TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

■Unemployment was certain to bo de-' bated early in the session, and so the sooner the question was attacked the better. It may be doubted, however, if tho speeches made last night and this morning will help at ■ all in solving tho problem. Constructive criticism was not much in evidence. Labour argued that the Government was mainly responsiblo for the trouble, and the Government denied this charge. In one way the discussion, barren as it (was in remedial proposals, may servo a useful purpose. The national problem has been placed in proper perspective. Examples' of low earnings have been offset by instances of good returns made on relief works. Moreover, the case in condemnation of the Government is much weakened by comparison with the conditions ruling in other countries, iv some of which Labour Governments have had' the opportunity of setting things right. It is desirable that these facts should be known, bo that the public may form a correct judgment. Now that the subject has beon fully dobated, however, we hope that the House will not return to it unless there is a prospect of achieving something of benefit to industry and to the unemployed. Tho. session is expected to be a short one, and it will probably prove too short for thorough consideration of all the business requiring , attention. Time should not be wasted in debates which | lead nowhere. Littlo ' reply is called for by the statement made by tho Director of II Tueation yesterday regarding our reference to the Training College appointj nient. Whatever the new regulations i wore "intended to prevent" their unquestionable effect was to put the power of selection and appointment wholly in ! the hands of tho Minister. Ho would j be able to name and appoint any applicant he chose, and tho Board's power of selection and recommendation would bo exercised by Ministerial favour, if it were exercised at all. We do not say that tho Minister would havo gone to the length of depriving the Boards of a voice in making appointments, but the regulations were so framed as to allow him to do so. If this is not depriving the Education Boards of powers hitherto vested in them, it is ( so near to it that only the hair-splitting experts of the Department can see the line of division. As to the qualifications of the recommended applicant, it is true that tho Department has not made a'parade of any applicant's shortcomings. Possibly a parade would have revealed the weakness, not of the applicant, but of the Department's case. Eeasons against the appointment were, however, given to the Board, and have been published. Thore were four such reasons, but the j four together (considered in £he light, of tho Board's answer and the opinion of the Committeo of Advice) did not constitute one sound general reason for withholding Ministerial consent. "The Department's advice (states the Director) was based on tho considered opinion of its expert inspecting officers, and was supported by the late Director (Mr. J. Caughley)." But what of.the expert, opinion represented on tho Committee of Advice and supported by eminent educationists possessed of the knowlodge and experience necessary in deciding tho qualifications required for tho position and the fitness of the ax?plicaivts? Most people will agree that tho Education Board would have been failing in its. duty had it ignored the fecommendations of these educationists. Had the boot been on the other foot tho Department would probably have been the first to tell the Board bo. • • • New Zealand is to be congratulated upon securing tho services of a town- ! planning director with the qualifications of Mr. John W. Mawson. 'It is scarcely necessary for the Primo Minister to explain why a New Zealander is not appointed. Tho advocates of townplanning, including many notable architects, engineers, and surveyors, will surely bo pleased to havo tho movement strengthened by the experience and engineering ability of one so capable. There is a. further cause for congratulation in. the appointment. Cases havo been known of departments and movements inaugurated by Governments with a flourish and then, when onthusiasm has waned, allowed to sink' into oblivion or to escapo that fato by being made a minor caro of some ex-

isting Department. This appointment indicates that the Government is fully seized of tho economic and social importance of town-planning. Tho work begun by the retiring Director is not to be lost, but is to be carried forward energetically. This should bo noted by thoso local authorities which have not hitherto given full attention to their obligations and responsibility under-the Town-planning Act. All of them, by taking thought, must realise tho soundness of tho principle upon which the Act is based —that town-planning and town-development shall be considered, not haphazard. Yet because the benoiits of good planning are not realised immediately, and tho expense. of bad planning has seldom to be met by the Council responsible, some local authorities are reluctant to plan at all. It i« gratifying that the Government is disposed to keep them reminded of the wisdom of foresight and also the statutory obligation. • ' ' * * • Comments made by the chairman and. an ex-chairman of tho Hospital Board upon hospital expenditure should not pass unnoticed. Their remarks amount to a defence against the charge of extravagance often levelled in general terms against hospital administrators. It was admitted that, apart from, the extra cost of charitable aid owing to unemployment, the expense of providing for the sick had increased because of tho greater demand for accommodation and the necessity of providing up-to-date and scientific appliances. Tho exchairman stated, moreover, that tho hospital system was developing into tho provision of a State medical service, and he hinted that there was nothing | to stay such a development. Though tho public hospitals, were supposed by many to be for thoso who could not afford to pay for outsido treatment, there was nothing in the Act to show that this was the hospital policy of the country. It is just here that the weakness, and even the injustice, of the present system lies. Hospital and charitable aid rates have increased, and part ' of tho increase is clearly duo to the wider use of 'the institutions. Yet payment for that use falls in considerable measure upon those (not always well-to-do) who must mako more costly provision for their own medical treatment and nursing service. It is high time that the position was defined more clearly, and a definition in accord with progressive medical practice would be one opening the hospitals to all classes, with provision for private treatment and payment accordingly. It is not just to build up a highly efficient system and maintain it exclusively for the benefit of those who can pay little or nothing. Though it may be an unusual form of class distinction, it is class distinction nevertheless.