TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Having kept silence too long on the dairy produco control issue, the Government is now about to make a doclaration. The aubject will bo dealt with in speeches by the -Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. It would hhvo beon bettor if tlio speeches had been made earlier, when the country waa looking to the Prime Minister for a lead. Unfortunately, though Mr. Coates had the courage of his convictions when in London, he became strangely silont on his return to New Zealand, when a definite declaration would havo boon welcomed. The Leader of the Opposition has made the most of tho circumstances, and it is imperative that the Government should clear itself in the light of public opinion. Wo hope, however, that the promised statement will take higher ground than Mr. Holland has taken. He has treated tho subject aa one from which much political capital may bo coined. The Government, wo hope, will do more than rake ovor the past—though some raking is necessary—and will take a stand in the formulation of a definite policy. An industry which affects the whole of New Zealand cannot-be made the subject of risky experiments, and the country will look to the Prime Minister to guard against this in the future. • * • Tendors for the supply of bells for the Wellington War Memorial Carillon aro expected to reach New Zealand shortly. Little time has been lost in carrying forward this part of the project, but it yet appears uncertain where the bolls will go. Last year proposals were submitted to the Government for a comprehensive scheme of, art-gallery, museum, hall of memories, and carillon tower. This would have embraced the art gallery ana museum proposal, for which Government assistance has long beon promised, and also the National War Memorial, which appeared on the Estimates for some years and was then lost sight of. Tho Government has not yet announced its decision concerning this scheme, and no progress can bo made until its attitude is known. It certainly appears possible that when tho bells reach Wellington there will

bo no campanile to receive them. Though tho casting of bolls may bo a long process, tho extraction of promises from tho Government may take even longer.

In passing sentence upon a taxidriver in Auckland yesterday, Mr. Justico llerdman commented ; upon the duties of pedestrians and motorists. Both, he said, were required to keep a proper look-out. Most motorists rccogniso this obligation, and pedestrians are being educated to a bettor appreciation of road dangers. But there is a third party which iilso has a duty to perform in controlling traffic, checking tho reckless, and warning the careless. In Wellington the performance of this duty leaves much to bo desired. At danger points traffic officers do all that is required of them, but in many of tho City strcots there is not that order which is essential for safety. At one time crossing lines woro painted on the road, but they faded away, leaving no impression on tho roads or on the public mind. Tho good that might have been, dono was lessened by tho fact that there was no attempt to induce wheel traffic—tram or motor—to make these crossing places safer than the rest of tho road. It appears unlikely that much progress will be made until a moro deflnito policy is adopted. This should include the collation of motor bylaws so that motorists may understand clearly what is expected of them in the city. There is scope also for valuable educational work by traffic officers at pedestrian crossings on the lines of that done by a special officer when the footpath rule was changed from right to left.

Though the City Council has resolved to spend £10,000 in the relief of unomployment in . Wellington, it appears doubtful when the works proposed can be instituted. Only a general indication has been given of the works to be put in hand, and it is not certain that the engineers have plans ready. Unemployed will, therefore, be consulting their own interests if they do not count upon this promise of work. In any circumstances the number for whom provision can be made will not be great, and there will.be nothing to spare for the workless from other districts. Because of its central situation Wellington has usually to carry more than its share of the burden of unemployment. Men drift here from all quarters. The City's first duty, however, is to its own citizens. Some question has been raised as to the ot>liga« tion cast upon local authorities of dealing with unemployment. Whatever that obligation may be, it certainly does not extend to the -Maintenance of the,workless from other centres, to the relief of other local authorities which may bo more dilatory in the performance of their duties.