The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1920. LAX CITIZENSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1920. LAX CITIZENSHIP.

Citizenship has its obligations as well as its privileges, but the latter are generally taken for granted, while the former are honored in the breach rather than by observance. It seems extremely difficult to reconcile the active spirit of democracy with the apathy that is generally exhibited in the exercise of democratic privileges. On the one hand the complaint is frequently heard that men who occupy the status of leading citizens can rarely be induced to take office and do their share in the administration of public business while, on the other hand, the people display little or no interest in the conduct of their affairs unless some burning controversy acts as a spur to their opinions and induces them to record a vote. The Welfare League has recently done good service by calling attention to the apathy of ratepayers and electors in the Dominion, and at the same time pointed out the danger which exists to-day of true democracy being destroyed by reason of the laxity of citizenship, which is such a marked feature of the age. ■ The legislature has rightly endeavored to safeguard the people by providing that polls slmll be taken on all loan proposals, yet so unconcerned are the citizens as a rule that only a small portion of the community takes the trouble to vote, with the result that the few govern the many. This, the League asserts, encourages the autocratic spirit, and is capable of causing an infinity of evil. In these days, when the aim of extreme Labor is for dictatorship, it becomes apparent that apathy on the part of the people may pave the way for tyranny. There has never been a time in the history of New Zealand when the active interest of the community in all that concerns its welfare has been so imperative as is the case to-day. To neglect the exercise of privileges designed to benefit all classes is to court disaster. This neglect may seen a small matter of itself, but a vital principle is at stake. Privileges that have been won after a long struggle should be made the most of; certainly nover treated as of no value. A moment's consideration should convince every citizen of the 'Dominion that it is only by discharging their responsibilities fully and intelligently that they will satisfactorily perform their duty and justify the privileges they enjoy.

MATERNITY WARDS AT HOSPITALS. The action of the chairman of the Stratford Hospital Eoard (Mr. C. I). Sole) relative to providing for maternity eases at the Stratford Hospital, is worthy of special notice. The proposal that all the public hospitals in the Dominion should make provision for maternity cases is by no means new, for it has been advocated for some 'time by the chief officers of the Department, though little has been done towards the project materialising, partly by reason of the initial cost, and in other part by the failure on the part of board members to recognise that the need for this provision is of prime importance. Mr. iSole put the matter in the right he said: "On all sides there iJ i fify for an increased birth-rate, but unless something is done to make the conditions' for bringing children into the world a little easier for the parents, it will be a bad look-out for the country." The position, ho asserted, is appalling as far as the ■norer people are concerned, it being ii'ted that as much as £5 a week is harged in the private institutions, while mothers cannot get a nurse in their own homes for less than £3 or £4 a week. These cases, he said, could be attended to at the public hospital at a charge riot exceeding £2 or £3 a week for everything. The high cost of living has not been without effect on this maternity problem, which is not to be considered only from the cost viewpoint, but also as to the conditions boing bettered for bringing children into the world. As a preliminary step, the medical superintendent at ilie, Stratford Hospital, together witli the chairman, will report on the matter to the next meeting of the Eoard, and there appears to be no doubt as to the report being favorable to definite action being taken in the direction of assisting maternity cases. The action of the Stratford Board is deserving of commendation, and sets an example which other hospital boards would do well to follow. It is probable that, sooner or later, provision for maternity cases will have to be made, by all hospital boards, but it would be exhibiting the right kind of public spirit not to wait for compulsion. There probably exists some opposition to this method, based on the protection of vested interests, but the object in view is of national importance, and should be dealt with on na-1 tional lines.