PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

'There has never been any doubt of the ultimate ability ot New Zealand people to overcome the economic position. and it is quite realised that, we will have to face a tightening of Hie waist-belt. The outlook lias been considerably brightened since the new year by the improvement in tile wool market. Imt the hotter market gives cause for uneasiness.—“Dunncvirke Evening News.’’ There is no use blinking the fact that New Zealand has become highly unpopular in the English butter Hade No can there he any doubt that ilos is entirely due to the disastrous policy pursued by the hoard. The natural result is a buyeott on the one hand and a panic-stricken climb-down on the other.—Wanganui "C hronicle.

Those who argue that trade deprossinus man l>o minimised, il not altoget tier removed, does not tell us how either the Government or the commercial world could prevent excessive speculation, or how they could prevent a land boom from beginning, or ilnii’’ishiug. or bursting. ) et. it is a ita-,-onable suggestion t.lmt. as our national resources are better developed, and as prices gradually become more stable and better related to the '-ost of production, so trade depressions will he less frequent. less lar-reaching in their hanelul influence., and unite quickly ended.--“Otago Daily limes.

JL K notorious that, in the past, men have been attracted from employment in the country districts to “sole jobs on works provided in the towns lot the unemployed, ft is to be rcmembcied. further, that the work which the Government is prepared to prov ide toilin' unemployed is ‘‘relief work. It is not work that would ordinarily have been included in its programme tor the year, hut if, is work that, is being put in hand simply in order to relieve unemployment— for the benefit, that is to say. of men who would otherwise he out of work.—“Maipa Post.

The perennial suhjeit ol the destruction of shags was again before the Auckland Acclimatisation Soviet.' tb< other evening in consequence ol a letter front the Marine Department sug-

gesting fhat the society, at its own expense, might concentrate upon reducing the numbers ot (fiat particular bud before endeavouring to stock streams with ti.-Ii (slates the Aiuklaud "Star. ) “What about offering a bonus lor shags shot on the sea shore.-' asked one of the members. “It would ruin os.” replied a colleague, despite an offer at Ibis stage from two members 10 contribute £0 each Inwards the cost. In reminiscent mood, one member said that when a shaggery was wiped out on tin' hanks of the Rangilata River, the birds shifted up near Mount Cook, and built a new shaggery on n tremendous scale. I lie speaker added that if a shag was buried leathers and all for 21 hours, then exhumed and cooked, the (lesh was quite as palatable as shark.

The price-fixing policy in its results has been little short of tragic, and its abandonment at this juncture appeals to be a wise one. 'Die new order 01 things will he watched with interest by thousands of dairymen and business men all over the Dominion, and the hope expressed that although late in the season, some ol the losses, which must have been sustained he made up. —“North Auckland Times."

ieg industry. ivd only in this State, hut right through the coniines of this Continent, is wrapped up and indissoluble c mininod with two objectives. Thcv comnrise. firstly: the adequate

protection of tlm product ol the industry from the Importation ol butler from overseas; and, secondly, the establishment n fan Australian price. The need for the former is so evident that to primary producers “ it should

he as familiar in their mouths as household words.” -" Stratford Evening Post.”

None hut the strongest of men could maintain the pate which was set for our Koval visitors, and. while if is recognised that ail the people desire to see tin- representatives of tic Royal Horse, the authorities must at once consider whether that end cannot he .• Gained by the elimination of some of the set ceremonies, and making the tour le-s official' and formal. I lie ph.v-. sieal strain upon Their Roval Highnesses is too great, and while they ere to he honoured for a laudable desire to meet the wishes of the people, it behoves I lie people to 011 s tire that they nr reasonable in their desires. Much sympathy will he fell for the Duke in his oll'nrl to carry out the fixed programme, for it will he a trying nrdeal. " Waikato Times.” On occasion there are const itution-ii' disputes between Dominions to he determined h.v the Judicial Committee ol the Privy Connell. Sometimes very humble citizens bring their causes lor ultimate adjudication. It is all very wonderful, net as a mere spectacle of justite administered in a multiplicity of claims brought from the ends of the earth, hut chiefly at a unique assertion that British suhiects scattered far and wide own one tribunal' as their common, final arbiter. Even Rome, in the palmiest days of old empire, had nothing approaching it in its exercise of legal sway.— " New Zealand Herald.”

Tt is necessary that the Dominion should realise that the l scheme of Empire air services is no empty dream, lint a practical plan approaching realisation. Whether hy endeavouring to work with Australia in the project, or hy independent activity, New Zealand should seek to ho a rial partner in the business, so that the Dominion may take to the Imperial Conference proposed for 192.8 or 1929 some evidence of appreciating that air communication means something to her. —“ Ashburton Guardian.”

