WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SWIMMING THE HARBOUR. GALLANTRY THROWN AWAY. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. The attempt yesterday by It. J. Webster, the sturdy young Aucklander, to swim across the Wellington harbour, a distance of some seven, or eight miles, to make a Wellington holiday, failed through crass stupidity on the part of the folk who staged the spectacle. The morning paper announces that it supplied the only official Press representatives on the dinghy which accompanied the swimmer, but it obviously accepts no responsibility for the bungling which deprived the lad of the sucess- he deserved. Having breakfasted lightly on fish he took a “raw egg” just before he entered the water on the Wellington side of the harbour and when he called for “something to eat” after battling against the choppy sea for some three and a half hours his trainer had to leave the dinghy in search of a warm drink among the launches and yachts in the neighbourhood of the swimmer, no such provision having been made for his plucky fight against multiplied odds. Webster will swim the harbour when he gets half a chance. AN OVER REGULATED SERVICE.

The “Dominion” this morning raises its voice against the multitude of regulations that have grown up in the administration of the Department of Education. “For some reason which nobody has yet been able to discover,” it says, “the education system in this country is more subject to regulation. l of bewildering complexity than any other department of the Public Service. When not only teachers complain of over regulation, but a Ist boards and school committees demand a simplification of the laws, it must be evident that something is wrong which ought to be put right without delay.” Similar complaints have beer, made lately by the Chairman of tin Auckland Education Board and the Vice-President of the New Zealand Educational Institute and the nev Minister of Education, the Hon H. Atmore, lias undertaken that tin matter shall receive attention at tin earliest possible moment. The Hon. It A. Wright, Mr Atmore’s predecos sor in office, made several sane sug gestions in this direction; but fo. some reason or another they neve came to fruition.

FAULTY LEGISLATION. A recently elected member of the House of Representatives, who declares it was the bane of regulation.-, by Orders-in-Council that first brougln. him into public life, stated to-daj that while he sympathised with Mi Wright, the late Minister of Education, in his dilemma, lie could nov understand why the Reform Party wai driven to make such extensive use 01 Orders-in-Council to givo effect to it.-, legislation. To say that the retention of these orders was due to the exigencies of the war was simply absurd,, lie contended. The late Government hau had ten or twelve sessions of Parliament since the conclusion of the war ■in which to repair its faulty laws aim yet it was only during its last month or two in office that it even talked about tackling the job. This authority admitted he had not been in the “business” long enough to learn much .about the procedure of Parliament, but already lie was satisfied “regulating,” as he understood it, was much overdone. THE NEW BROOM. As far as the new Minister of Education himself is concerned he may be trusted in this matter to bo as good as his word. Born in Nelson fiftyeight years ago, when “Sleepy Hollow” still was shaping an education system for the whole of the Dominion, he started out in life with n firm belief in himself and in the traditions lie inherited. Eighteen years in Opposition in the House of Representatives have equipped him as no other political experience could have done, and have given him a knowledge of affairs no university could have supplied. Just what he will attempt with the Education Act, and its many regulations, will be known only when Parliament assembles; but it is fairly safe to predict that lie will insist upon having his own way in questions where Ministers of Education iii recent years have not habitually appeared. He has begun well by proclaiming his portfolio the most important the Prime Minister had to distribute.