WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1927, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. KITE FLYING. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, March 22. The " Dominion ” this morning publishes on its leader page a paragraph gving a. measure of publicity to rumours which have been current in the city for weeks past. "It was learned yesterday,” the paragraph runs, “that there were good prospects of a third ‘ticket’ being arranged to woo the favours of municipal electors next month. It is said that many business men and ratepayers are very dissatisfied with the way things are going at present, including the personnel of toe ‘tickets’ already announced, and v. ill probably announce a new ‘ticket’ altogether within the next few days—a combination that, it is believed, may carry with it the element of surprise, but will make an appeal Lo more than one cl'ass of the community.” 'I no truth of the matter is that there is :t strong and growing feeling here in commercial and financial circles that the heaviest taxed sections ol l lie community are receiving the least consideration from both municipal and na_ tioiial governments. Business men arc beginning to realise that they are without adequate representation on any of the local bodies and that they have been relegated to the role of chopping-block to the other sections ol tho community, ft remains to be seen if the grumblings that have reached the “Dominion” will be shaped into more articulate form of expression. CANDID CIMTICLSAL

Addressing the School Committees’ Association here last night, the Hon. -Mark Cohen, who in cumulative service as journalist, politician and citiy.cn probably has done more for the national system of education than lias any other living person, tai’ked frankly of perils besetting the way of progress. He was not satisfied the secondary schools were the success they were made out to he. He questioned whether primary education should not bo concluded at ten years of age and children then rationally introduced to a four years’ course of secondary education. Under tlie free place system, lie said, numbers of boys and girls were pushed forward merely to mark time until they got a job. In many cases they lost in the secondary schools, for which they might not he fitted, nearly all' the education they had gained in primary schools. There was not sufficient co-relation or co-operation letween different branches of education. There was a feeling abroad, perhaps with some reason, that too much State money was spent on universities and secondary schools to the disregard of primary schools. Air Cohen was sorry for the Alinistcr of Education who was expected from an empty treasury to satisfy persistent demands for expenditure. Hut, he added suggestively, money at the moment was not the only need of the system. BUTTER CONTROL. The cable message stating that a meeting of traders is to he hei'd in London next week to discuss a, motion urging the abolition of every semblance of control was not unexpected. Private messages were received here several days ago intimating that a very large majority of the traders who are assisting the Dairy Board in get ting rid of its accumulated- stocks of butter and cheese would he by no moans satisfied by a mere suspension of “price-fixing.” They had no intention of allowing “hy-gones” to lie “bygones” until they had some definite assurance that the policy just abandoned by the hoard would not he relived in any circumstances. In the opinion of local' shippers the members of the trade will demand much more than this. “Price-fixing” is not the only innovation to which the trade objects. It objects to tlie abandonment of its old customs and observances, to the destruction of its association with the producers and to the assumption that it is not given to honest dealing. The cable referring to the meeting that has been convened in London suggests that this interpretation of the attitude of the traders there, is correct. If need not mean, however, that the buyers are insisting upon the hoard being abolished altogether. That lias not been demanded by the most rabid opponent of compulsion. PUBLIC OPINION. The “ Evening Post ” having maintained n judicial attitude while the “absolute control'” policy of the Dairy Board was on trial, is at liberty to speak frankly in regard to the happenings of the last lew weeks. “ The Dairy Board will meet at the end ol this month and may then answer a question which has now assumed national importance. Can the Government assist the Board in coming to such decision as will facilitate the restoration of the confidence of the provision trade? That is a question for the Government to answer, limited ;u* it. realises its power may be. But the Government can be quite sure ot this : that the country looks to it lor a lean in this difficult situation. Further, unless and until the confidence of the provision trade of Great Britain is completely restored, controlled produce, other than that of the dairy, muv suffer indirectly in the storm of indignation that has been roused over butter and—worse still—tho loss of confidence, due to tlie Board’s pricefixing policy and its subsequent abandonment under pressure.” The Prime .■minister and his colleagues are taking plenty of time to think over the matter, hut- Air Coates at least has indicated his aversion to price-fixing and this mav he regarded as a long step towards other reforms.