PRESS COMMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1926, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT.

For tlic sake of wliat she owes to the Empire and because she appreciates the meaning of the Empire to civilisation New Zealand is clear and emphatic in her Imperial loyalty. New Zealanders as a whole will lie glad that their sense of duty to the Empire in to he expounded in London by Mr Coates, a sturdy loyalist, who will not he afraid ‘t o S peak his mind. In his hands the interests of New Zealand and the Empire will he safe. —Wanganui “Chronicle.” Hard toil and thrift are virtues that have been without appeal to the lug section of the community in recent years, hut signs are not wanting, that they will ho hotter appreciated in tho near future. The times demand more of shortening than of lengthening sail in the matter of borrowing, and the Dominion would he foolish to follow Sir Joseph "Ward’s advice and raise money in the economically unsound way suggested. —“Taranaki Daily News.” The financial position of the country necessitates increased production, and it is devoutly to .he hoped that tho important step now to he taken will supply the producers with an incentive to greater effort. Whatever misgivings there may be regarding the change the outcome is of such importance that only success can he contemplated.— “Lyttelton Times.”

Tf national endowments for specific objects are required, it would bo much more businesslike on the part of tlu> Government to acquire urban properties that may always be expected to mow in value than to set aside rural lands, the appreciation of which is normally much slower and much smaller than is the case with sites in progressive cities. This was the course that was suggested by Mr Massey, who was Leader of the Opposition at the time when the national endowments for education and other objects were being established. As, however, it would bo absurd to pretend that the existing endowments really serve any specific purpose, it can bo only upon a false sentiment that any opposition to the transference of them to individuals under the freehold tenure is based.—“Otago Daily Times.’’

What are the minimum requirements for the comfort of any individual or family, and who is to measure and meet the great variation in those requirements? The Family Allowances Bill contains technical provisions for investigating the needs and claims of prolific applicants for the prospective die, and substantial penalties are to be imposed oil deceivers..,Heaven alone knows whether the Government expects the measure to be an encouragement to parents to save State expenditure on assisted immigrants or merely a modest reward for those who elect to assume heavy parental responsibilities. —Christchurch “Sun.”

There is a, case for a general revision of the Customs tariff. It is a great task to be undertaken only after full inquiry and careful deliberation. Such could not now be given it. Indeed there is room for doubt whether even the small changes in motor-car duly, especially the body tax, have not been hastily made. Judged from this angle the tariff alterations just introduced are quite extensive enough to have been undertaken as they were.- -“.New /calami Herald.”

We think the people of the country have a genuine grievance against the Parliamentary machine because of the disinclination of members to render the lull service for which they were returned, ami for which they religiously tolled their honorarium. Wo hear many wails regarding the ordinary workman seeking to curtail his hours of labour, but what of the average Parliamentarian, who contrives to secure a holiday extending over eight or nine months in the year? Kxample would lie better than precept. —Timarii “Post.”

In view of our strong credit position and cur improved production and consuming i opacity, this decline, when it comes, ought to proceed in an orderly fashion. Whether or not this will occur will depend upon the psychology of the business community. If the psychology of the business community is sufficiently iulluenecd by the underlying economical situation, the period of the recession should not he long, for inherent in our new economic and financial organisation are the elements of strength that will sooner or Inter lead us once more to a new level of national productivity.—“ Poverty Bay Herald.”