tho Otago Trades and Labour Council :- " (1) That this council feels very much dissatisfied with the land proposal's of the Ward Government as outlined in the Financial Statement, and expects that every true Liberal in both Houses will mo every legal method to prevent - the same from becoming law. (2) That it further considers that no Ministry which introduces such a retrograde measure is worthy of the support of the workers, and trusts that the present members who support the leasehold will remain true to their principles, even if doing so means withdrawing their support from the present Ministry. (3) That wo consider that a referendum is the only means of finding out Ike mind of tho peoplo otr this vital question, and advocate that such a vote be taken." ,

Ml W. 11. Powell, of Lauder, has just returned from a cycle tour of the Cold Lakes, having - visited Lakes Wakatipu. Wanaka, and Hawea. Mr Powell was much imprewsd with the rugged scenery in this part of the Dominion, and the tour was one of the most enjoyable of the many that he has taken in various parts cf the 'Dominion. A distance of 257 miles was travelled in three days on very rouoli roads and continual buttling with (Jtago Central gales. Mr Powell hopes to take another tour about Christmas time.

The following resolution was passed by the OUgo Trades and Labour Council last evening;-"That while the council is at all tunes willing ar/J anxious to assist in developing the industries of this Dominion, it desires to enter its strongest protest against (lie suggestion to subsidise any private company in establishing the beet sugar industry, as it considers, that it is the duty of tho Government to make full inquiry whether the starting of this Industry would bo beneficial to the Dominion and if ,t decides that it is, the Govern' mcnfjbslf should start ami carry on the business instead cf subsidising private enterprise lo do so."

Thursday, November 25-People's Day at the Otago A. and P. show-has bccnV dared a bank holiday in Dimodin.und a number of inland towns in, Otago,

That Duncdin will in tho not far distant future bo counted among tlie cramped cities was made evident by several authoritative speeches at Anderson's Bay last nisrht. Or Burnett statecr that space conditions in Duncdin br,do fair to become as cramped as in U\c Old Country. \V C were Incoming penned in. Cr Shackloek said that Dunedin now could only grow ui the Anderson's Bay direction, atu ] W was becoming; an increasingly diflicut problem. H 0 also lew , M sale of I'orbury Park. Cr Harlow made a point by a«kmg. where, i„ tBO event of training contingents for active service hey could hnd enough open ground closer to Dunedin than the Taiori.

Following the lead of older eouniric* an experiment in delivering ]v , mk packages per tramenv will ( sayi . tho minion) probably bo begun in' Wellington before long. The parcels post busing has grown to such dimensions that the postal authorities have approached the City Council with a view to getting special cars run in tho a-bovo service, and it j s „„<(<,,.. stood that tho council is favourable to a trial being given. Tho service will urou . ably commence wilh two cars per dav.

The police made a raid on tho Grand Pacific private hotel last night, alid a search for liquor brought to light two barrels conlaining about 28 gallons of beer and two ami a-half bottles of whisky. The house, which is owned by Margaret Parker was formerly an hotel, but tho license was refused at the annual meeting of the Duncdin South Licensing Committee i„ June. A charge of selling liquor without a license will bo preferred against the owner. At tho meeting of. tho committee of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday comment was mado on tho prevalence of stealing at wayside stations. Two or three of the merchants present had had similar experience in this matter, and some of the complaints they had received were of quite recent date. The opinion was expressed that the proper thing to do ivw to report-overy ease promptly eo as to givo tho police a chanco to get on to the track of the offenders. The chamber decided to inform tho Railway Department that several instances of stealing had been reported lately, and to ask if anv suggestion could bo offered by which'the evil could be stopped.

A Wellington message states that Jack Roberts is the name of the young man who was discovered m the hills between Ivaiwarra and Ngahaiiranga with a bullet wound in his forehead and' a. revolver close by. It appears that Roberts, who is a jockey, cornea from Marlborough, and had been in Wellington only a week or two. He stated that ha went there to attend a race meeting, and had lost a comparatively large sum of money. He is still in a critical condition.

At the-Invercargill Police Court on Wednesday Mr G. Cruictehanlcs, S.M ■sentenced the Maori Wiremu Tareha to six months' imprisonment for false pretences'. Detective Cameron said that accused' (who pleaded guilty) had been at the. Winton races on the 10th inst., and was driven about in a motor by Mr T. Stone. On being driven back to Invercargill in the evening he fdled in a cliequo for £4 10s and tendered it to Mr Stone, receiving tho change, £3, back in cash. Mr Stone later became suspicious and got accused to return 12s of tho amount. Accused had been twice previously convicted for falso pretences, and had only recently been tot 'at liberty after serving a sentence of six months at, Dunedin. Mr John Moft'ott spoke m mitigation, and stated that drink ■ mg companions and the facility with which money could bo got by signing a cheque had caused the trouble. Ho added that tho man, as * Maori, did not quite rea'liso tne responsibilities 0 f signing a cheque, and h a MOney to get back fQ j V friends in the North Island. Counsel asked that the prisoner be cjmmitted to the Napier Gaol in order that his friend.l might take charge of him when ho came out. The Magistrate said that that was a matter for representation to tho Prisons Department.

