NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

In considering what should be done about persuading' the Post and Telegraph Department to have the rear mudguards of telegraph messengers’ bicycles painted white as a measure of safety to themselves and to motorists after dark, the Wellington Automobile Club seems to have made very much of a very small and very simple matter. Experience has shown that the white mudguard is easier to distinguish than the rear red reflector. But why the Automobile Club should consider it necessary to coax the department on the matter, and even be prepared to defray the cost of painting, passes comprehension. What is the matter with a simple traffic regulation covering all bicycles ? Or is it to be supposed that, as in the case of the rule against the open exhausts of motor-cycles, nobody pays any attention to regulations, and nobody seems to be able to enforce them ? ■ .

A pathetic wail went up when the Government, in pursuance of its economy campaign, was forced to place the school dental clinics on a different financial footing. A charge of Z3O per annum for each dental nurse was levied on district clinics. The Petone Dental Clinic Committee faced the position in the right spirit, and is now able 'to consider a reduction in the fees paid by parents. This happy result, it is stated, was effected by “much hard work and a splendid response from parents.” It is evidence that the services of the dental clinic were sufficiently valued to make the effort involved in paying for it worth while. This spirit of independence is good for citizenship, and actually makes for greater efficiency in any social service which a community is at pains and expense to provide. What a saving to the country there would be if independent and self-supporting social enterprises were the order of the day—if communities were to desist from leaning on the Government and strike out for themselves!

Sir Herbert Samuel having had his fling in the House of Commons, it may be hoped we have heard the last of “New Zealand’s offer of free trade.” Sir Herbert, indeed, has now retreated from “offer” to “suggestion”; but he continues to make far too much fuss about what was in reality only a stage question asked so that the answer would be available to quieten agitation at this end. The incident has been an tmpleasing illustration of the extent to which a half-truth can be stretched and twisted for political ends.

A simple political fact that far too many people overlook is well stated by a correspondent. Mr. A. H. Burgess, whose letter we print this morning. “Any movement for reform of government,” he says, “must work by the slow process of educating the voter to see the advantage of other methods . . . any attempt to force the issue prematurely by putting up candidates for Parliament before the country is ready for these reforms is merely going to split the moderate vote at the next General Election, and thereby ensure the return of a party totally opposed to the reforms aimed at.” Legionaries please note!