PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 8

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. ORGANISED PRESSURE. The revelation that postal employees have been circularised by their association asking them to protest to their local members of Parliament against the reductions in land and income tax, and in favour of a higher wage, is a pretty example of propaganda and an illustration of the serious forms of political pressure in State entreprises nlav take. These employees have not only been written to and asked to protest against this ‘ gift to the wealthy,” but they have been supplied with a model letter, and it is stated members of Parliament are now receiving letters couched in just these terms. The humorous side of the affair will strike many; it is not often that one sees the machinery of agitation working behind the scenes. The serious aspect, however, is much more important. The point to be emphasised is the danger to good government involved in such methods of organist! propaganda in the Civil Service. —“Auckland Star.” APPRENTICESHIP PROBLEMS. At an immediate view*, the results of the increased attention lately concentrated on trade apprenticeship are perhaps a little discouraging. New emphasis certainly has been laid on the difficulties that are to be overcome in attracting an increased number of boys into skilled trades and in making the training of apprentices more effective. No doubt, however, these difficulties will be overcome gradually if they are attacked with determination, and in the right spirit of co-operation between employers and employees. There should be no great difficulty in inducing any reasonably well educated boy to adopt a skilled trade in preference to unskilled labouring or any other blind-alley occupation. One step in the right direction m any case clearly is to remove any avoidable and unnecessary restrictions meantime imposed on apprenticeship by the perpetuation of such obsolete trade customs as we have instanced, or in other ways.—‘ ‘Dominion.” MATERNITY BONUS. The proposal made by Mr Masters that maternity bonuses should be paid to hospitals establishing maternity wards is certainly not, open to the objections raised against the baby-bonus system operating in Australia. Jf it would encourage the establishment of such wards, it would he useful ; but much greater aid would be given by special assistance in meeting the capital cost of establishments. The bonus system is uncertain, and would not promote sound finance. Hospital boards may now obtain subsidies to build, equip and maintain approved maternity wards. If these subsidies are deemed insufficient to meet a pressing need, they should be increased ; but it. appears to us that an increase granted upon a per capita basis (for that is what th§_ bonus would be) would prove less satisfactory than a direct subsidy on expenditure. However, after tlie Wellington experience with the radium fund, w© are not inclined to entertain hopes of any subsidy that is not definitely provided for.—“ Evening Post.” A CURIOUS CIRCULAR. Tlie distribution of a circular to junior officers in the employ of the Post and Telegraph Department, apparently as an official act of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, advising the recipients to protest toil heir respective members against reductions of taxation as a “ gift to the wealthy.” to express dissatisfaction with their pay and prospects, and to ask that a protest be made, has a serious side, and a touch of the ridiculous. In all seriousness it has to be asked where tendency to manipulate the Public! Service toward political ends will next manifest itself. At any instances have already been seen. It must be admitted that numbers of people engaged in politics have been only too eager to co-operate in the process of trying t-o make political pressure influence decision bearing on public servants, irrespective of the merits at issue- T he process threatens to become, a real problem. The need for responsible members to scrutinise the policy of the association, already existent, lias been intensified by the issue of this circular.—“ New Zealand Herald.”