Hokitika Guardian & evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 26th. J 1920. THE WEEK .

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 26th. J 1920. THE WEEK .

Thk new Minister for Education, (Mr Parr) has been well to the fore of late. Also, he- is proving a very generous banded Minister. It is either a ease of “a new broom,” or else Mr Parr has not vet got- the weight of deputation work and learned the art of saying j “no” as graciously as possible. All i the same Education carries a large and ' growing expenditure, for it is going to keep on mounting, and “enthusiast” as ‘ Mr Parr educational matters, lie ; will not lie the first to put on the break. The Minister of Finance will apply that most probably rather sooner than later. The expenditure out of the public account for education in 1917-1918 was £1,895,(XX). For 1918-1919 the outgoings were £2,072,000, and the 1920 per_ iod will be larger still. Since education was first confined to the three R’s

its scope has expanded very greatly, and it is still expanding. Being now so completely under State direction, there is no limit to the demands which aro being made for wider and more technical instruction. Of Jate there has been a persistent demand' for agricultural education, and there is something more than the thin end of the wedge in now. It will continue to expand. Speaking the other day on the subject Mr Parr went on to say that we must get the idea out of the minds of young peoplo that it is a splendid thing to come to a large city and get into a law office and become a solicitor ,or into an insurance

oilice, or a bank. That is being overdone—done to death [ I am of opinion that it is due to their training, it lias been too literary in character. The curriculum should be designed to impress on the hoy that he should “stick to the plough.” There is no life better than the country life to the man who lias a liking for it, and sympathy with it. Not only do we want to keep hoys in the -country, but we want to bring boys out of the towns. This country is largely a country of primary products; I don’t think it will ever export manufactured goods. We have to see that the soil is developed to the fullest extent. I am 'going into the question of rural and agricultural education generally which, I don’t think, is in a satis, factory condition at present. When I have some time to spare, I will surround mysolf with practical men who know their business and devise some more satisfactory course of rural and agricultural instruction.

As regards the price of goods, the retailers of Wellington have been giving the press there some idea of the markets, ail of which goes to show that dra. pery prices in particular are not going to show much of a decline for some time. On the contrary, in cotton and woollen goods there is more likely to be

a. substantial advance even yet. The Wellington shop keepers put their side of tlio matter as follows: —“From the

point of view of the retailer who is also an importer, any rise or fail in the cost of goods in England is not immediately felt in New Zealand. A period of at least nine months usually elapses before goods are ticketed in local shop windows up to the increased cost. In

the years of the war, when whole commercial world was going up on a rising market, the press of New Zealand was able from time to time to render a service to the community by point ing out imminent increases in the price of commodities. The effect of these warnings in the columns of the papers was felt and recognised by distributors, for those who were wise supplied their

needs before the advance affected retail prices. Textiles, which embrace furnishings and general domestic fabrics, are being sold so cheaply to-day in this country that a prominent Scotch woollen manufacturer recently stated that it would pay him to buy the goods be saw in the shops here and take them back to sell in England. In respect of goods manufactured from wool, the competi-

tion that existed between the local pro. duct ion and the imported article is nullified hrough Now Zealand goods being practically unobtainable in any quantity likely to affect the selling price. Regarding goods made out of

cotton, a large manufacturer reports by the last mail that high prices here have only now started, and present prices may be 100 per cent, higher before this time next year. Shipments of goods just landed touch the highest price yet reached. Behind those are

shipments on the water at still higher prjees, and on the wharves in England lie goods just as high, if not higher. The importer will not know until he receives his invoices hearing the price rtilipg on the date of delivery to the shipper. No reduction in price has vet taken place at the seat of manufacture, and until it does and time has elapsed for goods to he made and ship-

ped and received, its effect cannot he felt by* the individual purchaser here. The position of the retailer in New Zealand is not analogous to the big American retail stores. Their panic prices aro due to panic methods. No retailer in this country has hoarded up huge

reserves of necessary goods, and finds himself forced to disgorge at a ivord from his banker. Prices here are not, artificially high through any action on the part of the importer.' So far as drapery goods are concerned, importers cannot see as yet any general decline in price. It is rumoured that local woollen goods will shortly be further advanced.”

