ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 54, 27 November 1926, Page 17

ECHOES of the WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

Peaceful and rational the majority of the trade unionists of the Dominion certainly are, and always have been. But the mischief-makers are still about. They do not change. They are still ready to seize any opportunity that offers to injure their country, by stirring up trouble which they know will do no good to anyone, and least of all to the poor fellows who pay their weekly sixpences into the fund upon which the agitators live. In the present case they do not shrink from recommending a procedure which, if it were successful, would hurt every worker and every worker’s family in the Dominion. They themselves will not suffer; their salaries will go on whatever may happen to the men they mislead. And it is as well that the public should know, as the Hastings meeting will let it know, that the Alliance is still functioning and still the evil organisation it always has been. —Christchurch “Press.”

If there is to be large-scale land development in the Dominions the town population of Britain must be drawn upon. The problem is this: We have th.. land, either in unoccupied areas, or i- areas held in holdings that are not efficiently worked, but we have not the people, and land and people must . be brought together. Taxation, education, communications, assistance of various kinds—all these are factors that have to be considered, and New Zealand, we hope, is not so bankrupt in statesmanship that it cannot devise, a policy that, taking heed of all these, will stimulate that development on which the nation entirely depends.—Auckland “Star.”

Although they claim that Labour movement stands for the supremacy of the elected representatives of the people and will not tolerate the exercise of autocratic powers, yet they are striving their hardest to obtain and exer-, die dictatorial power while they have the chance to do so, heedless and reckless of the aftermath and the irreparable injuries they may inflict upon the country or State which has the misfortune to be under their sway.— “Taranaki Daily News.”

Every farmer will devoutly hope that the resumption of mining in England will make for better trade conditions. There is need for all to work with the farmer for the stabilisation of prices and for the elimination of pin-pricking labour troubles.—Christchurch “Sun.”

In the application of certain guiding principles relating to the provisions for safeguarding maritime communications and the construction of naval bases, the Conference noted the deep interest of Australia, New Zealand, and India in the development of the Singapore base as essential to the security of territories and trade in Pacific waters. — “Lyttelton Times.”

The best news from the Imperial Conference is that all parties to it have been brought fully to realise each .other’s difficulties. The mood of impatience and of resentment oi imperfect equality which was left by some delegates before its commencement has completely passed. They understand each other better than they did before, and understanding and patience will be the great solvent of difficulties.—Dimedin ‘‘Evening Star.”

So long as the workers are smarting under a sense of injustice, it is quite futile to appeal to them to increase their output and to make themselves more efficient, chiefly for the benefit of others. At such a crisis as this, mine-owners and Government combined should put forth every effort to assist the men in making the best of an extremely difficult and painful situation.—Auckland “Star.”

Those who are in a position*to give lead to the primary producers 'can ' do them and the Dominion no greater service than by setting the facts regarding primary education plainly before them. The question before farmers and the country is, not whe- , ther the cost of an Agricultural College is to be saved or spent, but whether the Dominion is or is not to secure the additional millions annually that undoubtedly may be secured if agricultural education' is developed las it should be.—“Wairarapa Age.”

It is worth, pointing out that under the Act the Arbitration Court has r power to require any employer or em- , ployers to employ a minimum number of apprentices in order that a supply of trained men shall be available. 'No such order has yet been made, but if things do not improve the Court may have to take this drastic ‘step.—Auckland "Star."

Employers, without studying the conditions themselves, have gathered the impression that apprentices are i likely to be a nuisance rather than a help", and in many instances have, , therefore, refused to accept them. The obvious solution of the difficulty is to open all trades freely for the admission of apprentices, subject to the general provisions that the employer must >be able to train the apprentice, and that the apprentice must have reasonable conditions under which to work. —Christchurch “Star.”

That is the question for the Dominions. Do they expect the protection of the British Navy without making any contribution to its cost? That is one of the tests of real Imperialism. If the Dominions realise how essential the Empire is to them they will not hesitate about the matter. They will know that they are not contributing in proportion to their population, and will consider that such a contribution would be the very best of insurances against disaster. — “Hawke’s Bay Herald."

The tendency is for the advertising hoarding to follow in the track of the motor-car, which has itself done so much to eliminate distance. So the nuisance is spread. What is required is that a healthy public sentiment should demand the abolition of a practice which spoils the appearance of the countryside and really outrages a proper sense of the fitness of things. Unless protest is effectively made, standards of ugliness wilt get a footing against which it will be difficult to contend.— “Otago Daily Times.”

