The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1927.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 47

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1927.) THE WEEK.

"Nunqusm sllud nature, tiled sapientia diili.* -JUVBNAU "Good nature and good sense must ever join.”—* Mrs.

The universal expressions of deep regard _ for the representatives of visitoT the Ki “ s aud Q’icea which have been voiced in the addresses presented to their Royal Highnesses the Duke anti Duchess of York find a very distinct echo in tho public exhibitions of loyalty and ..flection whenever and wherever the Royal couple have appeared. On their part, in the midst of a programme which, to say the least, is very strenuous, the Duke and his gracious lady are showing a genuine interest in the Dominion and its people. Already there is ample evidence that theirs is more than a mere courtesy call —it is indeed an attempt to more fully understand the condition of affairs in f..is outpost of Empire, coupled with a desire to establish a closer link between its people. His Royal Highness follows after the visit of his illustrious brother, the Prince of Wales, who has shown a special aptitude for ingratiating himself into the hearts of the people, but the Duke lias one distinct advantage—he has with him a Consort who has a winning Personality which endears both to the people. Her womanly instincts, combined with queenly I bearing, appeal very strongly to all, and when the name of "the Little Duchess” is mentioned, it is invariably accompanied by feelings of esteem aigl regard. In every centre, whether city or hamlet, their Royal Highnesses have been welcomed with genuine spontaneity, and so it will be to the end of the four. Aud then very many will be asking, ‘‘Will ye nae come back again?”

A wide circle of sympathy has been ex- _. ... cited as a result of the e ining mining disasters in aas r«p e. Wales and Britain, aud the awful loss of life has profoundly impressed the nation. The death roll exceeds 170, and the loss of life is emphasised by the suddenness of the catastrophe. An explosion in the first hour of the morning awakened the people of Cwm, and the colliery became a flaming mass of poisonous fumes. There is nothing quite so staggering as a mining disaster—even the most heroic souls are powerless to penetrate the poisoned recesses. On this, as on all other similar occasions, examples of heroism were numerous, and the first rescue party was quickly in serious difficulty. A second rescue party saved the first, aud attempt followed attempt to reach the stricken miners. The staggering fact is that these disasters cannot be avoided —they cannot be foreseen. They are, unfortunately, associated with the winning of black diamonds, and the toll of life in this essential industry has always been high. Wc have said the wave of sympathy is large, and the manly action of Britain's Prime Minister in visiting the scene of the Cwm disaster stands out as an act which could only be performed by one possessing genuine instincts. As such it i will impress all who think right, and the expressions of ill-will on the part of a small section of those who were suffering poignant grief may be readily forgiven. Not so the unseemly outburst of Mr J ack Jones and a small section of Labour members. Nothing is so disgusting and unworthy as a Pharisaical attitude of insincerity in an hour of national sorrow. No man of decent instincts but would do I everything humanly possible to prevent such a.disaster, and in an hour of national grief the inference that one brand of poli-

Don’t allow baby to cough. Sprinkle a few drops of “NAZOL” on its pillow or “nightie.” Soothing and comforting. Acts like a charm. —Advt.

tician embodies all the virtues and all the humanities is as unfounded as it is nauseating.

The visit of Dr Winnington Ingram, "The Outspoken ° £ London, is an Bishop ” event of general interest and of special import to the Anglican community. For .a considerable period he has, on account of his high qualities, enjoyed a deserved and general measure of esteem. In the best sense of the term, he is a public man—one who has invariably taken high and ofttimes original ground in approaching great public questions. He is in every respect an np-to-date man, and if he has earned the sobriquet which titles this note, it is because he has expressed himself fearlessly according to his convictions, and not because he has ever sought notoriety. Dr Ingram has never sacrificed the truth for effect, and the result is that he enjoys a large meed of public confidence. His present mission has a double purpose—he brings a message of hope and encouragement to his own community, and he comes in search of further light and leading on the important question of migration. To him this latter is perhaps the most important public question of the hour. ■“Migration,” says Dr Ingram, “is a part of the missionary work any Church should do unless it is a dying Church.” Bishop Ingram perceives a double danger in the present disposition of the Empire’s population. At Home he sees congestion and lack of opportunity for the general populace. At this end of the Empire are open spaces and immeasurable opportunity. True, there are difficulties in bringing men and opportunity together, but once those difficulties are overcome, the results will be mutually advantageous both to the individual and to the Empire, The Bishop feels that there is not sufficient practical appreciation of the possibilities of a united effort, and if his visit'results in the furtherance of a constructive policy in place of spasmodic effort, it will be of immense public benefit.

Every person with humane instincts will u read, with satisfaction the M| ” a speech delivered by the fmance. Minister of Health at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Hospital Boards at Christchurch. Mr Young made it abundantly clear that the hospitals are in the widest sense public institutions, open to all. While this principle is unquestionably right, the problem of increasing expenditure merits wide attention. In ten years the contributions from public funds have risen from £443,000 to £1,238,000, and during the same period the amount expended per head of the population has increased from 7s 9d to 20s sd. These are arresting figures, and very naturally prompt the question whether the huge expenditure is fully justified. That the alleviation of suffering and the care of ’■he sick is a community responsibility is universally accepted. We live in a healthy country, and have the advantage of a vigorous ancestry. At the same time it must be admitted that our provision of 5.4 beds per 1000 of the population, as against 1 per 1000 in Great Britain is at least an interesting fact. It cannot be contended that the New Zealand proportion is too high, but at present there appears no immediate prospect of reducing expenditure. Practically every board is contemplating extensions, and this at a time when increasing attention is being given to the prevention of disease. The multiplication of public hospitals in certain cases is responsible for some unnecessary public expenditure, but even if full allowance be made under this heading, there are possibly other leakages. There is room for stricter business management in some of the boards, and while the elective system has proved its worth, it is undeniable that it has brought into the boards a small proportion of members who do not fully realise the fact that the various interests involved should each receive fair consideration. It is undeniable, for instance, that the present hospital rate is an oppressive burden on many people. Therefore, it should be remembered that, while the relief of suffering is highly commendable, the consummation of that object should not become the means of inflicting oppressive burdens on those unable to carry them. Mr Young urges that the public should come forward with voluntary contributions, aud some relief should be found bn this head. Tn essence, however, it must now be realised that, with a total national expenditure of £700,000 per annum, the individual contributions are spread over the whole population. At the same time the font of voluntary contributions should not be dried up, and people to whom fortune has been more than kind cannot find a better channel than, the public hospitals for their benevolence. The only immediate prospect for a reduction of expenditure" appears to lie in the promotion of health, and to reap large results from this much teaching is necessary and many ingrained habits need correction.