WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 56, 7 March 1929, Page 20

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

POSITION OF PROFESSORS.

PRIME MINISTER AT GISBORNE EXPEDITION IX RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. (From Onr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The "Dominion" has drawn pointed attention to the complaint made by Dr. Condliffe, formerly of Canterbury College and now head of the Honolulu Research Department, to the effect that the University professors in New Zealand are unable to give him the same assistance in his work ae do the professors in other parts of the world. The reason for this state of affairs appears to be that the professors in the Dominion are so tied down to the examination syllabus that they have no liberty of their own. "They have no freedom to teach," save the morning paper, "for the reason that it takes them all their time to cram their students with the information required from them by external examiners, and therefore no opportunity to specialise in particular subjects." It is understood that the revision of the recent matriculation examination results is due to the conditions that have been indicated by the newspapers. Prime Minister on Tour. Sir Joseph Ward appears to have received a very hearty welcome from the good people of Gisborne at the beginning of the week when lie went among them for the purpose of unveiling a monument to the memory of his old friend and colleague, the late Sir James Carroll, who had been their representative in Parliament for many years and their sage adviser for many more. During his visit he found opportunity to say a word or two concerning railway construction along the East Coar-t, which must have been highly refreshing to settlers who have been waiting for many a long year for the completion of this work. If he were in their shoes, he told these settlers and their friends, he would feel very disgusted witli Parliament. They had been waiting for -20 years to learn which route the line would take. In less than ten days he would settle that question for all time, and in three or four years they would have their railway. Sir Joseph has made good the first part of this promise. Hastening Construction. Though not admitting that the completion of the East Coast line is among the crying needs of the Dominion's railway system, the "Post" implies that the Prime Minister has done the right thing in putting an end to the tardy pace at which it has been proceeding during the last decade or two. "Sir Joseph Ward's optimism and conciliatory attitude are refreshing," it says, "and the average opinion in this country seems to be altogether sympathetic with a veteran statesman's attempt to create a majority in a House that numerically lacks one. On the railway question the Prime Minister stated at Gisborne nothing new. He saW in effect that the East Coast railway, being started, must go on. He did not say whether, if not started, it would have been worth while starting. It is on occasions like this that a Prime Minister realises how necessary it is to have had adventurous predecessors." This, at any rate, is the view of the man in the street, and he is as a rule a passable reflection of public opinion. Menace To Traffic. Another problem awaiting his attention when Sir Joseph Ward returns to town is threatened by the Wellington Automobile Club. The executive of the club has instructed its representative on the City and Suburban Highways Board to press for a combined deputation from public bodies to the Prime Minister with a request for the removal of the central railway pier on the Hutt Road. The proposal was introduced by Mr. J. D. Holmes, an engineer of repute, who holds that the removal of the pier would not cost more than £1500, and that as it stands it is an obstacle to the development of the city, and a constant peril to life. The members of the executive were unanimous in supporting the proposal, and it was decided to organise a deputation to the Minister forthwith. Sir Joseph himself, when a private member of Parliament, protested strongly against the erection of the pier, but jr>\v that the obstacle is linked up with the railway line he may find it more difficult than it would have been at that time to make other arrangements.