TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 73, 26 March 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Political Cabinets are supposed to be made of etrong o i- timber of m«rit> Cabinet-makers, but necessity commonly compels a mixture of materials, including the thin weather-boarding of geography and odds and ends of expediency. A strange .sequence aud conjunction of incid«nt» have brought promotion and consequent worry to the Hon. T. Mackenzie, whose task is to please a few without displeasing the many. The portfolios ar« acbually limited, but the applications are practically unlimited. Ministerial journals have been urging members to be unselfish and to cheerfully, allow the bcjst men to take pride of place, irrespective of the length of party service. This 16 a counsel of perfection, faultless in theory but not ea*y to accept. liuagino «. large meeting of ladies at which it | "was announced that the prettiest t«n would receive gifts of the largest hats. How many would claim a superlative degree of beauty? The Liberal politicians ay« in similar plight. They ar« all "best" for purposes of Cabinet rank and salary. Each, can prove that h« has the right personality and the right knowledge for a position which ho can eloquently specify. The country wants him, and he wants the country. Mr: Mackenzie has to delicately arrange a balance of power and act shrewdly to assure peace among the mixed company. The best he c&n hope for is a superGcial peace, a harmony in public, whatever may be the carping and cavilling in private. If he bestows a portfolio on a Laurenson, for example, there is a. Russell to be propitiated. It is generally agreed that Canterbury, ''which enabled lhe Government to get into" a position, to save it<> life, with, 1 the subsequent aid of Mr. Payne- and Mr. Robertson, must ■be represented by two Minister*, of vrhom Mr. Laurenson will bo one. How about Messrs. Davey, Witty, and Russell as number two? It is mentioned that it would be prudent to have tlie country portion of Canterbury considered, and if a councry member is selected Mr. Mackenzie will still be in for trouble, Whichever way he looks, whichever way he turn*, he is conscious of a skeleton in the cupboard. And he is only at the beginning of the joys of a Premier leading a party of all sort*, shapes, and sizes of politicians, , with a bare majority over a solid party. "The institute is supported by voluntary contributions from The Boys philanthropic men and their Friends, and -women for the spiritual, physical, and social development of boys," runs a paragraph on the cover of the annual report of the Wellington Boy*' Institute. It has been a busy year of citizen-making. The' managers have had as "raw material" some 250 boys, and the authorities have wrought well to put health wto the bodies and minds of the young folk. A glance through the little book which oete out the various processes o! character-building iniust convince the reader that the institute thoroughly justifies its existence. There is nothing of narrowness in the courso. It is not a "prim and proper" curriculum, but a broadly Christian j plan designed to add valuable units W the city'e manhood. The institute will J not turn out prigs and prudes, but youths strengthened in mind and hearjb, well equipped for life's battle. The managers Have done well, ■ and they naturally wish to do better. Therefore they ask citizens, of whom many have been generous, not to frown at a further appeal. One great call brought in £5000 for a new Duilding, for which a site had been given by an excellent friend, but the committee deems it prudent to have an assured finance before beginning with the building. "The position at present i«," states the report, "that all the money for the proposed building is ia hand, but seeing that a probable loss will have to be met in boarding the boys, the committee wishes to provide against this, and has determined nob to proceed with the I building until a further cum of £2500 has been provided." No doubt when citizens are given more detailed information about the assessment of the £2500, they will not hesitate to help the institute as liberally as they have done in the past. Anxiety about, the fate of some noble trees, commanding LambSpare ton-quay within a fort of the Trees. green from Parliament Grounds, is expressed by Mr. John Castle, in a letter to-day. He pleads with the^eal of a true tree-lover tor all possible mercy for trees threatened by the projected building operations. It is possible that grim necessity may apply the slaughterous axe to some of the handsome growth of forty years, and it is also possible that, more havoc may be wrought than the building scheme demands. We know that it is not usual to see any remarkable clemency extended to trees when a site is being prepared for a public building, but the sad fact does not discourage us from commending Mr. Castle's fervent plea to the authorities. We live in hopes that some day the utilitarian value of trees, living trees, in Nature's scheme of things will be recognised even by those who look upon trees as useless' excrescence* — useful only when out down and sawn up. Wellington has no wealth of large trees in the inner area. Such trees as those which tower ovti* Lamb-ton-quay are lamentably few. Each is a treasure to be jealously guarded. Therefore, Wellington people should be alert to restrict to a minimum any vandalism to be perpetrated on the border of Parliament Grounds. If the people appear indifferent to the fate of those admirable trees they may be bitten to death by the pitiless axe. Representatives of the City Council should be vigilant and do their utmost to help in the preservation of trees which give delight to thousands ot Wellington's inhabitants. The missian which is being conducted by the Rev. Fathers O'Connell, Kimbell, and M'Carthy at tho Sacred Heart Church, Thorndon, is being attended by very large numbers, both at the early Masses and the evening devotions and instructions. The mission will conclude on Sunday, when a general Communion for men will take place at 8 a.m. and be followed by a breakfast in tho schoolroom. All threw mibfionci* have had great, experience of the work in which they are engaged, -and their eloquent discourses on questions of faith and morals have b<»en listened to with ita BJSAtdai AttfilltUMU - ----- (