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Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1923, Page 2

J With l he Postal and Telegraph piipaitment showing a substantial credit of up wards cf three, (puirters of a million, it is not surprising that Sir Joseph Ward dropped a very strong hint to the Postmastcr-Ccneral on the subject of reviving penny postage. .Mr (Hates took the Hint and the reform is promised in the near future. It is the ! posfcal side of the depart moot which yields the hulk of the profit. Indeed the telegraph and telephones arc said to show a deficit. Experience has shown always that cheap postal telegraphic services ‘’pay" the Dominion, and while Mr Coates is in the mood there seems no reason why, in addition to dropping back to penny postage, he should not also return to Sir .Joseph Ward's sixpenny telegrams. The post and telepraphic services arc used by all, and the cheaper the iaciiitics the more pill they ho used and the greater the public utility. .Mr Coates deserves credit certainly for introducing nil improved system of accounting, though according to the revelations of the special committee set up by the Canterbury Progress Tongue, it is not altogether a lair system. Still, it is a stop in tilt* right direction, and can he adjusted to suit requirements. While the Minister is considering jostal rates, it is to bo hoped after what has been revealed about the' accounts, and the criticism of Sir Joseph Mat'd, also, that he "ill not persist in increasing the telephone charges. If that came to pass there would be the opposite result to "hat the Minister contemplated, and many connections would be lost as also the revenue. The question of the situation ol the Old Peoples’ Home is causing quite a st ir. The Westland Board, however, seems to he. on the right lines in seeking to centralise, so as to economise. It seems to stand to reason that an institution of the character under consideration should be adjacent to a hospital, and with the well-found hospital we have now at Hokitika, the Home should be in useful contiguity. The Board has been working out an economy scheme for some time. It has now finalised its building scheme. t > give the accommodation required. It has a staff which could be more fully occupied with a larger number of patients. There are important ndjumts to the local hospital now with its own dairy, a steam laundry outfit, a good power and water supply—all of which contribute to the economical conduct of the institution. The number of eligible patients for such a Homo are a vanishing quantity, ami the time is approaching "hen by force 01 actual circumstances Kumara would have to he closed in any case, the cost not justifying the wisdom of keeping the institution open. It is therefore well for the Board to consider the matter in good time, and if a saving to the ratepayers can he made, to begin the economy '* good time. And that appears to bo the policy in hand.

The matter of a central Home for the Coast has long l>een talked of and a few years ago the Hokitika delegates agreed to go in with Greymouth, Nothing came of the negotiations because of objections from other quarters. Now a different set of circumstances has come to pass, and there is not the apparent need for a costly separate institution such as was then proposed. The patients will not he

there in sufficient number to warrant the outlay. It will suffice if good quarters are provided in close touch with and under the management of such a hospital as will be necessary always at Hokitika. So far as the aged arc concerned, the chief duty of the community will be to give them a good Home under conditions which will not be an unreasonable strain upon the ratepayers. The Board in its wisdom is taking a course which will moot that essential requirement, and it is a step which will, after meeting the needs of the old people very adequately, show some regard for the contributors to the upkeep of the institutions. Hospital administration is a heavy drain on the local bodies in Westland and the Board, through the elected members, has a mandate to economise where it can and diminish and not add to the rating burden. The closing of the institution at Kuniara. is, therefore, inevitable and the folk in that quarter have not yet realised, evidently, why it \v; s so long delayed.

In the fight at Taiiranga yesterday, victory rested on tho side of the big battalions. The influential Ministerial forces spread themselves to such line effect that the fortunes of tho day were on their side pronouncedly. Act New Zealand has occasion to be grateful to Sir Joseph Ward for entering the lists, and carrying forward a contest of such great importance to the Dominion as a whole. The platform appearance of the ox-Primc Minister caused a flood of light to he let in on the sins of omission and commission: as also the notable shortcomings of the Government. The result should greatly benefit tile taxpayer and working ehc-'-es of tho Dominion. \ arious important promises were rung Iron! Ministers, which, if they live up to, will benefit tho people as a "hole, resulting from decreased taxation, and other forms of financial levy. Incidentally Tauranga will reap a harvest of public works and other favourable considerations so that the constituency, so far as it is concerned, will not have d< no amiss. Taiiranga will leave its mark on the political course ol events, for it has given the Liberals a further chance to restate their case, ami the statement is one which will go a long way to clarify the political position when next there is a general appeal to the people of the Dominion.