ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 42, 13 November 1926, Page 17

ECHOES of the WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

New Zealand cannot be content to lag behind Australia in participating in the advantages that will accrue from the establishment of the air service that is promised.—“Otago Daily Times.”

If the Dominion desires to consolidate its position in the Islands, now is the time to do it, before Australian meichants make a bid for lost business. An executive representative of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce actively advocates lower freights and an agreement among Australian merchants to quote, minimum rates for Fijian traders. Io meet this competition New Zealand promptly should make a determined effort to secure Island business, and thus consolidate the Dominion’s paramount position in the 'Pacific.—Christchurch “Sun.”

We must refrain from alarming and threatening private enterprise as such measures as the railways are adopting in turning motor buses off the road. Settlers in the backblocks will not be helped by making it difficult or expensive to get to town. The funds of the State should not be used to ruin private enterprise. The Government should make general confession that they have left undone the things they ouglit not to have done and should make a fresh start in the opposite direction. —"Waikato Tinies ”

The problems of street traffic present themselves to ali cities in a more or less acute manner, and even in the Dominion it is well to look ahead and provide a comprehensive system that can be developed to meet the changing conditions. —“Lyttelton linjes.’

If the farmer is to be able to employ the labour he requires his financial position must be improved. io that end everything possible should be done to reduce the cost of the articles be uses, and, of course, the more prudent the Government is in its finances the better is his position. Secondary industries are all very well, but some people seem to forget that the prosperity of the country rests on the farmer arid his ability to' sell at the other side of the world. In the framing of the tariff the farmer should have, first consideration. —Auckland “Star.’

The explanation of the almost equal development of secondary and primary industries is that the largest of the secondary industries are coniplemcntary to the pnmari industries and a natural outgrowth of them. '1 he explanation of the drift from rural to town employment is very largely that there has been an enormous increase in the State service and in other relatively useless industries under private control.—Christchurch “Press.”

If some safe system of exchange could be arranged our museums might get valuable specimens of Native craft from other parts of the world .and thus enable comparisons to be made, to say nothing pf European and Egyptian antiquities. The more truly representative museums can be made the greater will be their educational value, and it is a hopeful sign that this first conference should have sought co-operation rather than rivalry.—Auckland “Star.”

' The warning of the dangers of overeating as a contributory cause of cancer cannot be ignored. But apart from thi terrible disease, scientific evidence is unanimously of the opinion that the wise choice of natural and nutritive foods, and temperance in eating, will provide a high degree of immunity from many of the illnesses of the modern world. The policy of eat, drink and be merry is fraught with grave risks.—Lyttelton “Times.” «

The Dominions ’may demand for themselves increasing liberty of action in those regions of international politics in which they are specially concerned, but the rest of the Empire is not Canada already deals with Washington direct, as does South Africa with Portugal. But in larger problems the Empire will stand together, and it will stand none the less loyally because the ties that link its component parts are not derived from the logical mind of the Gaul, but from the practical experience of the Briton.—Auckland “Star.”

The long and specialised training required precludes the possibility of creating an air force to meet an emergency. The trained men must be available, and the method adopted by other nations, and by some units of the Empire, is to provide that body of experts bv engaging them in the various branches of civil aviation. And, unless the Dominion is content to be .‘‘somewhat backward” in this important matter, some such policy must be adopted here. —Lyttelton “Times.”

Territorial training in flying may produce some interest in civil aviation; the general progress of the Dominion will call for more. Private aviation should be encouraged, and possibly the Prime Minister will return with a practical scheme for Parliament’s consideration. In the meantime, it would be a pity to stand out of any reasonable Imperial air development project.— “Sun.”

Migration of the right kind is the best way, and probably an indispensable way, for securing the adjustment of food to population. The land is in the Dominions and the men and women are at Home. The essential thing is to place the men and women where their labours will immeasurably better themselves, and at the same time enrich ‘ the Dominions, the Empire and the civilised world. If this is not done the outlook for Britain may not be very promising, but even so it would be premature to grieve for a famished humanity. The'world is not yet nearly full up.—“Waikato Times.”

The Americans rightly place a high value on university training as a preparation for business. Australia and New Zealand hitherto have sent most of their students into the professions, but no small number have also gone into commerce and succeeded. There is a tendency in America and the Dominions to introduce some forms <>l specialised training for certain employments, and while the movement is still in the experimental stage, results appear to justify the course.—“Lyttelton Times.”

