PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

It seems almost too good to be true that Christchurch by the end of 1927 will be bare of telephone poles consequent oil the change over to the underground mains with the automatic system. Certainly this would be a consummation devoutly to be wished. Telegraph, telephone, and electric light poles do more to disfigure Christchurch than all the other unbeautifying agencies put together. They are greatly beloved of what Mr. St. John Ervine has just described as “ the energetic tasteless man.” who is forever planning some new utilitarian eyesore—it may be a telephone box, a band rotunda, a public lavatory, or a line of poles in a beautiful street.—Christchurch “Sun.”

There must be a tapering off of borrowing, production must be increased on farm and in iactorv and shop, otherwise wages must come down. The “goslow ” policy must lie abandoned, anti every man must give of his best, and up to full capacity. There will lie no need for reduction in wages if production is increased. Without an output of plenty, plenty cannot be enjoyed. The total production apparently changed lust year, and as the award wages are above the economic rate fewer people could remain in employment to get it.—Wanganui “ Herald.”

The country has been over-importing and the prices of exports has affected the local flow of wealth. Imports have already begun to shrink. ’and we may expect a further shrinkage as the banks curtail advances. Fortunately there is an upward tendency in export prices, and altogether the outlook may not be so serious ns it appears from these returns. The figures, however, are a warning against extravagance in every form and a call to economy and prudence.—Auckland “ Star.”

It is worth considering whether those who can speak for the farming community .should not ask the Government to fix an export bounty on all primary products. This would not help the farmers in respect of their wheat—which could !>e dealt with separately by means of a bonus on production, such ns Air George Gould originally suggested—but most wheat-growers produce lamb and mutton and wool and bntter-fat. Such a bounty would provide for {he primary

producers a protection similar in effect to tlie high tariff that protects our secondary industries.—Christchurch “ Press.”

The average citir.en feeling aggrieved over a personal experience of the manners of young men in a Government office might well hesitate to involve himself in the interminable and unsatisfactory business of a formal complaint. Hut when tbe rebuke to those against whom it is directed comes from such a source as tbe Public Service dournal itself, tbe circumstances may be accepted as an encouraging sign. “ .Manners makytli man ” may yet become tbe motto of the Public Service of tbe Dominion.—“ Otago Daily Times.”

There is no doubt that the best form of advertising is satisfaction, and tile more people who come here and return I lome giving glowing accounts, as they do. of the advantages and beauty of the Dominion, the better it will be for the Dominion in the long run. The other essential is a thorough exploitation of the tourist traffic. The suggestion of the Xew Zealand Tourist League for tbe appointment of a trained staff to look after publicity matters is one worthy of more than serious coni' i deration.—Christchurch ‘ ‘Star.”

Obviously Australia, or any other Dominion, is not likely to allow itself

to 1.0 made the dumping ground for the 'least employable of Britain's citia ns. even if the latter were willing to become the subjects of such an experiment, whiiT. is exceedingly improbable. To leave ex-slum inhabitants m a new country “ to their own resources” would simply result in tiiieir drifting into the towns to create similar problems to those they left behind. While there are no short cuts of this nature possible in evolving a successful emigration policy in Great Britain, there is no doubt that, wisely directed, a bold policy is feasible, and that it would be of inestimable benefit to the Dominions as well as to the Motherland.”—“Taranaki Daily Mews.” The wider aspect of making tllic• country independent of outside supplies for the provision of essential foodstuffs is overlooked. It may be a difficult task which the Government has set tbe farmers in this matter, hut a year ago the commercial interests were aware of the danger of dumping tactics, and passed the recommendation recorded above. An effort should be made to secure their co-operation again. If it did nothing else, it might convince the GovcrnI ment that tbe weight of opinion *beI bind the demand for action was such | that, continued inaction 1 would be i politically inexpedient. Lyttelton \ “ Times.”