WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WOMEN - POLICE.

MINISTER OF JUSTICE APPROVES. : i

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, February 10. ; The Hon.-. T.' M. Wilford during his long sojourn in the House of Representatlves, whether iu office or not, set liis face steadfastly "against ‘the appointment of women police. He never made it quite clear whether, his objection to the appearance of women in the police force was maintained in what he conceived to be the interests of the women or in the interest's of the public. He simply objected to the closer-assdciat-. ion otf members of. the more sensitive sex with criminals and roughs. During the last session of Parliament, -when he sat on the Treasury Benches as Minister of Justice and Minister in charge of Police? and Prisons, Jie remained adamant upon this point and the advocates of women’s .emancipation remained in dispair: Now, however, he has resigned his seat in.'Parliapient and abandoned party ' politics to take up the High Commissionership in Lopdon, where he >111? discover that >is prejudice again stamen police; is not harboured by the Home authorities.

THE BROADER . VIEW, . The deputation/;that: waited upon Sir. Thomas Sidey, Mr Wilford’s, -successor in the Justice Department, in Christchurch on Saturday to urge the proposal his predecessor had repeated!) ‘turned down” met with a most cordial and sympathetic reseptioh. The new Minister expressed himself as convinced that women police would do much good work and produce satisfactory results. An amendment of. the law would be required; but if his colleagues approved he would be glad within his power, to secure its; passage through Parliament. As far. as can be gathered by such inquiries as have been made to-day legislation of. this description would be ap-

proved by a majority of ; . the - members ! of tli# Cabinet and endorsed by both benches, of the Legislature. The “Dominion” this morning has‘ its inevitable jibe against- Sir predecessor in office by congratulating the country at large upon having a Minister with an open mind ready to.lend a patient ear to argument: / . i. \

LAND SETTLEMENT. A correspondent writing to the “Post” on Saturday evening, apparently without personal prejudice or political malice offers some suggestions concerning land settlement which very well might be seriously considered by the Government,. ? “In place of purchasing property . would; it’not be more advantageous,“ he asks, “to introduce a vigorous policy; to concentrate upon breaking in/ large, areas of .idle land and developing same, with ou unemployed?. .. . In-other parts of the Empire modern methods are being applied to the class of land, I'refer to,'and if we are unable to introduce similar •.intensive methods into the development of our waste land there is; something radically wrong that calls for immediate rectification.” The ministerial.reply to this is that there is not sufficient Crown land available for such settlement. If that is so then there is the alternative of acquiring 'large holdings at reasonable prices and settng the unemployed to break them in at rural wages, the while gaining knowledge of agricultural pursuits.

THE UNITED PARTY. The resolution adopted by a meeting of the supporters of the United Party in the Egmont electorate, deprecating Mr A. E. Davy’s attacks upon Sir Joseph Ward and congratulating the Government upon its “efforts to assist the masses of the people by its proressive legislation,” is but the echo of many other resolutions of a similar kind produced by the efforts of the erst while organiser of the party to belittle its leader i n the eyes of his friends. Mr Davey has found his asaaults with all the assistance he could obtain from outsiders, rebounding upon himself, and for a time, ht any rate, his part as a political leader is sadly eclipsed. An honorary supporter may change his front occasionally without incurring any great measure of reproach, but the paid servant who deserts him master in the midst of strife is in a different position. .He finds it difficult, for instance, to secure another employer anxious to accept his services on similar terms.