PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

“Is it any wonder tbnt-the United Party is experiencing considerable difficulty in Securing the .services oV a leader of sufficient' personality to impress the electors? A party minus a policy and minus a place in the political sun, is hardly likely to find a self-sacrificing aspirant for political honours sufficiently vicarious in his attitude to political affairs to embark upon so risky- aii adventure. Efforts were made, presumably, to capture ill- AY. J. Poison (president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union), but the little scheme failed. Others have been : pproaelied, but while it is known that there is a singifieant reluctance on the part of parliamentary candidates to flock to the United Party’s banner, an

outstanding leader will not be fortl coining.”—Timaru “ Herald.”

The Christchurch Hospital Board has been very hard to convince that it is not treating its nurses in a manner befitting an institution of its importance and resources. It lias even ignored the warnings of its own medical superintendent on the matter. East September, when a large number of the nurses were on the sick list, the modical superintendent (Hr. Fox) wrote j to the board: —“Most of the sickness I believe to be due to the overcrowded condition of the wards, which 1 warned your committee two months age would be followed by illness in tin staff. The warning was not only ignored, but the chairman of the Hospital Committee, in excusing the overwork which fell on the nurses who were not ill, said that the board ‘ could not keep a ’large staff for emergencies of that kind.’ ” —Christchurch “ Star.”

A recent posthumous book by a Judge of the Supreme Court is an in-, spiling record of triumph over difficulties not merely financial, but linguistic as well, of a most serious chaiacter. The present Chief Justice and his immediate predecessor in office atj'ord powerful illustrations of the reward that awaits sheer industry and a high degree of intelligence. The public sendee, notably in the case of the Bail ways Department, supplies cases that are not less noteworthy. And very much the same may be said concerning industrial occupations. borne of the most extensive employers of labour arc men who not many years ago were 'in the receipt ' of wages. — “Otago Daily Times.”

A recent report by the Department of Commerce at Washington shows that something like half a million citizens of the United States go-on tour every year and spend more than £] 50,000,000. Considerably more than half of it goes to Europe, and about a quarter of it to Canada, but that still leaves many millions sterling available for Australian and New Zealand if they choose to go after it; and going alter it simply means more intelligent publicity work. Even if Canada were not • a neighbour she would still get more, tourists than any other Dominion because she knows better than the other Dominions how, and what, to advertise.—Christchurch “ Press.”

The public may bo pardonably anxious about the secrecy that surrounds Children’s Courts. A youth who pleaded guilty in Christchurch to three serious offences against young girls, and who was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, had his name automatically suppressed, because the case was heard in a Children’s Court. It was quite proper that the proceedings which' called for evidence 'from girls of tender years should have been heard in a cleared court, hut it is distinctly undesirable that offenders of this description, who are not themselves juveniles, should have their names suppressed, because it is desirab) i that parents should 'know their identity.— Christchurch' “ Star.”