TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 5, 28 February 1913, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Memories of old charges against th* Labour Department were Labour stirred yeeterday by Mr. Allegations. «. J. Ei ftto n, principal «,k, i ,1 , speaker of a deputation which called on tho Minister (the Hon. "it *V £ lafiSe i')- M *- Elston said 'that if the Department exwted as an agency for the employers they could not get a milch better deal out of it than they did now. It was almost impossible for the unions to get a prosecution. 1 ' The periodical reports of the District AmmU. tions and the General Federation of Employers give a direct denial of that charge. The complaints of "pin-prick-ing have been common among employers. Our belief, from observation of the Act s operation, is that Mr. Elston has overstated the grievances of Labour, but at this stage of the dispute it is impossible to paw* definite judgment. Mr. Massey took the only possible right action when he promised an enquiry. Tho charges and counter-charges have been so numerous in recent years that the public must be thoroughly puzzled. A complete investigation is needed as a preliminary to any radical alteration of the Act or revolutionary changes in the methods of administration. "Make hastß fllowly ' was never better advice than with the making and remaking of industrial law*. As we said in a. recent article, the Government has' an opportunity in this recess to gain some aid towards real reform by a careful study of this country's industrial history for the_ past twenty yearej as well as the expenenco of other countries. Time has proved that New Zealand did hot find a miraculous remedy for industrial\roubles. The Post is in sympathy with a number of administrative re"Reform" for forms undertaken by the Maori. tho present Governni ent — • reforms of which the urgency has been stressed in these columns for many a year. Good, fearlese work in this respect would win forgiveness for some faults in policy matters, m the opinion of many New Zealanders. However, our frank admission that the Premier deserves praise for a beginning with the necessary administrative change*, does not debar us from expressing amazement at some of the procedure. Honeyed words are abundant for the Maori. A "Reform" organiser is picking his way among the hot lakes and geysers, and forming Native branches of the Political Reform League on the grand ecale. A few days ago (with the aid of an interpreter) Mr, Lindegreen established a branch at Whakarewarewa. It was actually a meeting of chiefsnoble Tv Hourangis, under the presidency of Mr. Meta Tau Popoki. To-day it is reported that Natives of Awaihou, Ngohgotahtt, and Waiteti (all household names .throughout New Zealand) have been organised into a branch at Waiteti. Here is a remarkable passage in tho Press Association's report :^-"The Native speakers said that the previous Government was not in sympathy with the Natives generally, but they felt that the present Government would treat them fairly." Alas for the spooh and the pap ! tt is trtto that certain sections of Natives did not fare very well by some of the land deals under the late regime, but how can they hope to fare better now, with the pakeha, aided and abetted by the Ministry, coveting their lands? Generally, the Liberal Government had a policy of spoon-feeding for the Natives — a sort of "killing by kindness/ 1 a dastardly outrage, according to the "Native speakers" at Waiteti. The Maori is impulsive, but shrewd withal, sometimjes. To him the Government of the day, "Reform" or "Anti-Reform"-*>he fecks not which—is the "big fellow/ andj unlike the traditional Irishman, he is friendly. He has a keen sense of favours to come, and does not pause to ponder how the sweetness may turn to bitterness. He is to be "Europeani&ed," and he is to be allowed to be a freetrader with his heritage, with cash down for gaiety. Therefore, "Kapai te Reform! Kapai te motor-car!" His children? Well, the "big fellow" will see to them. Very seriously we say at the outset of thia note that The the terms "graceful" "Graceful" and "graceless" havo and the nothing in them in"Graceless." tended to ruffle the feelings of certain people who are already sufficiently disturbed in mind. It is necessary, for peace' sake, to warn everybody nob to look for offences in those terms, for these be dangerous times, when a light word may bring a heavy blow. The controversy about "School Children and Grace Before Meals" shows how easily sober people may becoirie intemperate when the spirit of wrath, at a trifle, moves them. It is alleged that a headmaster remarked before lunch at a school picnic :—"All: — "All well-brought-up children say grace before meals. A "Parent" bent his brow on that pedagogue and admonished him gruffly, in a manner Johnsonian. But before the rumble of this deep-bass censure had passed away, "A Grace Sayer" was in pursuit of "Parent," with allegations against the original allegator. The "gracer" spoko contemptuously of the "no-gracer," and accused him of bringing up his children "like so many animals," and called for "pity for his ignorance." This will not improve tho temper of "Parent," although he has the backing of "Another Parent." Is it not a pretty pother! and how foolish tho 'furious combatants will feel if tho nidster says, eventually, in a- soft gentle voice, that ho was misrepresented ill the letter which started the fight ! The charge against him does not rest on any report in the press. It is based on the hearsay evidence of "Parent," who wrote :—"I: — "I have been informed by several who were present/ and so on. Tho debate is trivial in itself, but it is a \ery important indication of tho intense unpleasantness and very unchristian bitterness which would follow the Biblo into the schools. Some time ago the managers of local billiard saloona cornPictures and plained that the allBilliards, conquering pictures were * drawing the young men away from the green tables, and therefore) they have asked that tho closing timo of* their premises should be extended from 10.30 to It p.m. Tho desire apparently is to catch some of the "deserters" for 'at least half-an-hour's play after tho last cowboy has lassoed tho last buffalo nnd all heroes and villains of wonderful dramiw hftVe vanished into darkness for ft few hours. A report of a committee hostilo to the request has been Adopted by the City^ Council, but ono member has hinted at a* notice of motion to rescind the resolution. Citizens generally must wish th.it if tho subject is again brought up a majority will voto against a retrograde proposal. The welfare of young men generally is more important than tho wishes of billiard-saloon keepers. A day which ends at 10.30 p.m. gives ■theso persona a fair opportunity to

make ri living. Tf a young man prefers pictures to billiards, he wilt not be worse for his choice, ami after a fair night's entertainment at, one of the kinematograph halls lie will be bettor for a prompt return homo than for dallianco with a cue. This is not a doctrine of "namb'y-pambyism" ; it is common-sense, us the Sports Protection League (which has not appeared in the profcent dispute) must admit. The best way to protect sport of any kind is by wibo management and shrewd moderation.