NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1926, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

The doctrine that only those “uphold the Dominion” who support the demands of the secondary industries is not- accepted outside the ranks of the industrial associations, because the secondary industries are not tbo Dominion. One of the favourite slogans of the Association is 4 “Support- the country that supports you”—a comical confusion of ”lhe country” with a certain group of traders in it. Our own attitude is quite simple and clear. \Ye wish to see our secondary industries thrive through sheer merit, but wo do not think it will be advantageous to tfic Dominion that its secondary industries should In? encouraged to depend upon the absence of competition rather than upon improved technique a.ml increased energy.—-Christ-church “Press.”

Only bv increased production can tbo continuance of the Dominion prosperity and progress he assured, for our exports for an indefinite period will he mainly those- won from the soil. What seems to he required is new life breathed into the somewhat dry bones of oiir present land policy. The day lias gone when all that a Government had to do was to survey and open up blocks of first-class virgin country, tli.e almost immediate returns from which were sufficient to repay the pioneers who first cleared it. To-day the large areas of Crown land which are still capable of profitable fanning will have to be made available at a low cost, and with means of access to markets provided.— “Taranaki Daily News.”

There is too little of true family life in a great many homes - too little of confidence between parents and children. The penalty of this neglect is found in young lives blasted by moral delinquencies and crimes of various descriptions. The children are not trained in the way that they should go and wander from tlr? path of rectitude. Tf the institution of women police will do something to compensate for parental neglect and giro check to its evil consequences, let us have women police as soon as possible. Wlmt has been accomplished elsewhere leads to the conclusion that 1L' > .system is productive of good results, ami it is only natural that it should be so. Women are by nature specially adapted for dealing with the young. It is a part of the supremo design that it should l,e so. The kindly words of a tiu-Ji fill woman will sink into the hearts of the young, while the ordinary warnings of a policeman are ever liable to be treated with derision, and as an officious intrusion upon personal libertv— Oaniaru “Mail.”

A movem/mt recently inaugurated in Melbourne might well lie taken up in this Dominion. It centres around the formation of Young, Men’s Clubs, in touch with political questions in a social and non-party atmosphere, the members, howcwr, all pledging 1 hemselves to loyalty to the Throne, the Empire, and conrftitniional government. . . .A young man’s—preferably a young people’s political organisation, including members of both sexes—is badly needed in the Dominion, with all the loose talking and misehievinux propaganda that is going on, giving people false ideas on economic questions, upon the correct interpellation and application of which the future prosperity of the country depends—"Mnimwatu Evening ,Standard. ’’

Nobody who has given anv thought to the matter denies the need for the regulation of motor-bus traffic; in the interests of the public it is necessary that all services coMceriiing transport and safety should ho the subject of rigid supervision. But though this Is universally admitted, there are lew willing to defend the regulations which the Government now seeks to impose. \Ve say “ seeks to impose ” advisedly, for although the regulations have been ga.zetted, we are by no means certain that they will operate in their entirety. There is a general feeling abroad that the new Order-in-Council is designed to create a monopoly, and monopolies of any kind are suspect, even when they are conferred upon the State or a local body. Public opinion in such matters cannot be flouted, and upon this question it will probably find a means of making its weight felt.—• Auckland “Star.”

Air Wright began very well with his suggestion that our education system is being misused, and that it was time to ask, with increasing numbers of young people struggling into “the professions.” who was going to do “the other work, the toil.” He does well also to agree that men are not all horn equal. But he would do better still il be would stick to this line, without

making any apologies to Democracy for being so unorthodox- as to state plain facts. When he says he has no idea of preventing any hoy or girl from “obtaining the best education he or she can,” the public may suppose that after all he shares the popular idea concerning education. We hope that wo are right in thinking he does not, and that lie will maintain that “ the best education ” is only the process which will best help to the fullest expression, the natural talent of the subject of it. and is not necessarily in all eases the process of instruction at secondary schools or University Colleges.—Christchurch “ Press.”

Over and over it again it has been shown that, the prime need is for this Dominion to meet the competition of other countries by the production of foodstuffs so high in quality that the produce from other lauds more advantageously placed in relation to the principal irprkcts, will not he able to command greater attention than that produced in New Zealand. "W ith the organisation of the primary industries the man on the land may expect n better return from his produce, but all the produce control boards in I bo world will not avail unless the standard of the goods produced is kept high. It has been proved that the influence of the shows moves in the direction of better production, and m> from the standpoint of the Dominion’s future prosperity it is desirable that these centres of rural competition should be fostered by people of U'e town and of the country.—“ Southland Times.”

The pudding policy of the Government has been to encourage the immigration of farm-and domestic workers. If the figures published give a correct indication of the position, this policy has not been effective. The Year book shows that the number of farm, employees in the Dominion in 1925 was nearlv 1000 below the total of 1924, and about 3500 below "that of 1923. Hero Is a sufficient reason for tlie poliev hem 0 * subjected to a most careful scrutinyr It is admitted that the secondary industries offer the maximum of employment, in proportion to the capital invested, but the struggle winch some of the most important have to make against the flood of importations is seriously limiting their ability to absorb a sufficient number of workers to relieve the labour market.—Lyttelton “ Times.”

A realisation of the real value of the thrifty habits which are the steppingstones to independence of pocket and of spirit, cannot he inculcated too early, and cannot be realised if lefttoo late. It is unfortunate that in New

Zealand there is little recognition of this truism. So far from being taught to be thrifty, the average child is .-allowed to grow up without the remotest idea of the value of money, rather with the idea that all one needs to get, it is to ask for it. Rocket money is lmndcd out in a free-and-easy way that would have staggered bygooic generations, and the careless habit of 'mind thus allowed to develop is in direct opposition to the principles that stand the strain in times of crisis— Auckland “Star.”