TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

With 550 unemployed registered for the Wellington district, it is <plain that further relief measures are necessary. Doubtless a considerable number of those worklcss . will be provided for when city .roliof works, which have been listed, are put in hand. There is some delay in this respect owing to a question raised and not yet decided ro-' garding the rate of Government subsidy. Wo can appreciate the desire of tho Mayor to havo this subsidy placed upon a move favourable basis. Under the present arrangement, with cost of material excluded and the subsidy calculated on the 12s and 9s a day labour charge, tho Council must carry the heavier share, or mako its selection of works upon an Weconomic basis —choosing those which will get tho best sub: sidy rather than those which will give tho greatest value for tho money spent. At the same time tho greatest necessity is for relief, and works should be^put in -hand with the least possible delay. Subsidy questions can be settled afterwards, if the prior settlement would entail postponing the start of the works. Though the position may bo difficult at present, it requires only that energy and ready cooperation which were shown in Wcl-/ lington last year to effect a rapid improvement. •'.■■■ Friends of tho workiess must be careful, however, that, in the ardour of their advocacy they do not create new difficulties. We aro convinced that the Government, the local authorities, and the leaders of Labour are all concerned to. lessen tho distress; and all should give tho others credit for sincerity. Tho Government, as Mr, Coates's statement shows, has not been idle. It has extonded its Public Works programme, in addition-to providing relief works.' This must be recognised when condemning tho relief work ,rates of ,pay. One Labour speaker has cited the loss to 'tradespeople through tlio payment of such relief rates; but the loss would be much greater if there, were no work and no pay. Any- effort to keep trade good by paying higher wages can have only a temporary effect unless tlio works and tho labour assure economic value. Threats, such as those made in Christchurch to ( intervene in the Jubilee procession, are much worse. They discourage sympathy and assistance by creating a false impression of the character of tho workloss. Every endeavour should be made, rather, to keep the problem clear of the controversial. ''Wo want work, not charity," is a slogan to which no exception can bo taken; but all persons ■concerned should avoid giving tho impression that there is another slogan also: fWe want | a row, aot work.'' • * • The good sportsman does not mako every post a winning post. The good sportsman docs not argue, nor does ho wince, when the umpire wrongly gives a point against him; on the other hand,, when tho umpire wrongly gives a point in his favour, the good sportsman has been known to oven up with his opponent by; giving away; a point in their

next clash. So, also, when bad luck comes not through, umpires' mistakes but through the • weather, tho good sportsman takes it in philosophically, and does not wreck programmes in tho hopo of saving his face. That is why everyone should applaud the New Zealand Rugby Union's decision to stick to the dato of tho opening match pi* the Rugby tour in South Africa, notwithstanding the How Zealand team's late arrival. As a consequence of this sporting decision, New Zealand stands in tlio unique position of having won a victory before a ball has been kicked. It may, indocd, prove to be the greatest, victory of the tour.' If it is truo that the essence of sport is roasonablo risktaking, rather than an everlasting playin g-for-safoty, the New Zealand Rugby Union must be applauded for standing to engagements. At no inconvenience to itself, but at considerable inconvenionoo to other people, it might have reinsured its risk by deferring battle. That the Union declisied tho temptation, constitutes a win that, is not revcrsiblo by any reverse upon the field. It is'better, to lose well than to win ungenerously. If sport consists of nothing more than a score-sheet, it ceases to bo sport, and becomes a business. * « * Protests against tho destruction of birds for their millinery value were made at the International Bird Preservation Conference at Geneva. These will bo widely approved. Tho good, taste and humanity of the present day do not encourage, to the extent of years gone by, tho barbarous decoration of headgear with the plumes of slaughtered birds. There is, however, greater need'for public education against other forms of commercial, exploitation, of bird life. The conference strongly disapproved the commerce in wild birds and egg shells. Becauso this commerce is fostered in a moasuro by scientific collectors its menaco is not clearly soon. Tho scientist may not be a foe to bird life; but behind his.back stands tho commercial collector whose interest and principle, so.'far as birds are concerned, are principal and interest. Tire variety 'of a bird raises tho cash value, and makes tho commercial colloctor more anxious to secure it. N Thus, when protection should be increased, tho stimulus to destruction is stronger. This may even go to the length of slaughter with the object of increasing rarity and commercial value. In Now1 Zealand tho vigilance of the Native Bird Protection. Society has lossened this menace; but- it will always be a menace while tho collector is. operating. '