WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1922, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

POST AND TELEGRAPH CJMSIS

NO SETTLEMENT YET REACHED. | SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, April 21. No official announcement yet Ims "been made concerning the deliberations of the Execuptive of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in regard to the Postmaster-General’s refusal to countenance the Association’s affiliation with the Alliance of Labour. There is a feeling abroad, however, thtffc the Executive is prepared to make a proposal to the Minister for an arrangement falling short of affiliation with til© Alliance, hut still giving the members of the Association the right 1 to carry their grievances to an independent body. The president and secretary of the Asociation left for Hamilton by tlie mail train on Saturday and it is-understood their purpose was to meet the Hon J. CL Coates, the Postmaster-General, there and discuss tho position with him. Meanwhile var ions Labour bodies continue to express --4. heir, sympathy with the members of j the Association, the latest being the j Wellington Typographical Union which expresses surprise that the Minister, after urging every member to vote should refuse to accept tho result of the baJlpt. MINISTER AND INSTITUTE. The Minister of Education, who seems ever ready in these days to find hostile elite ism in every comment up- ] on the administration of his Department, upon the administration of his I Department, was much perturbed by the circular prepared by tho Educational Institute for presentation at the annual meetings of householders for the election of school committees. The ‘‘’Dominion’’ this mroning points out to Mr Parr very delicately that he lias quite misunderstood the attitudo of tjhe' institute. “The Miniser,” it Says b “apparently regards it as in some " pleasure a criticism of h’S own ndmjru

istration. lie ini}i;lit more reasonably regard it as an offer and promise of support of Hit* polity lie lias consistently pursued. Tbe Institute, \vc take it, is concerned not to criticise tho Minister, but rather to urge an energetic, and unbroken prosecution of the policy he has shown every desire to carry into effect.’ This from so friendly and kindly a critic ns the lieform organ naturally is, should satisfy Mr Parr that all the advice he 'received is not designed towards his undoing.

“AFTER THE AVAR.” Many sanguine people found it easier to hear tho trials and sorrows of the war by believing that the great tragedy ultimately would bring the nations nearer together and remove many of the sordid evils that were affilicting the nations ol the earth. Speaking at tho laying of the soldiers’ memorial stone at St Andrew’s Church yesterday the Prime Minister gave expression to some of the disappointment that has fallen upon this fond hope. “I think most of us are disappoint'd,” lie said. “It is true there is no. grel.it war going on at the present time, hut there is unrest and agitation in almost every country in the world ,aiul when wo look around we almost imagine that the people of Central Europe and other countries are slipping hack into barbarism.” This was not a cheering summary of the outlook, and coming from a confirmed optimist like Mr Massey it sounded particularly depressing, but the Minister imparted a. gleam of hope to the big gathering by declaring that New Zealand still remained an example and guiding light if not to the whole world at least to the British Empire.

THE RAILWAYS. ' It is rumoured that the delay in announcing the Government’s new railway policy is duo to the General Manager not seeing eye to eye with Ministers on many of the points involved. That the Government will get its own eventually, nobody will doubt, once Mr Massey bns taken tbe business in hand, but it ipny over the official

corpse of tbe General Manager. Tins gentleman lias bad a free band so long that be is not likely to take to ministerial interference very kindly. Iheie is reason to believe that an advisoiy board of commercial and financial oxpers is among the proposals of tbe Government. The idea finds favour with tho public, but it is regarded with a good deal of suspicion by the rank and file of the Department, who fear that a cut in wages would be among tho means by which the board wouhl attempt to make the rajhyays pay.