Everv intelligent trade unionist knows'that a strike will bring.no advantage to the wage earners, but will inflict upon them their full share of the cost of the cessation of work and production. Every official in Labour s organisation knows this. . That the Dominion has for some time been free from industrial strife is not due to any change in the policy of the men who control the Labour movement, but only to the strength of the public’s hatred of unwarranted disturbances of the peace.—Christchurch “Press.’-’

If it is intended to fight for agricultural education in the North Island, i people must expect opposition, from . those who are anxious to raise the , level of agricultural education throughout the Dominion. And any scheme which would do that, must make provision for the needs of the farmers engaged in agriculture and arable farming generally. Better agricultural education is the goal, and any sectional agitation er insular appeal must not be allowed to cloud the issue.—“Lyttelton Times.” I

In some quarters the opinion is expressed that there are far too many counties and that the next fifty years i should see a reduction in the number. , It is 'certainly true that’ something might be gained through the co-ordin- | ation of similar public services, carried on by neighbouring local bodies,, but it is' questionable whether, that is a sufficient reason for the fusion of those , bodies Local control means local interest, and local interest in local affairs deserves every possible encouragement.—Wanganui “Chronicle.”

It is ridiculous for Dominion Prime Ministers to go to London and talk of Imperial trade and ties of blood and other admirable sentiments' while they one' and all try to block each other’s trade. Our troubles are largely of our own making, and with a little more sense we might avoid them.—“Waikato Times.”

Under the Dairy Produce Control Act the dairy farmer is not allowed to sell his produce, or in other words to pay someone to take'the risk of the market. He is compelled to take the risk himself and to place himself in the hands of a few men whose judgment may be no better than his own, and who certainly have not the knowledge and experience of the professional risktakers—“Taranaki Herald.”

It is important to keep Empire trade within the Empire. This matter should ’be kept very prominently m mind bv New Zealand and Britain at the present moment, when the underlying principle of trade within the Empire affects verv materially the crisis which has unfortunately arisen in connection with the disposal of the Dom inion’s butter and cheese.—“ Northern Advocate.”

When Britain really begins to love music for its own sake, to love ish music for its own sake, the subsi’ dised organisations will come. lhe same may be said of New Zealand. We do not want subsidised orchestras and choral societies (though financial help to encourage visits of the world’s great artists might be of help now) until the people have learnt to love music and to distinguish Art from Effort. “Southland Times.”

The explanation of the almost equal development of secondary and primary industries is that the largest of the secondary industries are complementary to the primary industries and a natural outgrowth of them. The explanation of the drift from rural to town employment is very largely that there has been an enormous increase in the state service and in other relatively useless industries under private control. Christchurch “Press.”

Most people to-dav agree that prisoners should be treated with scientific and humane consideration, but an end should be - made to this releasing pt dangerous criminals with recidivist tendencies It is a policy that, earned to extreme lengths, may yet make * farce of our prison system.—Christchurch . “Sun.”

The occupations that flourish best in New Zealand to-day are those in which the tasks involved can be accomplished without taking off coat and collar. Public administration and professional services are the most attractive * industries.” It is easier to compile statistics, for example, than to produce output for statistical compilation. What is to be done about the drift from the country to the town ? , An answer to that question Js much more necessary than further proof of its existence.— Christchurch “Sun.”

The invariable experience of these Imperial Conferences is that when the Empire family meet together as equals thev soon discover that dissonance is only skin deep, and they do not take long to realise that their discordances rest upon the most slender foundations. It is considered certain that the greatest common measure of agreement upon essentials will yet be found as the result of this conference, and that view strengthens confidence in the attainment of a real and durable measure of Empire unity.—“Taranaki Daily News.”

However deep-rooted may be racial , antipathies or ineffaceable recollections of wrongs, no nation can afford to carry resentment to the length of sacrificing its own interest. To do such a thing would be equivalent to a man cutting off his own nose to spite his face. The vital interests of all the nations of the / British Commonwealth depend upon preserving and strengthening the Empire. To that material bond of union it is desirable to add the ties of mutual affection and confidence.—Oamaru “Mail.”

So far as local bodies are concerned the abandonment of farms means the loss of rates, and even without trouble of this kind most local authorities find it hard enough to finance their operations. Obviously the right thing for the State to do is to ensure the permanency of the settlement that has already been undertaken. When the existing farms are producing as they should do the claims of new land may receive consideration.—Wanganui “Chronicle.’?