NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 257, 24 July 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

In its disposal o£ Mr. Holland's motion yesterday the House of Representatives showed itsolf emphatically against tlie introduction of the, Irish question into New Zealand politics. The Imperial Parliament is considering a measure to give Ireland self-government, and we can safely say it i 9 the devout wish of all New Zealanders that some solution of this thorny problem may be found at an early (late. The Irish question is not a thing on which judgment can bo pronounced by tho New Zealand House of Representatives sitting at a distance of thirteen thousand mil.es, nnd with next to 110 first-hand knowledge of the facts. It is the dissensions of the Irish among themselves that have blocked the road to settlement, and the most the New Zealand Parliament could do in any circumstances would bo to pass a resolution affirming the urgency of healing this running sore in tho Empire. . At such a moment as tho present any resolution of the kind would be interpreted abroad as supporting and approving the brutal and callous campaign of criminal violence by which tho Sinn Fein parly lias put itself entirely out of court. The Sinn Feiners may outrival the Turk in Iheir atrocities, but it is in vain that they will attempt by terrorism and outrago to enforce a. setilemont that will leave them frco to endanger the safety of the l3mpire as is tho obvious objective of at least 6oraa of their leaders.

■Provision for tho early treatment of mental cases at Wellington Hospital was suggested by'tho Medical Superintendent at Thursday's meeting of the Hospital Board.. The majority of people, in caring for a relative suffering from mental disorder, aro extremely loath lo make application for treatment at a mental hospital, except; as a last resort. The result too often is that what might have been a transitory illness is converted into a permanent infirmity. Conditions in New Zealand in this respect have been improved by tho provision made ting tho treatment of patients at mental hospitals under remand by a Magistrate for observation without formal certification of insanity, and for tho admission of voluntary boarders. The benefits to be derived',from such early treatment are shown by tho statement in last year's report that altogether 111 patients left, recovered or much improved, .without formal admission as patients. Treatment of incipient insanity is a thing to be encouraged, and a means of doing so would bo by 'the provision for such cases in a general hospital where no stigma ■ of lunacy attaches to admission and deters patients and their guardians until too late. Dr. Woodhouse, who should bo in a position t» judge, thinks the idea feasible, and an experiment is certainly well worth making. * * * Wellington has a spacious Town Hall, a fine organ, and a talented organist who oach Saturday provides a programme of a higher ,class of music than the city would otherwise havo an opportunity of hearing, But the city is not interested. It prefers the moving picture and the vaudeville, and Mr. Page plays to a little group of from 200 to 400 people. It is stated that the Town Hall could bo let on Saturday evenings for musical and other entertainments that would attract from 2000 to 3000 people. Wo do not know what these entertainments are, but doubtless it is inconvenient ' occasionally to visiting concert parties not to be able to secure trie hall on Saturday nights. It is an excellent thing that tho public should havo some regular opportunity of hearing good music, but is it an indispensable condition of success that-tho organ recitals should bs held on Saturday evenings? Tho small attendances seem to indicate that tlw night is unsuitable for somS reason, Perhaps Mr. Pago would fare better on Sunday, when citizens may bo supposed to bo more attuned to harmony, and tho counter-attractions of the week-day are ruled out. Councillor Bennett suggests that the organ recitals should tako place on Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening might bo given a trial and attendances compared with those on Saturdays.