NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 48, 20 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Striking evidence of the rapid extension of soldier settlement in recent months was submitted by tho Hon. D. H. Guthrie in a specch delivered at . Feilding on Monday night. Tho Minister stated that apart from advances to three thousand soldiers to purchase town properties, four thousand returned men had now been established on country holdings. The pace at which the settlement schemc is expanding is domojistratcd by setting out this total with some figures of oarlier date supplied by the Prihe Minister in August last. In cach case the number of soldier settlers provided with holdings at the dato mentioned is shown: Soldier Settlers. March, 1917 334 March, 1918 038 .Tuly 31, 1919 2057 November, 1919 4000 The remarkable fact is here disclosed that nearly as many soldiers have been provided with holdings during the past threo months as during the period of about three years for which the scheme was previously in operation. At this rate of progress it should not bo long before all demands by soldier settlers are fairly met.

o a » B The electors of Nelson iii selecting their new member will do well to remember that a man is known by the company he keeps. They should not forget Mr. Atmore's oratorical effort in the Wellington Town Hall in 1916 when the resolutions at the conclusion were moved by Mr. 0. Webb and, Mr. H. K. Holland. Mr. Athoke on this occasion delivered himself of the following delightful passage: "Sometimes it was moro heroic to stay_ behind than forward. The true spirit of Christianity was shown by the man who rnado the widow and fatherless his special care and tried to get pensions for dependants of those who went to the front." What New Zealand's contribution to the Empire's effort would have been If all the bachelors of military age had shared Mr. Atmore's peculiar views of the "true spirit of Christianity" might reasonably form the subject of a little thought by Nelson electors before casting their votes next month. * * « •

The suggestion mooted by the local Repatriation Board that unskilled returned soldiers should be trained to carry out some classes of building work has a good deal to commend it. There does not seem to be any reason why objections should be raised by the Amalgamated Society of Carpenterß and Joiners to whom, as well as to the Master Builders' Union, tho question has been referred. Contentious issues would arise, if at all, in regard to the question of payment, but as regards work for which men could mako thomselves efficient in a brief course of intensive training such difficulties need not be insuperable. The State might, for instance, supplement tho wages of trainees for a time by a special grant, as is done already in the case of partially disabled men learning new trades. It would hardly be practicable to subsidise in this way such a training for fit men as would mako them competent carpenters and joiners, but there are classes of building work, notably in connection with concrcte construction, for which a month or two of practical experience, together with some technical instruction, ought to make previously unskilled men reasonably expert. On the wholo tho Ttenatriation Board's suggestion is well worth oxamining and the outcome of tho conference, proposed to lie held to-day. at which tho matter is to be considered bv representatives of the local builders and of tho Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, will bo awaited with much interest/. * * « a The Liberal candidate for the Central scat had his meeting disturbed last evening by supporters of the Labour-Socialist candidate. Mr. J'uiANi is an old campaigner and is less affected than the great majority of people by hostile interruptions, but even the most seasoned veteran is at a disadvantage in expounding his views when the noise and interjections are so frequent and continuous as to prevent him being heard for even a few minutes at a time. The exhibition on the part of the interrupters was a disgraceful one and should assist to discredit the Labour candidate, whose interests it was intended to serve. What the electors of Wellington Central and the electors of all other constituencies have to bear in mind is that this interference with the liberty of freo speech, evil as it is in itself, is of even greater importance as an indication of the unreasoning intolerance of those behind the Labour-Extremist moveWnt. It should act as a warning -a grave warning—of the dangerous possibilities which lie behind miy encouragement of those who arc seeking to gain control of the country''! affairs in tho name of Labour-Socialism. To-day it is lawless interference with the liberty of free speech; ero long it will bo an easy transition from noise to disorder and physical violence. The electors have the power to cheek it. They can demonstrate their di'sapnroval and resentment, at the ballotbox by voting against the LabourSoeiaiist candidates not only in Wellington Central but in all other electorates where such practices aro Tosortfld to, '