OPEN COLUMN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4646, 26 April 1902, Page 7 (Supplement)

OPEN COLUMN

OXJE TEAMS. "Business" writes; —As a ratepayer for many years, 1 think it is about time our sapient (Jounoiliors made themselves thoroughly acquainted with the management of our tram service. it seems to me (and I voice the opinions of a very largo circle of friends and business people) that our worthy Mayor and his colleagues know practically nothing about the matter. We pay absurdly high salaries to our tram manager and his three assistants. As far as an outsider can judge, we pay A6OO a year for the buying of horses and the furtive spying of passing trams in shop windows. The assistant manager does “put in time” at the office, where there are also two petty clerks. Anri this expensive staff is necessary for a three and a half-mile single line tram service. Again, when the old ticket system was in force, robbery. was carried on wholesale under the vigilant eyes of two inspectors. Hundreds of pounds were lost in a year under this able management, and now that roguery has been reduced’to a minimum by the shilling card plan, two inspectors are not enough, for I see a new one on this morning, and hear ho is a permanent addition. What do the cards cost, and why are the backs not utilised for drapery and other advertisements? I present this suggestion gratis to the management and the Council. Again, and lastly, it is public property that the grooms and guards are about to go to the Arbitration Court. They complain of sweating, and a full exposure is probable. The drivers also want an “interp,Tetation,'’ , and cannot believe that the law allows a man to be away from home twelve or fourteen hours a day in order to put in eight hours work. Is this letter or spirit? Our. Conscript Fathers should look into these matters T>efor© allowing tlieir employees to seek legal protection. ’ r . ASSAILING THE ABSENT. “Fairplay" writes: —Is there no possibility of inducing antagonistic critics of the absent Premier to avoid for the nonce that incessant assault which daily irritates the fair and sensible readers of some Opposition journals which in season and out of season attack Mr Seddon? Surely the reticence which even in Parliament during the absence of a member from the House leads an opponent to hold his hand might operate on the writers in the newspapers which daily deal in such accusation and faultfinding, to the disgust of reasonable men. For our own sakes and for our credit as fair-dealing British men, let it be remembered that Mr Seddon is the representative of all New Zealand c-n a great Imperial occasion.

WADESTOWN SCHOOL. In Wednesday’s "Times” I saw (writes "Resident”) a paragraph referring to Wadestown school. That the school is not a modern building no one will deny; at the same time, it is only one of several of its sort in the jurisdiction of the W fJlington Education Board, and the authority cannot be held responsible for that. In every growing district, and the colony throughout shows an increase of population public buildings (schools, police courts, post offices, etc.) are more or Uss stated to be either too old or too small. The Government is the real body that should bear the brunt of disaffection and dissatisfaction, as it supplies the sinews of war—the funds. The Education Board seems quite willing as far as Wades town or any other district is concerned to do what it can to meet the wishes of residents, but if there is a financial shortage, owing to increased demands on limited, capitation, its hands aro tied. Its position is similar to that of a business man’s increase of trade outgrowing his capital. If every school were to be condemned because of its antiquity, very few would be standing, and the public purse would be drained to rebuild them. The Education Board, I understand, is as much in favour of obtaining a new site and erecting a new school as the committee, and, according to various reports which have appeared in your paper of the meetings of the Board, the question has been discussed.and steps taken, as your informant admits. Then what more can be done? Both Board and school committee are to be commended for the manner in which the matter has been approached, and the former body should not be harshly judged because it hesitates taking land under the Public Works Act, when it may possibly bo obtained another way. "Naboth’s vineyard” hold good to-day. There is sickness in the suburb, and everybody is falling over each other to set matters right. This sickness is militating against the attendance. The Education Board in its memo, to the school committee stated that it was powerless to provide another teacher during the headmaster’s absence, until tho Education Department decides the basis on which relieving teachers are to be employed. The adoption of a colonial scale of salaries and staff has very much affected tho status of Education Boards throughout the colony. In all other public departments officials relieve others when necessary, but it seems unnecessary to make provision for a service whose members are supposed to be sickness proof. The annual elections of school committees is drawing near, and rour informant thinks that Wades town will be greatly excited, as it was last year over the appointment of the headmaster. Is this excitement likely to 'become chronic?