FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 105, 4 May 1940, Page 9

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM THE

"POST"

SELLING THE SERVICES

"If;the suggestion about selling the railways is a sound one. and there are apparently some people who think that it is, it appears, to us that the principle is one capable of considerable' expansion," remarks "The Post" of this date fifty years ago.. "The railways are not by any means the only, asset which, the colony could realise, upon. at'a.profit. The telegraphs would, we doubt not, command a high price at the'hands of a syndicate, and, if necessary, the telephone exchange could be disposed of as a separate lot. Then the Public Trust Department might very easily be transformed into a public company, which would be prepared to pay a handsome bonus for the goodwill of the business. The Government Insurance business would certainly excite keen competition amongst rival companies if offered for disposal, and the collection of the Customs revenue and property tax might be farmed out to'the highest bidder for the right of , collecting the duties. The Postal Department might be disposed of at a profit to speculators, and other branches of the public service out of which no direct profit could well be made might be let by contract to be 'run' for a fixed subsidy per annum. In this way the functions of Government might be marvellously supplied, and then it would be necessary to have only one or two Ministers just to look after the contracts, and Parliament would not need to meet more than once in every three or four years. We are not sure, indeed, whether the system might not prove capable of application even to the office of Governor. Messrs. Cook and Sons might possibly be prepared toi undertake the supply of Governors, warranted titled, on very reasonable terms. There are plenty of globe trotters who would be prepared to pay handsomely for the privilege of visiting the Wonderland of New Zealand, with the prestige of 'Te Kawana.' Being able to offer the temporary occupancy of Government House, with ali the rights and privileges therewith appertaining, would be no slight attraction to a certain class ■ of tourist, and we are really not prepared to say that the colony would suffer very much by such an arrangement. In regard to the disposal of the other assets we have alluded to, and the running of the Government by con-tract,-we think the idea quite as wise and sensible as the sale of the railways.". . . ; CHILDREN'S EYESIGHT. "Are New Zealanders growing up a. shortsighted ' people? We do not mean politically/but physically. There :is,:we fear, foomuch reason to believe that the answer must be in the affirmative. : It is-quite: distressing to note the number of children and young per--so'ris1 in the streets who wear, spectacles or eyeglasses, and cases of defective sight are terribly common amongst the public school children. It is certainly worthy of consideration whether the public -school system has anything to do with .this, prevalent weakness of sight amongst the children. The school buildings are many of them defective in the "arrangement of lights, and this has an adverse effect on the eyesight. A more effectual method, however, of mihimisinif the"" danger 'to 'eyesight by imperfect school lights would be to re- , frain from sending children to school until of an age when their, visual as well" as other vigour would be pre-pared-to stand, the -strain of school ; attendance.. We are quite sure it is riot conducive to either the physical or mental health of infants to subject them to the confinement and discipline! of public schools as early as is the custom in this colony. We have time after- time protested on economical grounds against the State schools being ■used as creches, and the State being regarded as a cheap dry-nurse. Weak ; eyesight and other physical ailments ■ naturally result from premature confinement in.schools. We should have . a healthier, more robust race growing ; up; if we; were not in quite such a hurry to bring our babies under the educational harrow." LIFE AT'THE KERMADECS. "The steamer Hinemoa arrived to- j ,' day bringing back the thirteen settlers >■'who left New Zealand a short time ! ago to take up their abode on Sunday "'; Island. They state that they have n> no wish to return to Sunday Island, .' which is extremely rugged and moun- ;, tainous. The little flat land was of ; poor quality, consisting mostly of sand and pumice, and it was impossible to "cultivate the slopes of the mountains. Vegetables of all kinds suffered severely from the attacks of four or five different kinds of caterpillars; and what escaped the caterpillars was taken by the rats. Only a few patches of vegetables near the houses were saved, but ' the returns from them were unsatisfactory. Beans and kumeras gave the best results. Although there are groves of bananas on the island, they \ are all stunted. The climate was found to be very moist, and the settlers say that had it not been for the timely arrival of the Hinemoa they would 'all have been on short rations : for the coming" winter." THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY. "The Ides of March, have come and - gone. The great Labour demonstration in favour of the eight-hour move"ment has been held, and order and ?1 peace have remained undisturbed. This result is undoubtedly due to the wisdom and sound sense of the labouring classes—Democrats, or Socialists, or whatever they may be—rather -than to any action or preparation on the part of the authorities.. Many of these, indeed, were of a character to incite opposition and. lead to disturbance, but wise counsels seem to have prevailed, and the processionists exercised a' self-restraint as remarkable as it is ■commendable. Their leaders evidently felt the responsibility of their position, and refused to be goaded into any breach of the peace. The result is that they have gained a great moral triumph, and it cannot be doubted that the demonstration . of Thursday last V will have an enormous influence on • future political and economic legislation. The workers have proved that ,- democracy is consistent with .order, and that Socialism is not synonymous with anarchy." We.rejoice greatly at the orderly nature of the proceedings, both in Europe and America, in connection with the great demonstration of May 1." BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH. "Christchurch has given to the colony a Bishop of whom New Zealand may well be proud. Bishop Julius is not 'only a worthy successor to the most deservedly respected and loved Bishop Harper, but he is a man who seems to possess most exceptional qualifications for a colonial prelate. The Anglican Episcopal Bench sadly needed strengthening, and the requirements of the situation seem to have been abundantly met by the advent of Bishop Julius. He is evidently fitted to become an ornament of the Church, . which has already been graced.by a j Selwyn and a Harper. That he will'be j a power for good, not only in Christ- j church, but throughout New Zealand, we do not doubt, and his influence will be felt far beyond his own church. The diocese of Christchurch is certainly singularly fortunate in its choice <j£ Bishops."