ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1735, 18 August 1883, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Tin? other day I .«aw two Maoiis rubbing noses standing on tho pavement at tho footol Nhoitlaiid-stieet. They did not upend ho nnicli time o\ci the opetation as they übod to do in former yeais, but still tho sight mi. Hided me ot the " good old tiu'es.."' Yes ! tlicy wore good times, when everybody Knew everybody else ; when everybody was doing well; when the peonlCjHUo those of Faith dwelt caic-lu-.s, fjinel and sucuic ; when it was not the usual thing, as it is now, for a man to get into debt and then «o through the ■Raukiuptcy Court, or '• clear out Un Guam." J {early money was scnice in those " good old days," but people man aged to do veiy well without it, and people did not trouble much about sirall ohnngc as they do now. If a man bought &oodB fioni a fiioccr, and time was sixpence due to him as change, the giocei would hand him a box of matchis, and lawas accounted a mean man who would object to take his change in that mannei Now things nic changed in this uspct-t, and in most otheis. Now, if any man has change to receive, even if it be only a half-penny, he must h.-ne it in com of the realm. Oi touric 1 , he lias a peifect light to ieccivewh.it is his own, but stiaw show how tho wind blows, and the diflier eucc between the custom of to-day, and that of long ago, shows that though people lm\c moio money they are not so well-to-do. One reason is that weaie more luxurious in our tastes than wo used to be, but it is a moot question whether greater luxury lias addeil much, if at all, to our happiness. The chairman of the Board of Education used what many people consider improper languasje at the meeting on Tuesday last. .Ho "aid that the members of the Auckland bianoh of the New Zealand Institute, most of whom are teacheis in the boaid's schools, were guilty of " gioss impel tineuce," because they passed a resolution approving of the conduct of one member of the board, which the chairman said implied censure on the rest of the members. It is generally admitted that this is a free country, and that everyone has a right to do what he pleases, provided he docs not break the law. I cannot see why the teachers should be debarred from forming themselves into an association for the protection of their own interests, nor why that -ftetocittion should not be allowed to ex.^tjress its opinion about the action of one all of the members of tho Board of IJUucation. .Still less can I see why, Vwhen they do so, they should be accused v<srf "gross impertinence." The board dogs, not 'buy the teachers, sonl and body, but engages them to do certain work, and so long as they perform their duties satisfactorily, they have a perfect right to meet and consider subjects connected with their work, without asking the chairman of the Board of Education what they may or may not say, in order to keep themselves in " sympathetic accord" with him. In my humble opinion it was the chairman who was guilty of " gross impertinence," not the teachers. In a pri\ atf> letter received from a member of the Opposition, the following remarks are made:— "The session will probably be over by the end of the month. It lias been very wearisome to ' the members, and the long sittings and 1 late hours have told on many, in taking the energy for the time out of them. It always does so. This is one effect of the admirable system of centralisation that you admire— trying to do six months' "work in three, and a national legislature having, .a. Ministerial crisis over the. Howick wharf ! !"' Well ! that certainly •wafi an absurb thing, and members were ! > yerjf pwrah to b. l*me for allowing sv\ol» »R, :