SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 12766, 20 March 1906, Page 1

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

| OITRISTCHimCF. March 20. . When the Premier passed through. Christchurch last week he was interviewed by Mr ,Ell, M.ILiL, who brought under- his notice the vote for pictures of New Zealand birds and flowers for the r public schools, in order that the children might be made more familiar , with nature in ‘ their native land. This vote was placed'bn the Estimates o.n Mr Ell’s, suggestion last year. Mr Ell asked that steps should be taken to spend the vote, and pointed out that he had urged this matter on the Government for two or three years. The Premier said that ho would have inquiries made to see whether the printing could" be done in the Government Printing Office, and would have the work put in hand at once. Mr Ell * also brought the subject of the care of children’? teeth in public schools under the, notice of the Premier as Minister of Education. He reminded Mr Seddon that the Dentists’ Conference had strongly urged that something should be done.. Mr Seddon said it meant the appointment of dentists i® systematically visit all the schools and attend to the children’s teeth, and that would mean much expense. He wanted to know what the taxpayer would say about it. He fully appreciated the importance of the 'matter. The question would have his careful consideration, and he would see what could be done. As emphasising the importance of the subject, Mr Ell pointed out that of 106 children examined in tho Addington School, only one had a sound mouthful of teeth. The decay of teeth must seriously affect the health of the visgeneration. Ho therefore strongly urged that something should he done. WELLINGTON, March 20. The Premier’s reference at Geraldine to Tariff changes is mentioned here, hut as yet discussion has assumed neither an - acute nor a practical form The loss of. the trolly pole at Oriental Bay on Saturday did not. happen to a doublecar, or there might have been trouble. The incident has. led 1 to inquiries as to why the invention" of' Holmes and his partner, which is calculated to prevent such accidents, cannot be brought promptly into general use. The inventors have to be protected by patent, hut one would like to see more speed in applying an invention so admirable. Miss Barnett, a lady novelist of some reputation, has been travelling the colony inquiring into many social and political questions in which she takes an interest. At present .she declines to be drawn, but when she feels at liberty to speak, the lady wall doubtless publish some valuable information on the subject of woman's franchise. She said that, to her mind, the exercise of electoral rights in this country by women did not make any appreciable difference in the politics of the country' She would certainly go Home and say that if the Legislature granted similar concessions there was no reason to fear that all the dreadful prophecies made concerning the exercise of women’s franchise would be realised, and that there would never be that measure of household dissension so frequently spoken of. Another thing die said—viz., that she was astonished at (he hardships she has liad to endure while travelling the country—ought to engage the attention of the Tourist Department, which is accused by discontented democrats and disappointed immigrants intent on land settlement with “coddling the tourist.'’ AUCKLAND, March 20. Commenting upon the decision of (he Federal High Court with reference to the states of a constable, the ‘Herald’ “We daresay it will be regarded as heresy iu the lay mind to criticise the decision of the Federal High Quirt upholding the ruling of the Full Court of Tasmania that the Government ore not liable for the wrongful acts of the police whom they employ. We. venture, nevertheless, to ‘maintain that whether this bo the correct, interpretation of the law or not, it is not in accordance with common sense, nor is it in accordance . with the elementary principles of public policy. A constable invested by law with ■special and exclusive powers is the paid official of tlie State. He stands, or should stand, in exactly the same relation to the State as the servant to a private employer. To hold, as the Federal High Court hold, that responsibility for the acts of a- constable are confined to himself, and does not extend to those whose agent he ir-. may be in, accordance with the strict letter of the law, but it appears to us to be opposed to the public good .and calculated in conceivable cases to inflict serious injustice on individuals. Its effect practically is to constitute a constable an irresponsible official and to deprive there who suffer wrong at his hands from the means of obtaining redress, since it is absurd to suppose that he is in a position to afford adequate percuniary compensation to those whom he. may have grievously wronged by his illegal acts. In such case the sufferer ought curdy to have the right to look, to the Government whose servant the constable is for compeh- : satiou and redress,” Interviewed with regard to the question of obtaining men for the Main Trunk Eailvay, the Minister of Works said there had been difficulty in obtaining laborers. The best number the department could getabout 1,800 men—were engaged new, and he expected’ very shortly when the demand for. farm labor fell -off to secure a large number more. When the subject of ’Maori labor was mentioned, Mr Hall-Jones' said that If any Maori navvies offered he 'wonid be glad to take them, not only for. the Main Trunk line, but also for the Helensvilla northward" line" and the KawakawaT line. If Maori labor was offering, a thorough test of this source of supply would be made, and the Maoris would be given a section, by themselves—of course, under foremen—-in order that their work might he judged on its. merits. The southern section., of the Main '.Trunk n6w extended up to and beyond "Waiouru: the central section from Obaktme; and the northern section extended from, Oio up to Wahnarino Plains. Early next summer the two ends , would be connected by a good service. A coach road was now open as far. south as Manganuiateao, and from the south end tho road was being pushed on. In two or three months it- would he completed, but it would-rearcely be fit for coach traffic till tho summer senson, ■- T