PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 1

PRESS COMMENTS.

The increasing use of oil and the obvious limitations of the present sources of supply have led many scientists to conclude that ilie coal age, far Irom drawing to a close, is about to enter into its most important stage. M bethel - these hopes are extravagant or not it is impossible to sav. hut there is enough in the recent developments that have taken place to warrant a country like New Zealand, with extensive coal deposits, keeping in touch with research work oil the subject, and examining her own coals to ascertain their suitability for distillation. It is indeed pleasing to note that this matter was one of tho first to attract the attention of the newly-constituted Board of Scientific and Industrial Research, and that, under the direction of Professor Denham, work on these lines is now being carried out- at Canterbury College. The need for it may not he immediate, hut the data collected will be of immense value when, as seems at least a possibility, the world is compelled to avail itself of the real potentialities of its r-oal deposits.—Christchurch “ Press.” It is time that there was some rebuttal of the glib doctrine that- it is one of the Government’s functions to find employment for those who need it, whatever may be the cause of the unemployment. New Zealand is comparatively a very young country, and it is somewhat humiliating to reflect within how short a span of years the old self-reliant, pioneering spirit has been replaced by the habit of seekitag Government assistance in every direction, against which the Prime Alinister resolutely protests.—Dunedin “ Star.” The rural problem in the long run is to increase production, to increase it> with the aid of science and mechanical methods directed by science; the problem this year and the next, and for as many years as it will take for the ablest farmers to escape from their

troubles and for the. weakest to be eliminated, is to reduce the cost ot production, which means reducing the occasions on which Peter must be robbed to pay Paul. II politicians choose to call this attacking wages they may do so, but they had better indicate whose wages. The men the Government must somehow help—if only by protecting them against further injury— are the thousands of nominal landowners who iiave no wages and no hour limits and enormous responsibilities.—Christchurch " Press.”

The law regarding suppression of publication of names in the Court cases may be regarded as a sort of eleventh commandment— 1 ‘Tho.u shalt not be found out”—or. if found out the Government of New Zealand permits the Courts to order that the information shall be kept form the knowledge of the general public, that is of course., if that information is likely to injure a man in a certain professon or a woman who happens to have a daughter in a good position. Such an uncertain an unequal law, variously applied by different administrators, should he taken off the Statute Book.—“Wanganui Herald.”

It is fairly clear that the New Zea-land-made Preference League, if its organising superintendent correctly interprets its policy is merely another league established to force high protection upon the Dominion. Free traders have no objection to local industries, provided they are built up on a sound economical basis. They are just as ready as high protectionists to buy New Zealand made goods, provided the latter are as good and are willing even to give some assistance and preference to the local article. hut they view with misgiving the propaganda campaign that is being carried on now by various organisations to secure higher protection for local industries,—“Taranaki Herald.”