CLOSE GUILDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8556, 15 October 1907, Page 4

CLOSE GUILDS.

Somewhat remarkable it is that whenever an organisation approaches ] Parliament for a Bill to close up its ranks and make strict regulations respecting further admission thereto, the plea set forward is that the desire \ of the originators is solely or mainly in the interest of the public. They wish to establish close guilds to protect, not themselves, but a gullible community from the machinations of "the other fellows" who are outside the special combine that seeks, through the instrumentality of statute law, to be "close-guilded." This was the plea of the farriers' organisation, which wanted to limit its ranks by making outsiders subject to a rigid examination--an examination which many of the associated members probably could not pass, but which they decided should not be necessary in their case. A similar plea was set up by the Musical Association in support of the Musicians' Bill which they had introduced into the House this session. They were terribly concerned about the welfare of the public—and of art. The latter was, however, a secondary consideration. The effect of that measure, had it iio.t been, rejected by Parliament, would have been t-j deprive a considerable section of music teachers in town and country of their bread and butter—for "the benefit of the people!" A similar plea was put forth by the Associated Accountants when they asked Parliament to make them a close' corporation such as the medical and legal professions. Strange to say, their own interests were never once referred to by this patriotic bod}. The passage of the measure they submitted to the Legislature would have placed provincial joint stock companies under disadvantages, and deprived many an honest and capable "unassociated" country accountant of a chance of adding to his income. The Bill did not pass— fortunarely. Now an effort is to be made by the architects of Wellington to make a close corporation of those who at present are within its charmed circle. They, too, have the public welfare ?nd the welfare of rri in the foreground. As for personal considerations, perish the thought! "The public are left with no protection at all," wailed the Chairman at the meeting of the Wellington Architects' Association, last week, and this cry will doubtless bo taken up by the organised architects all over the Dominion; and sooner or later an effort will be made to "close-guild" architecture as music and other things have been sought to be close-guilded. The man in the country, who wants to erect a shop or dwelling, will, if the profession is made a close corporation, have to depend mainly upon city architects and will have to pay city archit?cts' prices. There are more than sufficient monopolistic organisat ons in existence ndw, and very strong p.iblic reasons fhould be shown before Parliament adds to the number.

MORE PUBLICITY WANTED. It is generally admitted that the Advances to Workers' Act of last year is a most valuable measure. It is extremely simple in its operation, as it is administered by the. Government Advances to Settlers Oflice; but there is one important cWnvbaek in the administration, and that is the absence of publicity of its beneficent provisions. The Department is hiding its light under a bushel, and the vast bulk of workers in the country districts are left in ignorance of the

advantages awaiting them under the Act. The fact that money is available to aid workers to become their own landlords, should be advertised in every provincial district throughout the colony.