THREE CENTURIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1926, Page 3

THREE CENTURIES.

“Why is it that the eighteenth century so particularly delights us? Are we perhaps simply reacting against a reaction? Is the twentieth century so fond of the eighteenth because tbe nineteenth disliked it so intenselyEvery age lias a grudge against its predeessor, and generally tbe grudge is well founded. The Romantics and the Victorians were probably right; they bad good reason to dislike the eighteenth century, which they found to he intolerably rigid, formal, and selfsatisfied. devoid, to an extraordinary degree, of sympathy, adventure, and imagination. All this was perfectly true. The nineteenth century, very properly, revolted, broke those chains, and then—proceeded to forget others of its own invention. Tt is these later chains that we find distressing. Those of the eighteenth century wo cannot consider' realistically at all; we were horn—owing to the eflorts of our grandfathers—free of them; wo ear. even imagine ourselves dancing in them—stately minutes. And for the purposes of an historical vision, the eighteenth century is exactly what is wanted. What would have been, in fact, its most infuriating quality—its amazing self-sufficiency—is precisely what makes it, in retrospect, so satisfying; there hands the picture before us, framed and glazed, distinct, simple, complete.”—Mr Lvtton Stracey. in the “Nation.”

The first question that needs attention from the Government is a larger measure of administrative economy, and this will not be effectually gained by tlio adoption of any policy of merely paring excrescences in expenditure, extensive savings can come only. Horn wider action, in which planning and reorganisation of the departments controlled by the Government are carried nut in the interests of economy and efficiency. Such a course will need more than an ordinary amount pf political courage. The easy plan is to postpone the evil day. but the concern of a few years ago for more rigid economy and more business-like ri - ministration is again becoming apparent. and the position calls for the careful and immediate attention of the House.— “Lyttelton Times.”

It is gratifying to note that the Nationalist leader has adopted an entirely corded attitude. “The people, 16 said, “ are the court to pronounce -onfidence or no-coufidenee in the Government, and the people having just

returned the Government with an overwhelming majority I can see no good purpose in challenging the people s decision at this stage. It is only a waste of time.” At the same time, Air Forbes reserved lull right to criticise the Government and to suppo-t the Leader of the Opposition whenever ho had a good case.—“Hawke's Bay Tribune.”