The Dairy Control Hoard admits antagonism to its proceedings in the London market. Hy its decision it lias further admitted that the antagonism is too strong for it to counter. On this it lays the blame for what has happened. That blame cannot he shifted from its own shoulders. It was warned, and plentifully warned, that such a fooling would develop, hut it wont its own way regardless of those certain consequences which have now arrived. It ai'so says that the division of opinion among the producers, and j the constant propaganda in Now Zea- J | land, have been a factor in bringing j I about present conditions. Again the , | heard was plentifully warned, it knew when it determined tiopn absolute cor.- J trot that it was imposing this upon a j section of producers who were entirely , averse to its decision. It knew that! they would not tamely accept a sys-| tern they both disliked and feared. It should have known that in a country j of free speech these producers would i protest as strongly as they could. Vet! it proceeded as if it had behind it the j unanimous support of the dairying in- 1 dnstry. and has consistently suggested that anv opposition to its policy has been factious, self-interested, and futile.—“ Now Zealand Herald.”

The task of catching up oil the virtual monopoly of him producing held by the Americans will be a tremendous one-—it has been calculated by one authority that nil over the Empire not two per cent of British pictures are shown: hut it has to be tackled, and a commencement, provided that it is on right lines, is half the battle. The legislation introduced at Home, with its reasonable quota system and its backing of a powerful All-British film organisation, seems to make lor a good beginning.—“ Marlborough Express.”

Till’ t imlter industry. liUr* .ill others, cannot avoid having its "shirkers,” lull these men should not he given any encouragement by those willing to jii«• a lair dav's work lor a lair day's pay. It would lie wise lor those dependent on the timber iudiisiiy to safeguard it I'roiii those whose laities have helped !•: bring about 1 he present it is certainly desirable that the him ilidilstl y, lib a ait' - nth . : - i <>ii; • I i uliili ss fieri. -ey i!, • ai'i o, shin ' ■ ■up ih i ”1. I r-’ ! ’ably i: there will he no dillicnlly in i::duein_ 1 iiel.l lo sh.lv. :11 illi Iv.'lM IT;_E pl'oj ori io: i i liril :sh ii la's as l Ice are lii.iu. ■ a>•.: lable. “ Wairarapa Age.” 'I l.abaur is .sin ere ill its iMpre-.-eo i phiiou that the ci.isting conditions in rag: rd to unemployment', and the hardship it lias brought in ils train are the (hie t null-only of tin’ ionsidi'Trd policy cl'the other Mile to retime permanently the workers’ wages i'cvol. then its

outlook is not. only cause for 1 egret, but lor pity; but if those who most

pi rsistciit ly attribute this evil intention of all those not of their own political colour, do so knowing it is not true, hut valuable as propaganda with which to win the support of those who look to them for guidnme. then their methods cannot hut alienate the sympathy of those who are ready to give ii .• ■• Marlborough Star.”

One cannot believe that injustice is done many holders of large estates, or that they will be driven to part with their land because the taxable value * xeeeds the selling vaii.c. Il wom'il be

interesting in rimu bar many owner? lave boon provoked to extreme mensrr<.s under the clause which compels the State to take ever laud valued at less than the taxable valuation. Such transactions would, we ft cl certain, not keep the Department busy tor many hours in twei've months.

There are few questions which have caused more concern throughout flic world than that of dealing with mental defectives in a humanitarian and sympathetic way. At the same time, while the medical and judicial authorities are engaged upon inquiries into some of the phases of this subject, it is of advantage to collect all the available information that will help to a fight comprehension of the dangers attendant on a policy of inactivity, and the benefits to he derived from welldirected efforts to at least alleviate the lot of the feeble-minded and make them of some service as workers. At

. I present tlie burden ot their niainten- , i mite is become very heavy. —" Tnrn- , 1 naki Dailv News." I . I It is a serious matter to advocate ( the abolition of the Arbitration Court .! with the object of cutting down wages I and leaving workers with no protection I whatever. History has sail stories to ' tei'l of what happens when there is no | protection for workers, and there must i he few in New Zealand who would j care to return to those days. Jmprovci meats in the Court and its operations J may be possible and may be needed, or an even better system might lie found, but the workers are entitled to fair treatment, and if there were no Court or other control there would j probably he cases of harshness and unfairness by some employers.- • Wanganui I lerald.” A small ray of hope is encouraged bv the fact that the seriously reduced price at which New Zealand butter is now being sold may lead to it reaching the consumers in its pure condition. If it does so its finality will go some length towards a wider demand being created. In that way good may come out of evil. The hope that such a result may accrue, we confess, hangs upon a slender thread, but still it exists. and may be entertained for what it is worth.—“Qamarn Mail.”