Many and varied suggestions arc bciii"received by tho New South Wales Defence Department in connection with the reward of £5000 offered for an airship complying with the conditions laid down by tho <£ partment, One man declares that a curtail! problem iu Euclid solves tho question perfectly, while another writes that " after long and careful study" he has como to the conclusion that a vessel in the shape of a grasshopper would moot the requirements. With tho idea ho enclosed a strange-looking diagram, which in no way resembled a grasshopper. Almost every Kind of bird has been suggested as a tvpo for machines. The Minister of Defence says that none of them " exactly suit"

Mr W. 11, Adams presided at last night's meeting of. members of tho Otago Mutual Starr-Bowkett Society, held at tho secretary's offico, Cumberland street, for the purpose of disposing of two loans. The free loan was drawn by cluster No. 383, held by two members. A member hoWiii" five shares bought the do loan at £40 iol per cent.

Some remarkable escapes from death are thus recorded in the Lyttolton Times of .Saturday:—"A young man, a resident of Sydenham, was coming frqm Taylor's Mistake to Sumner yesterday afternoon, and when he was on the top of the hill over, looking the old baths lie jumped on to a largo boulder which was jutting out of the ground and which seemed to be as stationary as tho hill itself. To his surprise and constcrnalioir the boulder, loosened by his weight, started to go down hill. It soon gained a tremendous momentum, and bounced and bounded down tho steep places like, a cricket ball. There were several people on the hillside road, and the boulder passed close- to tlljm and then went over the,.hanging rock near the. baths and hurled itself into the earth below. There was a picnic party having afternoon lea there at \\ K tj m e. Tho boulder went into tho midst of the members of the party, passing within a few yard?! of an old lady, and it* resting-place was close to the hoofs of a horse. It, waa found to weigh about a hundredweight, and there were 'sererul people who Narrowly escaped being crushed by it."

According to tlio Kailway Review railway moil are suspecting thai the Government is ssekil.'g io make the railways pay an extra J yci e;nt. at the cost of the employees. -Tl le hateful process of squeezing extra profits oat of a living wugo hIW bam fairly launched," declared the ««vicw. " Ho do not believe Parliament would sane, tion such a method if it knew, and Parliament <s going to know, li i s th o rili i way mens court of appeal from expression, and it must be resorted to this session or 11:3 work of many years will tumble into turns like a house of cards."

Tho Ohinemutu pa was in a ferment of excitement last week, caused (says tiie Hot Lakes Chronicle) t'nrough tho Native re* ; - mrnts of that village taking part ii, ~ a t»ua. Tins ancient custom is u p Unish . "lent llliliclcd on oll'cnd.r, and their relatives for «,„,e wrong done, and in 0 ld»n Uu.« the taua was an almost umvettal onn of punishment. The principle of u Mia is a confiscation of articles belonging to the ollender by tho tnbo ,o wtoh the offender _ belongs, the latter', neuwt rck . lives b-, nff also affected. Cm this, oeca«on the party offending, it j, *J*ped a great affection f or anothX »'f'- A troupe of Natives, numbering n=arly a hundred, raa - rche<l ■ . >* «nd indulged in hakas and war Z£ ator which a conization 0 f a l kls 0 |

At the City Police Court yesterday Mr 11. Y. Widdowson, S.M., fined Charles King, charged with drunkenness, ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment.

A movement is on foot in Auckland to establish a foundling home-, and inquiries are being made as Id a suitabla sito and building for such an institution. Mother Aubcrl, Dip. founder of tho Homo for Incurables «t Island Bay, Wellington, and o( t.lio creclio in Buckle street, of the sumo city, is (<> arrive in Auckland in two or three weeks, to take t'hc matter in hand. Mother Aulwrt was, in 1860, a nun under the lirst Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Foinpallicr, and has since that time- boon engaged in 11.-j uplifting of the destitute and disabled. She is Superior of the. Order of the Sister- of Compassion, who will take over the now home. It is intended that t'iio institution will he strictly undenominational, and will depend upon t'nc voluntary olfor>nga of tho citizens of Auckland. As in Wellington, the Sisters will take barrows round the city for fowl and clothing. Tho Society of St. Vincent de Paul has collected n sum of £200, anil in a few days lists will be circulated to raise money for tho purchase of (ho building and grounds. It is expected that the home will be open by about September next.

Novelties in jewellery and silverware lor tho Xmas sepson aro now being opened up at Messrs (J. and T. Young's showrooms, 88 Princes street. The public are cordially invited to pay a visit of inspection.—Advi.

Beware o! constipation! Liver complaint, dyspepsia, headnchc, vertigo, and that tormenting discaso pita are only some ol the direct results of constipation. " Wuhoa" acts as a gentle laxative, stimulating activity, and restoring tone and normal action. "Wahoo"; 2s Gd, all chemists.— Advl,

Ladies I—You should wear our famous beaf-'em-all kid gloves at 2s fid pair; without doubt the best value on tho market; every pair guaranteed; in shades of brown and beaver. Only procurable, at Mcllisons Ltd.— Advl.

Who 19 Petxii Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite. Coffee Palace, Moray place. Duncdiii. Charges Strictly, moderate.—Advi.