CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 267, 21 April 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

KEEPING US BACK. We think it is a mistake to press a man into a public position against his inclination and will, but there is a large section of people in New Plymouth who evidently believe the bottom will fall out of the place and the sun fail to shine on the town if any change is made in the occupancy of the leading public positions. If they only knew it, they are doing the town injury by continually pressing forward men who have already done their full share of the work and are now physically incapable of doing justice to the work the office demands of them. The chief, public positions should as far as possible be rolling ones, and not be regarded as the pre-emptive right of anyone, no matter how high his qualifications and how valuable his past services. Wo have no hesitation in saying that a change in some of the important public positions in the town and district is highly desirable, unless the public are satisfied to go along in the old humdrum. We are not unappreciative of the good work rendered by nearly all of the present occupants, but for the most part their period of usefulness in public matters is over. This they naturally do not realise themselves, and the pity is that their friends are so misguided and dead to what makes for progress and improvement that they will not let them realise it, but, instead, will go on telling them that without them a condition of things will arise that "will necessitate calling in the bailiff. Tor younger and more vigorous men there is ample scope. Hitherto they have never been given a chance. The time is ripe for the infusion of new blood into the direction of the loading institutions of the community.

WEEK-END EXCURSIONS. In certain parts of the Dominion, notably in tho South, facilities are available for week-end excursions in the summertime. The extension of this privilege to Taranaki is a matter that we have urged on several occasions, but so far without success. Under the old regime in the Railway Department it was hopeless to expect that such an innovation, important as it is, had any chance of eventuating, but with the advent of Mr. Hiley, who has been trained in a school where competition compelled railway companies to cater for the public and encourage excursions of all sorts as an appreciable factor in revenue production, there appeared to be some possibility of tlie system being introduced. The popularity of New Plymouth from a health and pleasure point of view has been fully established, while the many beauty spots in and around the district are most attractive for visitors, and trips to the mountain and other places form additional lures for week-end recuperators. Now that there is a gro'.v*ng movement in favor of a universal half-holiday on Saturday the question of week-end facilities for trips becomes more pressing. It is only necessary to break away from the old groove and initiate an up-to-date policy in railway management in onlei to meet the demand that has in thf past been persistently ignored. Tlie people own the railways and are entitled to have them run to the best advantage. It is worthy oi r.oticc that on the East Coast a similar dsmfiiid is being made. Persistency in pressing the claim should meet its reward.

GHilS'' MOH SCHOOL The failure of the Gorcrninent to carry out its promise' to place at the disposal of the New Plymouth High School Governors four thousand pound's for building a school for girls is not only a matter for regret, but it reflects in no uncertain way on the honor of the country, especially as. the promise was made on the eve of a general c-lection. The main consideration, however, is tliat the work of the' scliooli amd! its prospects are prejudicially affected, and the Board naturally feel that matters should not Ve allowed to remain in this unsatisfactory state. The method of solving tho problem evolved by the Board is ono that, if the Government is really in earnest over the grant, should be acceptable. It has been suggested that as tho Government declares it cannot find the £4OOO at present, and not for some timo to como, that it should give such a guarantee as will enable the Board to procure the

the amount, the Government paying the interest thereon until the principal is forthcoming. Unfortunately the Department lias raised an objection to the costliness of the proposed structure, the plans of which have to be approved by the Minister. That difficulty can be overcome without in any way impairing the accommodation, though we believe that the building should be erected, in a manner worthy of the district and sufficient for the needs 4<f the future. Interest on the promised grant will be but littlo more tlmn the. Government is paying for the rent of the temporary school. Why the Government is taking up its present attitude on this matter is inexplicable, but now that a practical way out of the difficulty lias been evolved, there is not the shadow of an excuse for further delay. By holding up approval of the plans the Government can delay proceeding with the new building indefinitely, but it would be such an outrage on decency as to be beyond conception. There is only one honorable course to pursue, and that is for the Government to facilitate the immediate erection of the Girls' High School, The Board cou'id then go on with the building of the boarding-house, tho funds for which are available.