WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

- THE POST AND TELEGRAPH CRISIS.

EXECUTIVE STILL SITTING. BFKCIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, April 21 The executive of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association has not yet come to a decision with regard to the Government’s veto of the Association’s proposal to join the Alliance of Labour. It sat all day yesterday and is silting again to-day, hut no official announcement concerning the progress it has made is available. The length of its deliberations, however, suggests that the members of the Executive are by 110 means unanimous on the question a‘ stake and that they are now seeking a compromise that will save the face of the Association and at the same time placate the Government. Meanwhile the Labour organisations that would have tlie Association defy the constituted authorities are not helping the situation by declaring the recent ballot was the result of “steady education aiming at a new society in which the exploiters will be shaken from the hacks of the useful classes.” The Seeretary of the Association refuses positively to give any information to the newspapers, hut it is known this kind of propaganda has frightened many members into resignation.

THE WHITE Pi. AG UK. In a leading article this morning the “Dominion,” speaking with the authority of local medical meii, warmly supports Dr Blackmore’s sweeping indictment of the present methods of dealing with consumption. “Dr Blackmore lias shown,” it says, “that there is a groat and imperative need not only of adequate provision for tlie treatment of consumption,* lmt of measures to safeguard the health of children and others who may he saved by early attention from contracting the disease. He is supported by other authorities in his contention that the existing position can ohly be remedied under a national policy by a uniform and universal scheme directed to confining the lavages of consumption within the narrowest possible limits.” The writer goes on to urge that it is only by concerted action on tlie part of the local and national health authorities the ravnges®of the scourge can he stayed and to throw the responsibility for tlie initiation of the campaign upon the Minister and his advisers. THE LIBERAL-LABOUR PARTY. Mr T. M. Wilford, the leader of the Liberal-Labour Opposition, who is now in the Hawke’s Bay district preparing I ho wav for a vigorous assault upoit the Government’s citadel at election time appears to be ploughing ft lonely furrow m> far as the members of his owii party are concerned. A Press Assoeia:i..,,'message from Dannevirke published this morning says it is understood he has been unsuccessful 111 his .parch for a candidate to carry the party banner in the Pahiatua constituency, but bis friends here are not at all dismayed by this story. They say that Mr Wilford’s difficulty all through bis organising tour has not been to find candidates, but to select from many aspirant* for parliamentary honours those most likely to meet with the approval of the party executive. This is easy to believe. A seat in Parliament is worth holding in these days, with the emolument and the honour attaching to it, and never before have new men had such an opportunity as appears to be theirs at the approaching general election. EDUCATION’S PERILS.

The circular from the New Zealand Educational Institute which, unless debarred by the Government or “turned down” by the chairman, will be read at all the annual meetings of householders for the election of school committees. is a very striking document. It makes an eloquent appeal for the maintenance of the education system of the Dominion upon the very highest standard, and for every possible oppoitunity being given to the hoys and girls of the country to quality themselves for the great work which lies before •v ein as eitizeliV of a free democracy. •‘]f,” it says in the few lines it devotes to the financial aspect of the question, “the country can afford concessions on income tax and land tax, it surely can afford due consideration to "■rowing humanity.” This is trenching on perilous ground and tl.e Minister of Education, who is ultra-sensitive on such matters, may have something to say on the subject. However, the tone of' the circular is so admirable in other respects its trifling indiscretions may he well excused.