THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1907. A COALITION OF PARTIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8398, 12 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1907. A COALITION OF PARTIES.

In view of the State elections which are to be held in New South Wales this year, a coalition between the followers of the Carruthers Government and the members of the Progressive or Third Party, led by Mr Waddell, projected for some months past, has now definitely been agreed to. In their resistance to Socialism and the Labour Party, now the Opposition in New South Wales, the aims of the coalesced parties are, at least, identical. The object of those supporting the coalition, is that a common programme shall be adopted, based on Liberal principles, against the Radicalism of Labour. The spirit in which the matter was considered at the conference between the two parties was that there should be no bargaining for office. It is generally agreed, however, that Mr Waddell will be taken into the Ministry. He may assume the portfolio of Lands, to be relinquished by Mr Ashton, who is to retire from politics at the elections. However,' as another Minister, Mr B. B. O'Conor, who holds the portfolio of Education, also intends to resign, a complete reshuffle of portfolios is likely in the course of the reorganisation of the Cabinet. The elections will certainly create considerable interest, not only in New South Wales, but in the Australasian States generally. It does not altogether appear that the coalition referred to will weaken the jLabour Party; in fact, we are rather disposed to think that the 1 result will be

to the contrary. The leaders of the coalescing parties cannot compel the unanimous sympathy of those who have previously supported them, and it is certain that many Liberals will join the ranks of Labour. The Labour Party will hecome the recognised Opposition of the country, and the issues between the Government and the Opposition will be clear-cut in the eyes of the people. The Labour Party may receive a temporary set back, but they will doubtless modify their programme somewhat, and in the end the coalition will, probably, lead to their advancement. Three parties in Parliament are, no doubt, a nuisance and a trouble to the people, and the coalitionjjis justifiable upon such a ground, but that it will have the desired end we very much doubt.

THE INCREASE OF FEMALE TEACHERS.

In an article in the Strand Magazine on "The Making of the State School Teacher," Dr. Maenamara, Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, points out that women' in England, as they have already done in America, are rapidly elbowing men out qf the work of teaching altogether. Teaching, j though exacting and toilsome, is, he j says, a pretty good calling for a j girl. It is emphatically not so { .promising for a boy. The chances for promotion are far fewer. The natural consequence is that the future youth of England will be taught almost exclusively by women. "Already in America," Dr. Macnamara says, "the generic term for teacher.is 'she.' Shortly the same will be true over here. In 1850, of every four elementary school-teachera three were men and one was a woman. By 1870 the women had drawn abreast of the men. And to-day, of every four elementary teachers, three are i women and one is a man. Further, ! it is worth noting that this change is now proceeding with rapidly increasing momentum. When I turn to the pupil-teachers of 1906, I find that twenty thousand are girls and four thousand boys."

THE NEED OF YOUNGER POLITICIANS.

Speaking to an interviewer at Christ-, church a few days ago, Sir William Russell, ex-Leader of the Opposition, said it was a great pity that the capable men of the younger generation were showing so little disposition to take up public life. They were clearly failing in their duty to the State. He did not wish to underrate the good work that was being done by the members of the present Opposition, nor to ignore the sacrifices they were making; but new blood was sadly wanted in the Party, and he looked upon his own defeat at the last election as a real blessing, as it made room for the advent of some earnest, young politician, who would bear a capable part in the Government of the country.