WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1929, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

EDUCATION EXPENDITURE, THE FOUR MILLION MARE. (Special Correspondent.)

AYELLINGTON, October 7

The “Dominion” this morning finds fault with the Government for not having delayed the passage of the (Education Vote in order that a refreshed Opposition might have) an opportunity “to interrogate the Alini.ster of Education,” as it states, “with justifiable zeal on the subject s of the policy be has frequently talked about, but never disclosed.” |'• s ii matter of plain fact the Alinister during his nine months of office has dipped more deeply into the education problem than any off his predecessors in twice the time. The real trouble of the friends of Reform appears to he that Air Atinore satisfied the Labour Party that no money was available for additional expenditure. It takes Mr H. El. Holland and his followers to task for not having supported the Reformers in a protest against the Government’s failure to increase the salaries of headmasters, and in its next breath declares the country is not getting value for the four million a- year already being spent.

THE PRIME AIINISTER

: Sir Joseph Ward has been devoting himself too closely to detail work during the last month or more and on Thursday morning suffered a return of influenza which kept him away from the House for the rest of the week. This did not involve his ilnyine aside his work and admitting himself to bo an invalid. It meant merely that ho changed his quarters, eschewed deputations and took such physical ease as was possible. This approach to rest has had the effect his medical advisers predicted it would, and ho is to-dav reported as being “very much better’’ and eager, strange as it may seem, ,to he hack to 'the hustle and haste of the House. To-night the first Monday sitting of the session will he occupied by merely formal business, consideration of papers and so forth, and the Hon. G. AY. Forbes, the acting leader of the House, hopes that by the end of the week the length of the Order-Paper will be materially reduced.

UNEMPLOYAIENT RELIEF

The gentleman of parts who sign® [himself as- “.'Dominion Chairman of the United Political Organisation” was foolish enough the other day to take to task a number of the members of the Labour Party for claiming a share, of the credit for the Prime Minister’s scheme for the relief of unemployment. The members concerned have now retorted, “If the Government had the organisation of the scheme in hand for some considerable time.’’ they ask, “why were not Air Fletcher, the member for Grey Lynn, other members of the United Party and members of the Cabinet let into the secret? Was the. ‘Dominion Chairman’ the only one in the know? AVas this important fact hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed only unto babes?” However the Labour Party is wasting no time squabbling over petty political points raised by professional partisans. Its members are delighted that in spite of his illness the Prime Alinister is throwing himself heartily into so great a work.

PROGRESS AND PREJUDICE.

The Labour members of the AiYellington City Council—Air R. Semple, Air R. AfcKeen, and Air C. H. Chapman, all members of the House of Representatives—are protesting loudly against the Tramways and Electric Light Department expending £39 in assisting a display of electric lighting, cooking and heating apparatus in the Town Hall. These good Socialists argue that the Council will be subsidising private enterprise at the cost of the ratepayers and that all the profits and advantages will ..remain with the voracious importers and dealers. The Council itself, they insist, in addition to supplying current should supply all the apparatus and so secure all the profits. A. majority of the members of the Council, however, had seen enough of the operation of municipal ventures of this description and decided hv twelve votes to three that it was better to enjoy the certain profits made out off electrical current than to embark upon the hazardous field of trade competition.