NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 232, 25 June 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The present steamship services across Cook Strait have been the subject of . frequent and well-grounded complaint by all who use them. The Union Company service is far inferior to that provided ten or even fifteen years ago. Instead • of moving ahead vith Ite times it has failed even to maintain the old standard, and progress is an unknown word in this part of the company's operations. The result r» s been to check and hinder the development of Nelson

and Marlborough to an unjustifiable extent. Both districts ar 0 capable of great expansion as summer resorts for Wei lington citizens. The Marlborough Sounds, for instance, should long ago have been mndo .Available for iveek-end trips through the summer months, The war-time shortage of flapping has handicapped tho Union Company, but we are glad to find signs of a change for tho better. It is announced that the Mararoa is to take over (he Napier-Gisbornn run, and this should at least free the Arahura for the Nelson and Picton service. There are nimours also tlmt the Loongana may be placed in the Cook Strait running. This would mark a great step forward, but in any case it may be hoped that the company will 6ee its way to provide a Picton and Nelson servico that will be fully abreast of the times, *•# # » Probably with one exception the veteran in point of service at the swearingin of the new House of Representatives yesterday was the new Clerk of tho House, Mr, E. W. Kane. Dr. Newman is said to be tho member who had the privilege of entering Parliament first of those who now hold seats, his first appearance dating back >;ome 80 years. This has not ibeen a continuous period of service, however, Avhereas Mr. Kane, who joined the Parliamentary staff about the enivio time, has an unbroken record. He has climbed tip Readily over this long period of years until to-day he fills the highest position available to an officer of the House of Representatives. The New Zealand Legislature has been fortunato in its Clerks of Parliament, and Mr. ICane may be expcctcd to strive to maintain tho admirable standard set by his predecessor#. # * * # It should not be necessary for superannuated public servants to have to organise themselves as they are doing to press their just claims on the State. We have on several occasions directed attention to the pitiable plight of many of these aged pensioners of 'the Crown consequent on tho shrinkage in purchasing power of the modest allowances made them. The pensions in the great majority of cases Avere never much above tho amount pecoswy to maintain a plain and frugal standard of living, and the' chango in monetary values has left many frail and aged pensidners with totally insufficient pittances. Tbe obligation the State undertook, morally if not legally, was to provide' its servants with the menns of subsistence in tho evening of their lives after working years were over. It is not, as things stand, carrying that out. By prompt attention to the matter in Parliament, much hardship and suffering Avill be ended.

« » * # The attitude of the Government to the Dominion Museum calls for fuller explanation than has bwn given. By legislation passed in 1913 it was provided that a Dominion Museum should he cstnJbiishod in Wellington on a site to be afterwards determined, and that pending tho erection of the projected building the Government Museum in Museum Street should be the Dominion Museum. That waß seven years ago. No step has been taken to provide this now home for the Dominion Museum. The war could have been put forward bs a very good excuse but for the fact that the Government, while neglecting the National Museum, tfi which it 'is pledged, lias been able to find substantial resistance for a local museum in Auckland. Auckland .citizens, with commendable zeal and energy, aim at raising £100,000' for a museum. Of this sum they expect to obtain .£50,000 Ifiom the Government, and have already been promised a vote on the Estimates for £25,000. Mr. Anderson now apparently would hand over the National Museum to Wellington citizens with advice to follow Auckland's footsteps. Mr. Anderson in 1912 was a member of the Parliamentary Committee which unanimously reported in favour of retaining the Dominion Museum under tho control of the Minister .of Internal Affairs. In Parliament in 1912 and 1913 there wa9 unanimous arid emphatic accord that the Dominion Mu. oeum was a national undertaking of the highest [scientific importance. These views were embo'died in the Science and Art Act. To-day in Cabinet's view the relative importance of an Auckland museum and the National Museum seems to be the difference between .£"25,000 and nothing. ***» Liltlo credit is reflected on the Education Board by the conditions it has permitted at Maryborough School during the last twelve months. The action of tho parents in refusing to permit their children to attend school until matters wero amended is fully justified by the facts as wo have received them. Since the school was burned down the children have been accommodate! in four different buildings, in only ono of which was there any provision for heating. It is regrettablo that it should be necessary for tho parents to withdraw their children from school in order to galvanise the board into, delivering the heaters in tho middle of June! Delay by a carrying

company is put forward 08 an excuse, Possibly that also account*! for absence of effort in erecting a new school, and this despite tbo fact that six months ago the people of the district provided funds for purchasing six acres of land as a new site. » * * Those merchants who are reported to be busily engaged in various parts ol the Dominion in clearing spirits out of bond have apparently forgotten that there is such a body as the Board of Trade. Their feare of An incrcaoe in,

the dilty may or may not be justified. They have evidently made up their minds that the Government intends to follow the lead of tlio Imperial. Exchequer and draw heavily on the conearners of spirits for its additional financial requirements. Mr. Chamberlain in Britain has raised the duty on spirits from 50s. to 725. Cd. a gallon. It remains to be-seen whether an increase is intended on tho New Zealand duty of 18s. a gallon. If an increase is made tho Board of Trade is expected to ensure that the spirits now being cleared reach the consumer without liny additions in price for'duty not paid on them. * * * * It is reassuring to learn from Mr. Lloyd Georgo that Britain and France are in complete accord as to tho line to be taken at the coming conference with Germany. German reactionaries would only too readily exploit any differences among the Allies in the hope of creating a breach that would make an effective enforcement of tho peace terms impossible. France, as tho nation which suffered most and has most to fear from a revival of German militarism, naturally desires to secure herself against tho future. She deserves the fullest support we can give her in reason, and Britain, for her own security and the peace of tlio world, will bo wiso to make it doubly cloar to the Germans that their obligations are not to be evaded by chicanery and subterfuge. It is not the desire of the Allies to place back-breaking burdens on Germany that will leave a legacy of hatred for generations, but real evidence is required of an intention by the Germans to make reparation for tlio devastation they have wrought. With America unable to decide Avhether it has a Government or foreign policy at all, and Russia and Eastern Europe in chats, it is upon co-operation and concord between Britain, France and Italy that tho immediate future chiefly depends.

The area known as the Dolores block would make an admirable playground for the ICelburn School, and, as the Minister of Education has said, the opportunity of acquiring it ought not to be allowed to slip by. Exception must be taken, hoAvever, to Mr. Parr's contention that the City Council ought to provide a portiou of tho purchase money. He told a deputation of Kelbui'n residents on Wednesday that his Department Avould in auy case acquire part of the block, but that the acquisition of the Avhole area most depend upon a contribution.- If the Dolores block is to be used solely as a school playground, the condition thus set is quite unfair and inequitable. The people of Wellington City pay their full share of national' taxation for the .purposes of education and it is .not right that they should be asked for a further contribution in order that onti of their schools may be provided Avith n reasonably extensive playing area. A basis of agreement Avhich would justify a City Council contribution may Ixj established, however, if the Dolores block is converted into a public recreation ground over which the City Council will exerciso a measure of control. Ail arrangement on these lines ought to satisfy all concerned and would meet the needs of the Kelburn School quite as well as if the land Avere utilised only | as a children's playground. It 'would bo a .great pity if tho Dolores block were cut up into building sites. Its acquisition offers the last hope of amplifying the inadequate grounds of tho lvelbum School, Avhich in other respects is a very fine establishment of its kind. It is an important- point that tho levelling of the. block would provide spoil with Avhich to fill a gully in the present school grounds and thus extend tiieir useable area by somo threo-quar-ters-of an acre. Whether or not tho City Council agrees to make n contribution flit block certainly ought to be acquired.