WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

f PARXELL ELECTION

CANDIDATES IN ABUNDANCE

(Special Correspondent.!

WELLINGTON, March 21

It is reported this morning that there already are three candidates in the field for the vacant Parnell seat in. the House of Representatives—Mr H. E. Jenkins, the retiring member. Hr J. S. Dickson, the former occupant of the seat and Mr A. J. Burrows, a good Reformer who has made up ; liis rifed on which .side of the political lie sits—and that there are more to come. Mr Jenkins seems to have thought it would be a simple matter to change his coat from United to Reform and by this means be returned to Parliament forthwith; hut apparently;, the leader of the Re-, form Opposition is not accustomed to such lightening changes and thinks it ncjcessary to come to "Wellington to consult with the other members of his Party. At the momept it looks as i.f Mr Jenkins will be left out in the cold altogether. Other names that have been mentioned in connection -with the seat are those of Sir James Gunson, and Mr'E. H. Northcroft, and, of course, the Laoour candidate still has to bo definitely selected. THE LEADER’S PART.

On Saturday Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of a chat across the telephone from Rotorua, gave it as his intention to speak in Auckland during the bve-election, not so much for the purpose of directly influencing tlie constituency immediately concerned as to expose some of the flagrant misstatements that had been made concerning the United Party and himself. He did not for a minute wish his passing indisposition to close the mouths pf his critics. 'They were entitled to. denounce his policy and its administration as tney pleased—that was party polities—but he objected to flagrant, misstatements reflecting, upon himself and his. colleagues being.bandied .about the country by party, .newspapers and- political, perverts, ~ ;V'h? either knew .nothing about the .facts or made a practice of distorting thenf. Whether or- not his medical: aitenClauts will, allow Sir Joseph 'to Make A strenuous part in the approachirijr campaign remains to be sdeiv; Jbijt his appearance on the platform ■ in A iiobKiifi at the present j'unetiue would add very materially to the interest of the impending contest. . NATIONAL EDUCATION, . v-

The “Dominion” this morning while discussing the education problem paj’S, surely unwittingly, a pretty compliment to the Hon. 11. At more,, the Minister'' of Education. “Parliament and public,” it says, “need not concern themselves with exceptional individuals. What they have to do is to make' it possible for the average teacher to do better work than lie is now doing. ? ,Teachers in this country are regarding with interest and hep? the efforts.of. the present Minister of Education to. find enlightenment on this aspect of the subject.” Having said a s much as this, however, the morning paper lapses into despondency. “Education,” it deplores, “is likely to be seriously embarrassed by the stagnation which appears'to have developed in the government. Even if Mr Atmore’s Parliamentary , Committee does come to a practical conclusion there is no certainty in the present outlook that its report will ever seo the light of day.” And why? Simply because the squabbles of party prevent Parliament functioning as it should do and so stay the way to the development of true reform and national expansion. SAMOAN POLICE FORCE.

To-day the 228 men who were taken into t'iimp at Trentham to train for military police work in Samoa were disbanded. Needless to say the public are gratified by this vem tangible proof that the conditions in Samoa have materially improved and that the civil authorities are confident of their ability to deal with the existing conditions. , Many of the trainees, however, are frankly disappointed that their training was not supplemented by a trip to the; Islands, which had been the main attraction of their preparations to a considerable number of them. The officers speak in high terms of the behaviour and the bearing of the recruits and no doubt the authorities will keep their eye .on so useful an auxiliary body. ..The Administrator and the Minister associated with him are entitled to a great deal of credit for the tact, firmness and good commonsense with which they extricated the dominion from an extremely difficult position. The Hon. J. Ct. Cobbc showed himself exceptionally well equipped for the role of modiatoi and emerged from his delicate task with well deserved kudos.