TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 55, 2 September 1926, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

In New Zealand we laugh at the machine politics of America, the bandwagon, tho banner processions, and the applause made to order. "How ridiculous,'' we'think; '"we would never be imposed on by that sort of thing.", But would, we not? The Minister of Finance on Monday quoted extracts from a letter which revealed the inner workings of the machinery for voicing "public opinion." It was a refreshingly frank disclosure,* but it was not new. It was just the American band-wagon and the well-organised applause presented in the New Zealand manner. Members of Parliament are familiar with this type of agitation, or they should be. They have had experience of it in many, forms. It is not so long ago that members were deluged with letters from their constituents, all written personally but all using the same language. What .amazing unanimity—hundreds of hearts beating as one, hundreds o£ breasts stirred by the same sentiments of indignation and protest —or else hundreds of pens laboriously copying the same letter according to instructions from headquarters. But does this agitation pay? Members of Parliament aro not children. They can distinguish between - the spontaneous protest which is a true expression of public feeling and tho agitation which owes its volume to a master mind ami a liberal use of the telegraph. * • • There are two risks attaching to overseas settlement policy —the risk of doing too little and the risk of attempting too much. Both are well guarded against in New Zealand. Advocates of migration are constantly urging the Government to greater effort, and tho Labour organisations are equally vigilant to guard against what they deem an unwarranted acceleration. Tho safe course lies between these extremes. What is not fully appreciated is that the rate of absorbing newcomers depends mainly upon the completeness of the preparations. With extended public interest in immigration, hundreds more newcomers may be safely brought to the country. The Prime Minister's reference to overseas settlement indicates that he appreciates this point. He states, in effect, that it would be imprudent to increase the Dominion quota of immigrants at present, -but he does not say that an increase cannot be made with adequate preparation. He proposes to discuss with the Imperial authorities the possibility of obtaining financial backing for a land or afforestation settlement scheme. He does not indicate what plans ho has in mind, nor what form the financial assistance should take. There is scope for greater effort,- but much investigation is necessary before any big scheme can be endorsed. * * » It is not merely a question of principle that is. involved in the Chamber of Commerce protest against the flat rate of freight, in practice this flat rate ia productive of much waste to the community. It. encourages the development of minor harbours which are naturally unsuited for deep-sea steamers, and where the trade does not warrant the installation and oconomie operation' of labour-saving equipment. The argument may be advanced that such development is justified because it saves heavy railage and .coastal transhipment. Undoubtedly there .is some saving in this way, but in many instances there is a greater loss in taking the expensivo overseas steamer to a small port and loading and discharging her with inadequate appliances. If tho flat rate were abolished in favour of a scale based upon actual cost, it does not follow that all freight would come to the main ports. Where the railage and coastwise shipment charges would outweigh the saving effected at the main port, the minor port would still be used. Actually tha flat rate is operated at the expense o£ the main ports and of exporters and importers. The shipping companies maintain it bocauso their clients desire it, but those clients havo to pay the piper.