WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

••INr -LIGHTER - VEIN

WHAT REAIDERS WANT

(From our: correspondent.)

... WELLINGTON,: December. 20.. The Wellington morning paper, like its enterprising contemporaries in the Mother Country, ■ does-, not .habitually confine its leading matter to ponderous articles, beyond, the reach and conipre,liencsion of nineteen-twentieths of its readers. ...Quit (i - the jcontrary. “Pariia* men).,;” it tells, us' -appropriately, “is

a human institution. . Th's fact accounts for its frailties, and it allows for the blossoming of it« humanitarian virtues. As for instance, Mr S. 0. .-Smith has given notice to ask the Postmaster General if he will--arrange for more satisfactory clothing for postmen during the summer months.” The postmen wear -serge uniforms; summer and winter, we are told, and the look of them on a hot summer day almost makes thy beholder perspire in -sympathy. i

; Nor is this all that is to he said about flip burden of the postmen. The 'New Zealand policeman is conceded a ; white - helmet in- hot weather; but, as ; he 39 has not so much hill climbing to id-o in Wellington as the postman, he sis at an advantage, Other uniformed servants can be quoted,, There is the [railway porter, whose thick serge looks hot in all seasons, and especially uncomfortable during the summer holiday irush. . Humanitarian considerations prompt-, the feeling, as .it has been prompted in Mr' Smith’s conscience, that- something: should he done about the matter. But, as it occurs to the editor, there are vagaries of our climate to be considered-' White duck might he !a blessing on --Monday and yet a shivering abomination on Tuesday.

The. morning paper, with T'e Same cl'rity, gave its'approval to the Prime Minister’s mot’On for a special annual ,allowance to £l6O to the leader c.f the Labour Opposition. “It is recognised ~y members of Parliament generally,’ it, eaid.' “that the special duties and responsibilities of the leadership of the Opposition-, whoever he may be, and of whatever party, involve him in considerably more expense than a private member; He has 7 .ampl-ch heavier mail to handle,; .for , one y . thing, «nd it m almost essential . that ■ho should have •secretarial assistance, if he, .is to keep abreast of the: wpfk, more, particularly in session.’’ ( This Is a ; concession which the .late. Mr.. H., E. Holland should have received long ago, and even now it may he said the .allowance is but a scanty one..

The..virtue of condensation war, demonstrated by the morning paper in its...allusion to Mr Poison, whp- figures in thg Housers the-leader-of the farm-! •mg community. There can be no objection to'-the recommendation that a ipoll-.should be taken,” said the alert 1 daily. “It is rather surprising, however, to have from Mr Poison,', who n president of. the Farmers’ Union,' a statement that there; is grave doubt whether a wool improvement scheme is necessary!. We had it from the market sale of the question that it is liot only necessary, but, urgent. The rise in prices may lead woolgrowei's to minimise the importance of improving the quality ,of .the.. staple- -but that would be a .shortsighted view J’ ■ The market must not onlv he captured by quality, but also held by quality.