TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Some of the many candidates for municipal honoure have A Few Loose platforms which rePlanks, semble the giddy floor of a " Katzenjammer Castle," for the boards do buck. How they can kand on these very "live" planks is a feat surpassing the achievement of the circus-rider with his legs spread over four or five eteeds. The circus person acquires perfection of poise with practice, but some of these intrepid candidates are out upon the buckjumping, planks for the first time. However, if they do not arouse municipal interest, they at least furnish a little fun, which ifi something with a grey, damp Easter upon us. One reformer advocates the provision of bunks on the waterfront for waterside workers crowded out of the last cars at night. Why does, this altruist make an invidious class distinction? Cannot an unkind fate crowd a banker of a merchant out of the last car? The wornout plea of "the club" could at last be supplanted with the legitimate excuse of the municipal bunk. The city's Maori burgesses — not many, alas! — should plump for the candidate who urges a reduction of the dog tax, and everybody should think kindly of him who advocates councillors' " personal supervision of dust-bins." Unhappily, if this is to be a necessary duty for councillors, gentlemen with no limit of brains but no sense of smell must stand aside for the keen-nosed municipalian. "Providing the money is judiciously spent in reproductive works (and not squandered), and all works, both great and small, cautiously and carefully considered, then much good will be accomplished," states another aspirant, in one short, judicious, careful, cautious breath. " I am opposed to the City Council's past policy of putting up statues 'one day,' then pulling them down 'the next,' and similar feats," runs, another platform, and it also includes: "Avoidance of City Council ' dabbling ' in matters that it knows little about. Avoidance of ' bungling ' such as has gone on in the past." These are only a few of the gems. Architects, however many letters may follow their names, Moonshine should not presume and Sunshine, to offer opinions about architecture. They may be able to grapple with paling fences, and may make a hazard about the size and style of a hoarding, but when it comes to real architecture — the designing of Parliament Buildings, for example — their doctrine is "all moonshine." It is perhaps sad to discover that architects are hopelessly out of bounds when they trespass on the domain of architecture, but there is* tho horrible fact, which one may deduce trom the Hon. R. M'Kenzie's gruff criticism. He has said "moonshine" to architects' protests about the muddlement of _ the conditions for the design competitions, and it must be "moonshine."' For, if Mr. M'Kenzie does not know it is "all moonshine," who does know? Mr. M'Kenzie's knowledge of architecture does not surpass his knowledge of electricity, but let it be remembered that the Acting-Premier (the Hon. J. Carroll) once promulgated something about the nuisance of knowledge, and Mr. M'Kenzie is loyal to his temporary chief. Also admit, as history proves, that simple men, with minds utterly vacant of things technical, can be wonderfully inspired at times. Who knows what clear light has flashed into the M'Kenzie mind, and for the nonets has_ made him sun-like by comparison with the moon-like architects? He speaks _ with the force and directness of inspiration and revelation. Set, even in his transcendental prowess of Intel, lect, the Minister should condescend 1 to have a little care for accuracy. "I believe that only a few architects aro complaining," he said. The "only a few" includes all the branches of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. "We know," he added, "that a number of them are going on with the plans all the time." This "number" includes the Government Architect, and at least ono other designer high in the Civil service. An appointment of Justice of the Peace should always be an The honourable recognition Embarrassing of worth, but as poli-J-P. tical considerations count for something in the selection, the letters " J.P." do not command the full measure of public respect which bliould be their portion. Tho present Administration does not turn the I' J.P." business to such flagrant political account as was the vogue a few years ago, but the strategic value of a "J.IV-ship is not overlooked by the Government of the day. It never rains but it pours "J.P.'s." There is a drought of two years — and ..hen the deluge. The latest flood is 317, which makes a total of 2600. At first thought one may fancy that New Zealand does not need 2600 "J.P.'s" to put through various incidental swearing and declaring, but analysis makes the aggregate more reasonable. It works out at about one "J.P." to 400 non-"J.P.'s," and as the non-"J.P.'s" are scattered over a large area the one "J.P." may be very useful to tlie 400 "nons.' 1 Indeed, the Gov ernment's habit of waiting two years to attend to the list can be easily a grievous nuisance to backblocks and country districts. Needs have a habit of being immediate ; they do not lie back for political convenience. We are prepared to believe that occasional appointments, according to requirements, may not best fit in with the political scheme of things, but the Government owes it to the country to put public convenience before party politics now and then.