The fact is the possibilities of the pumice lands cannot be dismissed in an easy sentence. Without their dif- ' Acuities being minimised, they can stilt be classed as the greatest field awaiting men with the pioneering spirit, with faith and the capacity for hard work. Let the Government do as the Minister implied it was doing, make them available for those willing to adventure in them. Let access be provided as opportunity offers, and it is uo venturesome prediction that these, the most challenging empty spaces of New Zealand, will not remain empty. —“New Zealand Herald.”

There is a class of criminals, known as recidivists, whose record shows that they return regularly to wrong-doing, and a few years ago there was undoubted cause for uneasiness—which was manifested even from the Supreme Court Bench—regarding the release of men who almost immediately committed serious crimes, for which they had to be tried and recommitted. One frequently reads of the conviction of men who have been declared habitual criminals two or three times over, and if there is any need for greater caution on the part of the Prisons Board it is in regard to the release of this class.—Christchurch “Star.”

There is hardly a secondary industry in the country at the present time which is not clamouring for higher protection; and the more protection it gets the more the farmer has to pay both for his goods and for his labour—though he is already subjected to penal taxation merely for being a farmer. It is doubtful if there is a parallel anywhere to such a state of affairs in a country so, organised and maintained, and if we do not realise how serious it is that the men who produce threequarters of our wealth are being reduced to merely nominal ownership, of their land and goods, we are inviting far more serious trouble than a passing slump. The result of what so many people are trying to make the Dominion’s general economic policy could easily be ten or twenty years of economic confusion.—Christchurch "Press.”

The transport problems of every country are evolving, as needs alter, and experiments and luxuries are elevated into necessities. The advance of motor transport is incessant and inevitable, and the railway authorities are wisely moving with the times. Public opinion will, sooner or later, compel the service the public needs. It could be wished that every transport authority would admit this as willingly as the Railway Department.—Christchurch “Sun.”

Sound financial administration is the thing most likely to impress the investor, who recognises that these young countries must face heavy expenditure for development purposes, and it is not unreasonable if the lender should ask for full information regarding the purpose of any loan and the financial record of the State seeking it Apparently money is available in London, and the overseas possessions which keep their financial houses in order need anticipate no great difficulty in obtaining what is required for approved public undertakings.—“Lyttelton Times.”

Just as long as there is a possibility, however remote, of having “a scrap” forced upon us we should, individually and as a people, give some attention to the science of self-defence. England is doing it by designing and constructing weapons of war which will save life as well as take it. New Zealand can do it by teaching her boys to use their fists—the first weapon of defence—and giving them some military training which can be quickly developed in case of need. It will not hurt them; physically the training is good for them; and generally the more capable a boy or a man is of defending himself the less he is inclined to get into trouble.— “Taranaki Herald.”

What we want is a group of Cabinet Ministers who know their job, and are not afraid to act. even when it provokes the antagonism of powerful influences in the Dominion. The suggestion that a new political party is being formed in Auckland is ridiculed in Reform circles, but it is inevitable that the incompetence of the Government should eventually make itself felt, and even those who were reluctant to believe that the party led by Mr Coates was not all it claimed to be in its election propaganda, are beginning to proclaim the advent of a new order that will bring some measure of relief to the country.— “Southland Dailv News.”

The abolition of compulsory training would not eliminate the need for a defence force. The practical abolition of a civilian force would entail the creation of a standing army, with all its increased cost and loss of productive energy, by maintaining a large body of men in comparative idleness and disqualifying them for future activity in the industrial field. Finally, the system of compulsory military training is productive of great good in that it is a means of developing a sound physique and of arresting of unpleasant tendencies on the part of ebullient youth.—“Oamaru Mail.”

Are the people of this country to go eternally on defeating prohibition every three years, and not be permitted to make any irnprovem«U)t in the existing licensing system? The “kick” that is going to come from the commonsense churchgoers of this Dominion is one against a referendum that every three years defeats its object and leaves the monopoly-bound publican with no option but to sell more beer instead of providing better beds.— Dannevirke "Evening News ”

Public works expenditure is faultilv planned as to seasonal activities and there is a drift from the land instead of to it. Of the two we have to fear more the lack of such a sound policy of land settlement as should co-ordin-ate with immigration. This is quite apart from the need for such a policy to provide for those already here. It is high time the Government, instead of talking of the great things it has done —but has really neglected to do—should earnestlv grapple with the problem.—Napier “Daily Telegraph.”