PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1927, Page 1

PRESS COMMENT

Instead of rumbling with the foolish thought that coiuroi limy bo re-estab-lished the spokesmen of the fanners should address themselves to the tariff problem. They should set themselves to prepare and present the case lor a lin in' which will not penalise the tanner above all other men. If the farmer were of no aecoiint. a parasite, engaged in an unwanted anil exotic industry, one might Im able to tinc! some excuse for the Dominion's fiscal policy. lint that joiiev is extremely foolish in a country which depends lor its existence as a civilised State upon the wellbeing of the agriculturist and pasloralist.—Christchurch " Tress.” One agricultural institution with two bra.lubes could provide for the especial requirements of the Dominion in the future, afford the students wider scope, permit research work in all branches, and do much to ensure the close cooperation of scientific method and progressive farming.— ” Lyttelton limes.

The railways in this country are facing a difficulty which, according to the chief engineer, is affecting railway .systems all over the world. I lilorlunately no one seems to have evolved a satisfactory solution of the problem, and where the railway authorities themselves establish motor services to take the place of suburban trains they have to face the task of paying interest on two sets of capital charges. Those who are responsible for the management of the railways are in an unenviable position.—Wanganui “ Chronicle.”

The. newer for harm which a handful of malcontents, living on the fostering of industrial disputes, can effect .on a whole Empire has been illustrated so vividly that it should be the study of all citizens of Empire to set bounds to such power. Industrial peace will not lie established until it is generally recognised that the standard of living is not something that can be maintained by human volition or by Act of Parliament. hut only hv maintaining the wealth production of the whole community.—Tinned in “Evening Star.”

Imprisonment is no longer wholly punitive, but ... it should he disciplinary. and, in the cases of desperate criminals, and especially of sexual offenders. it should be designed to protect tbe public. And since the Prisons Hoard lias raised the point ot the ex]tense to the State that is saved by the discharge of prisoners, it is permissable to point out that the release of even 52 per cent, of the habitual criminals who are known to prey on The community on release disposes of the argument that leniency in this direction can be defended on purely economic grounds.—-Christchurch " Star.”

What dot's it signify whether a farmer be producing meat or butter-fat, honey or fruit ? The ultimate object is the same, namely, to market the produce of the land as efficiently as is possible. That can best be done by having one board of experts to control the lot, with a subsidiary committee from each section if necessary. In this way did Great Britain set up its great Imperial Economic Committee whose duty it- was to inquire into and report on the marketing of Empire Produce of which New Zealand’s quota is virtually negligible. The present sys-i tem of separate boards for each export product is too costly, and. for want of more unaimity of action, falls a long way short of the ideal.— 11 Southland Daily News.” No higher tribute could be paid to the achievements of the representa-

tive.-, of the Empire than the assertion of General Hertzog, that the Conference had secured the good-will and co-operation of the peoples of the Empire as never before. There is in the General’s speech at Cape Town nnifcfb material for reflection, not only as tjssl Empire affairs, but also concerning the relations between the various sections loniposing each community, especially to the removal of misconceptions and composing divergent views. Whore there is a will to arrive at a satisfactory result, it is only necessary to create the right atmosphere and to evoke the spirit of mutual good-will in order to achieve success.—" T nrauaki Daily News.”

If the secondary industries stand to gain by Customs duties through the minimising of outside competition, they also stand to lose through the unhealthy state of the primary industries on whose well-being their oun laigelt depends. Thus for the secondary industries the tariff question is largely a matter of balancing advantage against disadvantage: for the primary industries it is no question of balance at all. One thing appears to stand, out and this is that in the attempt to solve the economic puszle the interaction as between the Customs tariff andthe Arbitration Court- will have to be considered. Our compulsory arbitration system was introduced primarily to settle hours and wages, but the Court has developed into a regulative assembly for the adjustment of all industrial conditions in New Zealand.”—Wanganui “ Herald.”