NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The question of hospital levies was once more discussed at a meeting held yesterday between the representatives of the local b<)dics in the Wellington Hospital District and the Chief Health Officor (Dr. Valintine). It was pointed out by Mr. Luke that it was not fair that new works involving large outlay should be sprung upon, tho contributing bodies in one year. Tho finances should be arranged in such a way that the strain would not be.so severely felt. This is certainly a very reasonable suggestion. The local bodies ought to be given ample notice of important extensions in the board's operations and of any costly undertakings that may be contemplated, in order that their finance may not be dislocated by sudden and unexpected calls. Dr. Valintine admitted the justice of this contention, and thought that it would be possible for tho local bodies to get into closer touch with the Hospital Boards. Dr. Vauntine's reference to the collection of fees from patients is, however, fat from satisfactory. In answer to Mr. Townsend's remark that only £4000 in hospital fees had been collected out of £24,000, the Chief Health Officer said that the increased popularity of the hospitals was such that many people now made use of them who could afford to pay the ordinary fees, and in these circumstances it was not to be expected that, honorary medical officers would continue to act much longer. This statement strongly emphasises the need for placing the collection of fees on a more business-like footing. Every person who can afford to pay should be made to pay, and this pol- , icy will bo all tho moro ncccssary if,

as Dr. Valintine says, hospital expenditure in the future is more likely to be increased than reduced. If the scope of the work of the Hospital Boards is to be continually extended, new sources of revenue may have to be found, for tho strain on some of the contributing bodies is already neai'ing the breaking point. The whole question of hospital and charitable aid administration will have to bo reconsidered in the near future, more especially from the financial point of view.

The election of Mr. F. AV. Lang, the member for Manukau, to succeed the late Sir Arthur Guinness as Speaker of the House of Representatives did not come as a surprise. It was generally recognised Mr. Lang was entitled to tho position in the ordinary course of events, if he desired to have it. He has already served an apprenticeship as Chairman of Committees, an office which is regarded as the stepping-stone to the Speaker's chair. The new Speaker is one of the most popular men in the House, and has the respect of members of both political parties. Whether ho possesses the qualifications which go to make a great Speaker only the future can decide, hut ho certainly can lay claim to some of the required characteristics. He has a sound knowledge of the rules of Parliament, and possesses the useful gifts of common-sense and tactfulness; and every member can be sure of courteous treatment at his hands. It is to be hoped that he will from the start keep-'a firm control over the proceedings of the House, for there has been a growing tendency in recent years to overlook what may be regarded as minor breaches of the rules, but which are essential to maintenance of the dignity of Parliament. In this way trouble has more than once arisen which might have been avoided if taken in hand during its earlier stages. Mr. Lang may be relied upon to set a high ideal before .him, and to do his utmost to maintain the dignity and decorum which should characterise tho proceedings of Parliament. His personal _ popularity and the respect due to his high*offico will secure for him the help and sympathy of every member in the performance of his responsible duties.

The) University capping ceremony which took place in tho Town Hall yesterday was a sorry affair. Strictly speaking, it did not take place at all, for the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) put an end to the proceedings before the timo for the presentation of the diplomas arrived. It will be remembered that the Victoria College Council declined to 'iake any responsibility as regards tho ceremony when the Chancellor curtly set aside their suggestion that the trouble with the Auckland students should be kept out of tho Wellington capping day proceedings. Sir Robert Stout himself was given an uninterrupted hearing—not by the students, who were conspicuous by their absence, but by the 'general public. The students caffie in after ho had concluded; but ho was evidently in no mood for fun of any sort, and walked off the platform almost before tho foolery commenced. In spite of tho feeling that had been aroused over the Senate's decision to present the Auckland diplomas here, it is probable that a littlo_ taet and good humour from the chair would have prevented any trouble at all, and the programme might have been carried through without any more interruption than the good-natured banter which is recognised as a legitimate part of tho proceedings on such occasions. Wellington capping ceremonies in the past have been fairly free from disorder, and there is every reason to believe that on the present occasion all would have been well if the advice of tho Victoria College Council had been followed by tho Senate. Wo have no intention of defending unreasonably noisy behaviour on the part of tho students, but we do say that the needless importation by the Senate of an element of discord was a mistake that it is difficult to account for. j Moreover, the action of the Chancellor in cutting short the proceedings as he did yesterday gave evidence of a state of irritation not warranted by the conduct of the students.