The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, APRIL 15th, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7708, 15 April 1916, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, APRIL 15th, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Householders’ Duty. On Monday evening the annual householders’ meetings for the election of school committees for tile ensuing year will be held throughout the district. Of late years there has been a marked falling away of the interest manifested by parents and the public generally in these elections, principally for the reason that the Education Board has deprived committees of all responsibility and cut down their allowance to the irreducible minimum. But whatever the attitude of the Board, householders owe a duty to the children in seeing that the standard of the respective schools is maintained. There is every reason why a strong committee should be elected in Waipawa on Monday evening. The death of Mr Watson will bring abqjut certain changes in the staff, and whoever is appointed to take his place would gain confidence from the knowledge that he had the support of a “live” working committee. Too Much Talk. Britain’s Prime Minister has lately been the subject of severe criticism from Mr Austin Harrison in the “National Review.” Mr Asquith, he says, is the best speaker in the House of Commons. “But,” he adds, “this fatal gift, of Mr Asquith is our malady. No Minister should ever speak in war. Not even the Young Turks do. Here it is part of their routine. When things look bad Mr Asquith makes a speech. No man can | speak better. He knows that. Outside we read his rhetoric, and it has the savor of family port, mellow and well-bottled. It warms the cockles of our hearts. We want to shake him by the hand, this fine old English gentleman, (his benign illusionist, this happy father, (his entire and scholarly chip of the old block. ‘My speech is my fortune,’ the Prime Minister can well say. He enthralls the House. He satisfies the people. He has the English way. He has been well named the Vicar of Bray. Alas! oratory is futile in war! Mr Asquith, the strong man, the only ‘obvious’ leader, what are his professions away from the rostrum?. Look at his new War Council squeezed* out of him by public opinion, and compare it with the ruthless professionalism and responsibility laid down by General Gallieni! What a difference! It is the exact difference between the expert and the amateur.”