PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1926, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

It appears that at present the experience of some of those with whom moneys are placed for investment is that they are having some difficulty in finding an outlet for it, and in some eases such funds are accumulating. There is no doubting the veracity of this evidence, but in tho main it must he regarded as the exception which proves the rule. There may perhaps he some distinction made between town and country properties on the part of would-be mortgagees, and it is to he assumed that the reference at a recent meeting was principally to agricultural and pastoral land as securities. 111 the main there appears to he ample corroboration of Sir George Fenwicks’ statement that “ the demand for money for mortgage purposes lias exceeded the supply right through the year, and there arc no evidences of a change in this respect notwithstanding the large amount of State and Public Trust moneys that are available.”—Dunedin “ Star.” Numerically the Cabinet is stronger than it has ever been, it now includes thirteen members, including the Lender of the Legislative Council. The growth of departmental business justifies the extention, but the distribution of tho portfolios is such that no member is now unduly loaded, and with the close personal attention that Ministers are now able to give, it is to he hoped that the country will at last see something of that economy of administration upon which such emphasis was laid by the head of the Government last year, lmt which has not so far materialised. In spite of its numbers, however, Mr Coates’s team has no great debating strength. Its power in this respect is diminished by tlic absence of- Sir James Parr, no such ready debater being among the new selections. Few nf the Ministers are particularly adroit at the thrust and parry, which is one of tho main features of Parliamentary sittings.—■ Auckland “ Star.”

Air E. Douglas Taylor, the recently appointed and first Director of Music in the schools of New Zealand, has recently given the public, and the teachers a chance to weigh his ability against the magnitude of the task ho lias undertaken. Air Taylor will not be assisted by an overflow of compliments, or by the expression of immoderate hopes; but it is no more than his due to say that, though all who are interested in the matter recognise the immense difficulties which past apathy, neglect, and ignorance have accumulated in his way, few who hoard him speak on either occasion can have done so with a feeling of quiet satisfaction. The Department is quite certain to expect Air Taylor, to make bricks with an Egyptian allowance of straw; and before the teachers can teach they will many of them have to be taught. Still, “ the readiness is all.”—Christchurch “ Press.”

There are good reasons why rates of pay lower than the' award rates should he given on relief works. In the first place, the object of the relief works being, not the carrying out of undertakings which are necessary and urgent, but the helping of men in distress. it is plain that such funds as are available will help more men if the rate of apy is something less than the rate that is given by employers who actually require the performance of certain work. In the second place, if it were agreed that the man out of work for whom employment is made should receive the same wages aS the man doing work in ordinary conditions, no man would have any incentive to apply himself to that faithful and energetic discharge of his duty of working well which is his best, protection and his most useful service to society.—Christchurch “ Press.” In recent years there has been a tendency to leniency in the form of placing people guilt j’ of theft on probation, and we think that the Chief Justice has expressed the views of tile majority of people by refusing probation and sentencing the prisoners to reformative treatment. In a ease where a man is holding a position of trust and is paid a good salary, one can have no sympathy with theft of money placed in his rare. Reports of eases show that heavy drinking and gambling get the majority ol these nice, into trouble. They probably think that they can borrow money from the funds they are handling and pay it hack later. Unj fortunately, they continue drinking and gambling, and soon find themselves out of their depth. They are men of intelligence, otherwise tlicy woutd not he given the positions of trust. They must realise that they are doing wrong when they misappropriate money, and when they are caught they must expect to be punished.—Wanganui “ Herald.” Though tilings are. by no means in the flourishing conditions we would like, the man on the land is beginning to rise above the trouble which followed in the wake of the speculators, whose criminal greed caused land values to soar skv-high compassing the ruin of many a new land-holder whose life-ivork was shattered when he was compelled to “ walk off ’’ owing to pro hibitive prices for their land. There are many still hale and hearty who remember the days when 4d per pound was paid for butter-fat, and wool went for a song compared with present-day prices, and these old-timers have seen the revolving wheel of time going forward and not hack. The agricultural and pastoral industries have been revolutionised and the cost of living has j reached a high level, and though tho | standard of living may recede, it will 1 always remain high enough to provide a constant demand for farm products. > —“ Pahiatun Herald.”

The Reform Party did not actually secure a majority of the votes cast, but will anybody seriously question the assertion that the country did desire a continuance of the Reform Administration ? An enormous majority definitely declared against the National Party and against the Labour Party, and a still greater majority disliked Government or a National-Labourite combination. Air Coates has a very large majority, but he is as unlikely as my sane Prime Alinister anywhere would l>o to use liis power without regard to the minority. For one must asstimo that ho is not without the desire to obtain the nation’s approval when, as he must in due course, he goes before the electors once more.— “Christchurch Press.”

Sir Joseph AVard has apparently j emerged from his political retirement , with the object particularly in view of , resusciating the Liberal Party and pro- j serving it is a distinct political group. ! He has disclaimed any intention to in- j dicate that ho expects, to be its leader, but that is not a matter of any very great concern at the moment; AA batdoes concern us is that bis efforts are going to be ill the direction of | maintaining here the three-party svs- j tent which has worked so badly against ! stable and responsible government, and led to the vicious result of practical domination of a country s affairs by representatives chosen by a small l’iinority of the electors.—“Hawke's Pay Tribute.” " ;