TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 68, 22 March 1910, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

On Thursday the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railwaya, Mr. Millar's is to begin his pilgrimOpportunity, age to Australia in an endeavour to understand how somo of the railway systems there pay better than their contemporary here. It has been mentioned that the Minister may take an expert with him, and we heartily hope that tho report is true, for Mr. Millar is not yet a railway expert. Even if he had been as eager as any aeeker of fame "to &hun delights and live laborious clays" during the past two years, he would not have yet had time to develop into a railway expert. The Ministei here is nominally expected to be a sort of general manager iof an enterprise in which over £25,000,000 is invested, and his responsibilities, if they were actual instead of mostly nominal, would indepd be complicated. Mr. .Millar is travelling to see, but the seeing eye presupposes training. The non-expert can see much and learn little. He can be passively receptive ; he can remember things said and quote things read, but it is- very difficult for him to sift things for himself. Mr. I Millar, without a competent expert to see for him, would be as bewildered among Australia's railway systems as a primary school pupil in the mazes of the differential calculus, and his reports could not hope to carry any appreciable weight unless thoroughly annotated to show the authorities for deductions, references, and recommendations. It is Mr. Millar's chance to begin buFiness earnestly, and make some performance follow the long peiiod of promise. It is hoped, too, that he will study the commissioner question with an open mind, though there are many who might be of the opinion that it would suppose superhuman generosity in any Minister of the Crown to expect him to recommend a proposal which would put his department under independent experts. It is hoped that in the case of Mr. Millar personal considerations will not be allowed to bias his judgment. People of the suburban districts along the Manawatu line Good Business, have long been comif for plaining of alleged Prompt Cash, unfair treatment by the Railway Department, and though the arguments nave been more or less officially met, the complaints do not diminish. Residents have persistently declared that they are not as well served as in the days of the company, but possibly a shade of chagrin at the disappointment of high expectations under a paternal State regime may account for some of the bitterness of the outcry. The department professes to be willing to meet tho people on business lines. More trains will be granted, if the people agree to indemnify the department against loss. The retort is that such an arrangement is one-sided. The residents say that they will be put to considerable expense to build up a paying business for tho ftovernrnent eventually. Even that rejoinder is slightly exaggerated, for it must be remembered that the improved service, by attracting more population to the healthy uplands, will be increasing the value of j property out there. The guarantors would be sure of some return for their money. However, as the Government stands to benefit ultimately by a betterment of the service, it should be prepared to deal on reasonable terms with the people — such terms as Mr. W. H. Field has suggested. He recommends that tho guarantors who agree now to make up any loss should be lecornponsed out of profits later on. Provided the guarantors are ready to supply the cash — hard cash, not paper— year by year, the argument is eminently fair. A bond for an indefinite term would be undesirable, and might lead to complications decidedly unprofitable to the State, but the stiaight-out cash, with the promise of a return from profits by-and-by, would be good for the district, good for the department. The people concerned would have an excellent incentive to develop their district, and compete vigorously with other attractive suburbs which are daily whispering moro and more seductively to tho city folk. The memory of the late Sir James Hector is not likely to The Hector be lost in oblivion so Memorial, long as science in any of its branches is cultivated in New Zealand. The nineteenth I century was prolific in distinguished "all-round" scientific men— a type i which has almost become extinct in tho specialising tendencies of later years. The "Admirable Crichton" has long been an impossible ideal, and in these later days of minuto investigation in so many varying fields is becoming daily | more remote. Sir Jame3 Hector was one of the later examples of the type — physician, explorer, geologist, zoologist, botanist, and distinguished in each branch, the product of a condition of things that has passed away — "We shall not look upon iiis like again. ' But though his memory will not pass, there is a natural desire that some visible and tangible memorial should remain, and to this end a number of comrnitteei of scientific bodies v/ero some time ago set up, and proceeded to rolled subscriptions, which the Government has undertaken to subsidise to the extent of £500, which amount tins been contingently voted by I'arliamont for the purposd. We now loam by circular thai fch« aubtcriptions to date amount

to £4.53 10s 6d, leaving a balance of £46 9s 6d still to be raised if the full benefit of the Government subsidy is to be realised. But as the vote will lapse on the 31st inst., only nine days remain in which this sum can be made up, and renewed appeal is therefore made to the public — an appeal to which wo hope prompt response will be made. Mr. B. C. Aston, 71, Upper Devonstreet, Kelburne, is the secretary of the general committee, and Mr. A. Hamilton, of the Dominion Museum, will also receive subscriptions for the purpose. New Zealand has had many distinguished exponents of science in particular branches, but few, if any,, who occupied so wide a domain or regarded the subject with such breadth of vision as the late Sir James Hector. Hence the unique interest attaching to his work, which we hope to see worthily commemorated. To-night the City Council will be [ seriously involved For tho SaKo in recreation — of tho Youngsters, the problem of grounds for Wellington s youth, the fair "hockeyette," the burly Rugbyite, the nimble "Soccerist, ' the agile La Crosser, and others. Ihe grounds have multiplied, but the players have increased proportionately — perhaps more— and again there is a fear I that there will not, bo enough level space to go round. Once upon a time tho problem was not so embarrassing In the winter the Rugby King was almost tho only factor to be seriously studied. The best fields were all for Rugby, and the others had to fight for the leavings. But time has swelled the army of Association, trebled and .quadrupled the ranks of hockey, and brought in other battalions such as la cros&e and Australian football. Rugby's champions are in dread lest they should be denied au adequate share of the grounds at the council's disposal, and they have sent a deputation to press Rugby's claims. While the council is weighing the merits of the rival parties to-night, it should not overlook the case of a great silent army, whose gentle voice has not been heard. What of the little boys and girls? Are they to be condemned to the thickets of thorns above Tinakoriroad, the rocka and the ridges? There is a tendency to crowd the little ones rigut out of the "made" grounds. Prior to the formation of parks there is alway3 much insistence on the argument of playing spaces for the children, but when the money has been voted and spent they aro apt to go on short commons. Perhaps, at present, the children suffer no great hardship, but it is well to remind the council that the rising generation should not bo ignored.