NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The public ought to heartily welcome the opportunity which will be afforded to-morrow of contributing to the funds of the Phuket Society in furtherance, of its admirable work. This line organisation has an all-sufficient claim to public recognition and support. Since it commenced operations a, dozen years ago the infantile mortality rate of the Dominion has been reduced by almost _ one-half, and undoubtedly tli'; activities and propaganda of th<j society have contributed very largely to this result. Not alone in saving infant lives, but in promoting the health and welfare of mothers and children, the Plunket workers are doing splendid national service. Such benefits as the society is enabled to confer cannot be extended too widely, and if the public response on Friday is worthy of the call and the occasion very "material help ought to be afforded in this direction. Arrangements are in hand for a street sale as well as for a collection, so that every facility will be given for furthering a cause which ought to carry its own appeal. By the generosity of a Waiitciinui testator, the late. Mil. G. T. Stewart, the society lias rome into possession of a fine property, which is to he developed on the same lines as the_ famous TCaritnne Home at Dunedin. The establishment nf such an institution in the North Island is an important sten forward, and the society ought to he given Ml posxible_ encouragement! in further extending its operations.

The exchanges between' the Finance Minister and the ex-Finance Minister in the House o£ Bepresentatives yesterday were very interesting—and illuminating. Sip. Joseph Ward was guilty of one of those indiscretions which his followers are becoming only too familiar with and which are said to have occasioned a good deal of uneasiness within the inner circles of the party. It certainly was unwise of him, after having thrown up the* portfolio of Finance and thrust it on his sue cessor at a moment's notice, and on the eye.of the sitting of Parliament, to criticise a readjustment of the Supplementary Estimates necessitated by increased demands on the public purse. The disclosure which his comment provoked, namely, that Sir James Allen had had to senke some £400,000 off the Estimates which Sip. Joseph Ward himself'; had left as a legacy to his successor, was illuminating; hut the further review by the present Minister of the various additions to public expenditure which Sir Joseph Ward had unsuccessfully attempted to have made this session was even more effective in exposing the hollowness of the ex-Minister's professed solicitude for the stablencss of the country's finances. The fact is that the drain on the public purse, from one cause and another chiefly arising out of the war has become so heavy that the utmost care will require to he exercised. What is needed to ease the situation if greater harmony in the ranks of industry and increased production. Instead, we have the constant fostering of discontent bv the extremist section of the Labour-Socialist element, and "go-slow" methods, stop-work meetings, holding up of shipping, and all the stupid ancl suicidal methods' which go to hamnor progress and sap the vitality of the country's trade ancl commerce. It has been said that nothing but the pinch of hard times will brim? organised Labour to its senses. If Muni's go on as they have b"on going the hard times will not bo very long in reaching us.

The Parliamentary session came placidly to an end last night with the usual exchange of compliments. The occasion was in many respects noteworthy. The Parliament which has now reached the end of its' active career was elected at the end of 1914, shortly after the starting of the war, so that its term will cover the record period of five years. Few Parliaments, perhaps, have been more abused than that which witnessed the formation and dissolution _ of tho National Government, hut it served its main purpose during _ the war with notable success and in its final session it has certainly done a good deal to disarm criticism in relation to its policy rcirardinjr internal affairs. The Prime Minister did not exaggerate (when h? described the working record of the session as extraordinary. Parliament met on August 28, and sat, therefore, for just ten weeks. In that period it passed 55 Public Acts —not a few (if them rankinu as important policy measures—22 Local Acts, and one Private Act. Fortyseven Public Bills and three Local Rills were dropped. Undoubtedly in its final session our "Long" Parliament did a good deal to make up for 'lost time.

The Wanganui Cricket .Association last night adopted the eight-ball over for all future matches under its' jurisdiction.— Press Assa,