OCCASIONAL JOTTINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1918, Page 6

OCCASIONAL JOTTINGS.

] ; (Bjr "The Snarls") • WANTED-A LEGISLATOR. If self-confidence in one's own ability in a particular groove or in any public capacity is sufficient recommendation for public support, then there can be only one member of this community capable of bearing the burden of office as the member for Taranaki—Mr S. G. Smith. When a citizen announces himself as willing to run the gauntlet of a Parliamentary election, he throws himself on the mercy of the public; if in the public estimation he possesses the attributes necessary to enable him to render practical recognition of public support, the would-be politician meets his reward and gets the "open sesame" to the House. If a candidate for Parliamentary honors be unpopular or "not sufficiently known," he must naturally expect the public to heckle him during his campaign and to ignore his presence on polling day; and, under any circumstances, candidates for a seat in Parliament, having taken the platform, should anticipate criticism and opposition. At Mr Smith's meeting on Wednesday evening—"preliminary": i.e., to form committees to ensure ihis return (or otherwise) —the candidate succeeded in getting into his "preface" to his campaign practically all there need be said. So why worry further? Mr Smith undoubtedly "put up" some strong points; the publie shall judge in due course. During his recital of the Government's shortcomings, etc., Mr. Smith told .his audience some things that were not hauled up in the fisherman's net yesterday, as well as "hitting the nail" squarely on the head in other matters:—

He was not seeking election; he had | been urged to stand. —Yes, Mr Smith. ! He had been born in the political atmosphere.—Yes, Mr Smith, but some ot us are born in affluence and die in poverty. He hoped to follow in his late father's footsteps.—Yes, Mr Smith; that's a recommendation.

He reckoned he had ability, and his 22 years' railway service should peculiarly fit him to grasp the situation.—Yes, Mr Smith, you would probably be offered the portfolio of Railways. He had no selfish motives in entering the contest.—No, Mr Smithy every candidate for Parliament says that.

He believed the National Government had failed dismally.—Er—yes, Mr Smith.

He believed the National Government represented only a small portion of the public—A bold statement, Mr Smith. Why, then, do they hold office? He believed a section of the community was growing rich at the expense ol the soldiers at the front.—Very true, Mr Smith. If you can "unravel" this problem, there's a chance for you to become eminent.

The Reform Party was a spent force. —Yes, Mr Smith. There would be a "debacle" at the "next" election, meaning, presumably, that in the composition of the National Government (as at present constituted) there are wise and otherwise, firm and infirm, and someone has to "get out" soon.—Yes, Mr Smith, that's where the shoe pinches, but how are you going to relegate to obscurity those members of the Cabinet who have long ago been labelled "beyond the utility stage"? Taranaki industries, under his representation would ' progress.—Yes, Mr Smith; they need pushing. The cost of living "had not been tackled" in a manner that tended in the slightest to lighten the worker's load, and in this connection also the Cabinet had made another dismal failure.—True, Mr Smith, and, if elected, will you fix us up in one act? You could take out patent rights for this reform, because there are other small islands scattered about the globe. These are some of the points touched on by Mr Smith in his preliminary canter. For the benefit of the community he undertakes the huge burden of having these public disabilities remedied if lie is returned to Parliament as Taranaki's representative. It is an ambitious proposition even by a man who, to give him every duo for his past creditable work, has proved his> worth on local bodies, from one who is far from lacking in self-confidence, and, if only one-half the programme mapped out by the candidate became law (not to mention the liquor question which Mr Smith appears to have judiciously "hung up"), the Dominion of New Zealand might then truly be known as "God's own country." SOLDIER HEROES-RELIEF (?)

I am chokeful of admiration for the "boys who are at the front, for those who have returned, for those who will assuredly be called upon to bear arms, and for those who have given their lives in the great struggle for freedom I have jilways a feeling of deep reverence. The people of the Dominion have nobly answered the calls made upon them for funds to enable the hosts of willing workers to provide comforts, etc., for the gallant lads who responded to the Empire's call, and through the benevolence of "the stay-at-homes" the trials of many of the men at the front have been, to some extent, lightened by the knowledge that those left behind have been reminded that modern warfare is terrible in/its results.

A few days ago a meeting of the War Relief Association was held. Mention was made of the fact that an applicant for a loan had received -"mistaiice to the extent of £500! A member of the board of control took exception to the loaning of such a big sum to one man, as ''there was a probability, when the time came to repatriate our heroes, the huge amount of £52,000 raised by the people of Taranaki may prove insufficient to cover the absolutely necessary needs of the soldiers." This is a matter that should be seriously handled, and handled in a manner that will allow the fund to be administered for the purposes for which it was subscribed to. When "Belief" is tagged large on the doorway and the weary and distressed make the call for help, then is the time for the benevolent to succor the helnlcss. AYhat is the use of throwing a bare bone to a starving dog! There are boys in the Dominion to-day who have heroically fouglit our battles in foreign lands and have returned to us maimed or broken, willing to pursue their former occupations but unable to do so owing to the terrible experience they have undergone, and who soTcly need financial and other assistance." What is the use of farewelling our best and bravest with gabbled promises, the beating of drums and blow of trumpets if on their return, when stepping from the boat or train, broken and (helpless—l am writing of what I know I to be a fact—and not a willing hand or kindly word to greet them? Where does "relief" come in when men, in sore adversity seek financial aid and are grantled a P»Ury sum, often insufficient to mtirfy the craving for a change in sub-

with no connections and no security be denied "his" portion of a grant raised ostensibly for his mental and physical benefit? Why should a lonely and relationless returned soldier, be placed in a position worse than that of a street beggar when he has done his bit just as loyally and bravely as his move happilyplaced comrade? Has not his work been just as commendable as that of his sleek and dapper comrade? Is he not just as much entitled to his "relief" as the man who comes along and says he can offer security for the loan of £11100? It is the old story—"(jtito him that hath shall be given."' The mistake that is made is administration. fJonorallv speaking, relief funds are administered by people who have plenty of learning, perhaps a smattering of commercialism, but know absolutely nothing of human nature or an empty stomach, let alone a sad and lonely heart. This application of war relief funds (and other relief funds) is on a par with the Rhodes Scholarships and Kaitangata Coal Mine Disaster fund. I have no doubt that when Cecil Rhodes left huge sums for the benefit of scholars he meant ''any" boy. How many boys, the sons of poor parents, have benefited from the lato South African magnet's request? Those who administer that particular fund are learned men, consequently not competent to handle funds. They hpve never had to labor for a single farthing and—well they see only the social side of the scholarship, and the lad whose parents are unable to subsidise the scholarship remains at home! .

In the matter of the Kaitangata Coal Mine, it was a case of "immediate help needed." An appeal to the public resulted in a very large sum being raised for the widows and children. Small sums were doled out to the unfortunate widows, nobody benefited, at least, those for whom the fund was raised "never rose from the ashes of the mine," the paid administrators of the fund 'were the only individuals who secured any material benefit from the fund; and 30 years afterwards—isn't it on record that an Act of Parliament had to be passed to dispose of the accumulated £30.000! War Relief Association, do your dutyBelief to the Distressed!