WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 59, 3 December 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

MI!. WUIGHT AT KAIWARKA. Last night Mr. Ji. A. Wright addressed the electors at ihe Methodist Hall, Knivarra. Mr. Dlnir presided over the meeting. which was fairly well attended. Mr. Wriu'ht enlarged upon several subjects. and received a good hearing. Dealto e particularly wilh monopolies, ho said I lie Stale should interfere either by way of comottition or by purchase, aim so check their growth and development. The United (Stales of America was Ihe houie of trusts and combines, and, unfortunately, like ail octopuj these combines were pushing their feelers into e\e:v ivn't of tho world. New Zealand ' would not escape, and it was the duty of the Government to make it impossible for i-ilher foreign or local I rusts to control (he markets of the Dominion. The American Meat Trust needed careful watching. If was true that if was difficult lor New Zealand alone to o.eul with this organisation, because of it? ramifications. influence, and enormous wealth. The co-operation of Hie Imperial Governmenl was essential to success, ami no doubt that co-opera I ion could be obtained. Onlv bv united action at the producing and distributing centres could the Meat 'j'rusl lie held in check. He believed the Government wu-> fully alive lo the situation, and was preparwi' to deal wilh the menace as far as lav in ils oower with tinnne.-'s and determination. Witljout; the Stale actually owniiiL' the meat industry, it might; be neccl- - lo oncnuingo fanners to continue lo -ell I heir slock" lo the Government al a fixed mice, and in Ibis way prevent foreien representatives of the great I rusts canturfmr the New Zealand trade. Answering questions, the candidate eaid

he had done all he coukf to support the Bill removing the embargo from the Hutt Roan. It was true Mr. Wilford introduced the Bill, but the Reform Government had Riven facilities for its passate into law. He was not in favour of abolishing education boards The latter hud done good work. He admitted thai; hnnie service men hao not been liberally treated, and ho had voiced their grievances in the House. A hearty vote of thank? to the speaker was carried by acclamation.

MR. SLOANE AT SEATOUN. Mr. Dunbar Sloane, the Liberal candidate, addressed a well-attended meeting of tho electors at Sentoun last night, Mr. F. North presiding. Speaking 011 education, Mr. Sloane said more scope should be given for tho preparation of detailed reports of each child throughout its whole school career, whereby at the completion of that career the child might be diverted into the channels most suited for its activities. Ho believed that the present method had a tendency to produce what was commonly known as casual labour. Any intelligent boy on leaving school could get 'Jos. to !tOs. a week as an errand boy and gene/al rouseabout, but the danger was that in seeking tho highest wages he would eventually find himself 011 the casual livbour list. Why not, said Mr. Sloane, have a system something 011 tiieso lines:— Every employer (trade or profession) requiring a boy or girl' would register that request with the headmaster of each school. The headmaster would then bo able to recommend the boy or girl whoso complete personal file showed special aptitude for that particular trade or profession. Of course the salary to start with must be put on a proper footing. Tho evil days when boys were started on an apprenticeship at us. per week and finished at tho end of four years at .El per week were past and gone, and he sincerely hoped as dead as Julius Caesar. The speaker touched on the vital necessity of more schools, and he hoped when such were being built that some attempt at least would bo made towards picturesqueness, as environment meant so much to_ the child. The key to tho whole situation was the teacher, and the State could'make no better investment than money spent in producing cultured, refined, and highly-trained teachers, who recognised that tho first work was to establish personality and character. In return for such the teacher should be granted recognition due to men and women' doing the nation's highest work, "the moulders of our future citizens."

The sneaker spoke at length on the question of Labour, and eaid he was in favour of the Whitley scheme. Workers must 'be put on a proper footing and endeavour made by a general superannuation scheme or a national unemployment scheme to make them secure against old age, unemployment, and invalidity. State coal mines and colliers were advocated by the speaker, 1 also arterial roads, in connection with which the speaker gave illustrations of the successful working in America.

A. motion of thanks was proposed by Mr. P. Buillie, seconded by Mr. M. Traccy, and carried by acclamation.