PUBLIC OPINION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2534, 22 June 1909, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

i'IS? f p mf /s(’ piV 1 ||| JlEFq|it, J:‘l\ - W/ '• Parliament by the Minister for Railways in connection with the report of the Addington Workshops ■ nist'er-s .- aptioii • will be .obvioxis to , all,. fwlio; realxshe dobitmeni/ Ii « | irig 'indictment of tfio’Tnethbas"of Tne" 'Railwri-ys ; ~Departinerity'rind.-mrist'be/re—' garde'd as one of th.o, piost,.yaluable results attained in r Orient 1 yea is - 'from the appointment -of a Royal Commission. As a; rule_ SsD/ch Commissions merely cover rip 8# r c *orilusrii tlieussties' involved ,0 hut tht> Addington Commission deserves j.the tnanks of-rtliA ieoriritrydfCr. Spokenness (aji,d- f°? Ahe / practical nature of the suggestions it filers :itoj-re-j: pair the evils that., haye gijo.wn" up under Ministerial cbritfql.‘ ,; lri practically every branch, of ,ifs inquiries it discovered faults and weaknesses.'“The. arrangements ' and- ■ grouping of!, 'the" tii'a-G chines were bad.” “Tlie . motive power arrangements -were wasteful in the extreme.” Nearly -(£3500,- per. .annum eoUld be. sayed r in.'actqa} working expenses by a change" in - This > respect alone The systems of work’ are con--1 de.mned \for various ... reaeoria ■ stated. Drastic alterations'are suggested to secure separation of *the new* from: the ¥epair 'work.- 'The: cost of production shown in comparison with that of private firms, is quite startling—-in fact in ill directions’ the Commissioners found a most .unsatisfactory state of things. Dominion.” " ; >x ?.:•*-■ t i . ' : 0. • ROUND THE ISLANDS. Sir Joseph Ward’s, coining jaunt abroad lias inspired in an Auckland M.P., Mr Glover, the hope that mem-bers-’also will, be treated to a little excursion. Mr Glover has been busy sounding his fellow members on the subject of another tour, of the Islands in the Government steamer. He is reported to have received some encouragement. The sudden and overwhelming desire of members to become acquainted with New Zealand’s island possessions is no doubt very laudable, and would be still niore commendable if undertaken at their own expense. Any suggestion that the country should meet the expense of tlie little picnic should be very ' firmly discourage' 5 Tlie present is the tribe of retrenchment and careful husbanding of the finances.' There is no need for the scattering of public money in the wasteful manner proposed. The.people have a very lively recollection of the lavish expenditure of their money on a former occasion when Ministers and members made a tour of the island dependencies. AH - sorts of extravagances were permitted in connection with the trip, and it became a bye-word in Ruriiament for several sessions. Mr Glover’s proposition should bo immediately vetoed, and if Ministers have any regard for propriety and the fitness of things the organiser of the Islands excursion will be, informed in unmistakable language' that Iris scheme is impossible—unless members pay for their own fun. —“Manawatu Standard.

HOSPITALS AND THE PUBLIC. It is urged in England (very fairly indeed) that persons well able to afford to pay for private attention - take advantage of hospitals, even as paying patients, as' well as in the capacity of paupers, and so increase tlie pressure of work for the staff, and thus induce negligence. 4Ve know tliat it is- the case in New Zealand, and we recognise tho absolute need; for further and more searching investigation into this quostion of tlio relation of hospitals and the public to. one another.: One thing is certain: those pe.ople who, while able, to pay medical men, resort to tlio hospitals are. far too numerous. The same remark applies to ' parsons ■ who join friendly societies for the sole purpose of getting cheap/drugs and medical attention; and. some, very drastic legislation is needed to remove a reproach from the community awl a burden from tho hospitals. —Wairarapa “Times.” , EXIT MR HOGG. The Hop. A., W. Hogg liqs tendered his resignation; as Minister of Roads and Bridges and lias severed His eonnection with Sir Joseph A\ard*s Cabinet. This appeared to bo the inevitable sequel tri the remarkable speech he made. The next, question that will concern. the public—and especially tbe public of the North bo that of the appointment of a successor, and the chances of Mr Jennings becoming a Cabinet Minister must be regarded as particularly good. However, matters are not likely to he hurried arid as a temporary fe-arrangement of tho Cabinet during the Premier’s rbsence lias been made, this will no doubt stand good till Sir Joseph’s return.—Napier “Telegraph.” ■,■.! ~........