The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-06-19
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A6Oertisrr
SATnRDAY LINZ 1C

SATURDAY, JUNE 10.
We understand that His ExcelIency the Min
ister Of the Interior, with his usual enterprise,
has inserted an item IN the Appropriation Bill to
provide for boring artesian wells in localities
where water is needed for irrigation purposes.
The sum asked for-SI0, OOG-could not be ex-
pended for a better object, for, If running water
II obtained, which late experiments should lead
US confidently 70 expect, the result will be to
bring into profitable cultivation many places
that are now comparatively deserts. But don't
let Us forget a matter still more impOrtant,-and
that - the protection and replanting Of our for
ests- Where shall the water come from to sup
ply artesian wells when our mountains become
denuded Of trees, and the rains that fall run at
once into the sea instead Of being detained by
the trees, grass and moses and allowed to perco-
late through the earth to fill the underground
reservoirs? If this supply fails. there will be
little use for artesian wells. We trust that the
Legislature will not adjourn without taking some
action for the preservation Of the forests.
a Bill was recently introduced in the Assembly
and referred to a Committee. forbidding the Minister
Of Finance from paying salaries to government Off
GERS whilst absent from the Kingdom. The Com
mittee have reported q substitute, as follows
sEcTIoS 1. No salaried Government oficer shall alb
sent himself from his POST for a period exceeding three
months, unless employed on special business OF the Gov
Governments oficer beyond a period Of three months.
unless he Is employed on special business Of the Govern
ment, or on leave OF absence after protracted service.
shall be considered and shall operate hs a resignation OF
sEcTIos 2. The Minister Of Finance shall not pay the
draft for salary Of any Government Omcer who shall
have been absent from his post longer than three
Or snecisi G1ee-n,1eat 10 ~ X nave Deen employed
tion has been made
The somewhat protracted absence from the coun-
try Of q prominent member Of the Judiciary has un-
d~oubtedly prompted the introduction Of this meas
ure. Ii is understood that at least one case in the
Supreme Court is pending his return. 1t is not to
be supposed that a judge must never leave his post,
but the purport Of the bill is to limit the furloughs
Of these important functionaries. All governments
do, or ought to. provide for periodical holidays to
enable the faithful servant to recuperate health and
mental faculties. more especially when the field of
labor is in a tropical climate. Our government
should not be an exception to this salutary rule. But
the time of absence should be specified.
A clerk in the government service has however
nothing to look forward to but constant ~plodding, |
with little or no hope Of q recess. Why should not
provision be made in their case for a holiday after
long service, say one year in ten, to be subdivided
to suit employer and employee. Though most Of US
have made this Queen city of the Pacific our home,
still we have friends elsewhere, and as absence
makes the heart grow fOnder,'' so as we grow old
do we yearn TO see once more the land of our birth.
But no sensible man will risk losing his position for
the sake Of seeing his " native land once MORE,
and hence the necessity Of a leave Of absence. The
bill, If passed, will prevent protracted sojonrns
abroad BY important government officials.