.Many have been conscious of a men r tal process of what might almost be called disillusionment during the war and since. Tlie war was a crusade; it called forth all that was best in the British race, and it never lost its character. But- it also produced its parasites—profiteers, notoriety-hunters, solf--1 seekers, who sought to exploit the waiter their private ends. Many a sol--1 dier has expressed his disgust. Are these the people he fought for? What is the worth of all these fine phrases and professions of noblo ideals if this is what they have brought ? This is the attitude of “The Evolution of an Intellectual” by Mr J. M. Murray, a series of essays written in the course of the war which reflects the writer’s changing outlook. Tlie cause itself was a noble one, and it gave the leaders of Britain a unique opportunity had they but grasped it. “The war brought- into the political life of England an idealistic force without parallel in her history. What wait lavished at tlie end of the eighteenth century on -the victorious democracy of Era nee by our great poets was given now to France b\- their descendants, and the gifts sealed bv a sacrifice oT which, as the careless enthusiasm cooled, the determination hardened. . . Our politicians during the war showed themselves unworthy of this new adhesion to the national strength. Perhaps they were not so much unworthy as unaware of it, for. seeing that they led the nation into conflict with clean hands, it was never impossible that they should have retained the confidence of ; the sensitove and devoted minds. That passage remarks a. reviewer, might serve as the text for the whole book. ;

It is not possible to read tlie GovernorGeneral’s Speech without realising the responsibilities which rest alike on the Government and people of this country. The drift and burden of tlie war years, have left tlieir mark on New Zealand, and it will require able statesmanship to redeem the position within a reasonable period of time. The Government outline in very general terms the position

and problems as they'present themselves to-day, and it will be the first task of the Ministry in power to bring down remedial measures to meet the very exacting position which has to be met. In the light of the review of .State affairs it can he well understood why the leader of the Liberal Party lias offered generous support to the Government in the effort to overcome the difficulties which aro ahead. No truly loyal member of Parliament, with the interests of New Zealand at heart, could do less. It is a time for constructive, and not destructive, criticism. Mr Massey lias a more difficult position actually to surmount than the period of the war itself. Loyal support was the need of the hour then, and it is likely to he so in the immediate future if our country is to emerge successfully and avoid disaster, (>r even temporary dislocation of its affairs. The Government has a free hand in the matter, for never was there a more open mandate to the predominant party to push forward its policy. The Speech does not disclose that policy, hut it places the compelling features of the time in the forefront, and recognising the cause of the ills from which the country is suffering, it is for the Government to prescribe now and place the patient in the way of getting better.

Tiib situation is so complex that to emerge successfully, and with some degree of speed, all require to lend a helping hand. It is not sufficient to look to the Government alone, and expect the full relief to come from that quarter. There is a duty on the people to follow the lead the Government is expected to give, and by unity of action, courage, and self reliance, create an atmosphere which will assure a period of more settled times. The time for the eternal demands on the Government must cease to the extent that something must he done also of ourselves. It will be for the Government to attempt to ensure more contented times, and for the peoplo to fall into line with the effort to bring about more settled conditions in all walks of life. Commercially and industrially the people on their part must strive to maintain, the prestige of the country with enlarged business and enhanced production,. The commodities necessary for the feeding of the nation must be provided in ample quantity and within •reasonable price. Food and housing are the two essentials for decent domestic comfort. The Government will be expected to branch out in a definite wav to assure the living comfort of the people, and contentment secured in that direction, the first long stride towards the new order of tilings we have to evolve politically, will have been taken. The session now begun is of the greatest moment to the people. Its course will he followed with the closest interest, for it should open the way to a sane and well ordered state of Government and contentment, such as we knew it in pre-war times. It is for the Government to boldly lead the way to the era due now to arrive.