PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1927, Page 3

PRESS COMMENTS.

New Zealand would not he worth living ill. it would he a place ol t\i allay and corruption, of reckless waste and hopeless stagnation, if its newspapers could not expose the policy and administration of its public departments and local bodies to fair but fearless criticism. To prevent its ■'being such a place we have, as iL proves, taken risks, and it is not a small matter or one in which the rest of the community is not interested that in defending our conduct (which is based on the belief that we can provide healthy criticism withouts its being unfair) we have preserved this verv important right against further attack or curtailment.—Christchurch

One of the tendencies of modern education is to discover the natural apti Hides of young people and to encour-

age them to select vocations in aceordanee witli the respective inclinations and bents. But the effect of the law relating to apprentices in this uountry, and of the part played by the Arbitration Court in its interpretation, i,. surely to thwart to a considerable extent the natural impulses of boyami the wishes of their parents. The apprentice problem must ho admitted to he a difficult one, hut the apprehension of turning out ton many skilled workers will never assist in the solution of it. There seems to be room Im- the exercise of greater elasticity ami liltorality in the fixation of the apprentice quota. "Otago Daily Times. ”

It was suggested here not long ago that the hanks could do .something to restore sounder conditions, lint in the |,,ng run nothing can bring real prosperity to the country except, the efforts of the people themselves. There is no cause for pessimism; the Dominion has great resources. But all its resources will not avail unless the people give to thrift and energy a greater measure of practical respect than they have been inclined to give in recent years.— Chrislcfiurch “Press.”

Any proposal to set up a committee of social reformers, legal experts, art critics, and the like, who are hound tu have conflicting temperaments. should he uncompromisingly opposed, as should lie the framing of a set of regulations to define whaL is objectionable and what is not. Good taste is so largely a matter of personal instinct that no committee will over agree on

questions relating to it. and no la"draughtsman ever define it. -Christ church ‘‘Press.”

There is a long roll of fatalities due to the deadly level crossing which

are a menace t hroughniit the Dominion. There are many hundreds of these crossings. I hoy are admittedly dangerous, but tile Aliuistor of Railways could only excuse their retention by the .statement that it would cost millions ol pounds to do away "ith them. TTu-v ought to be done away* with, if only one at a time. People do not carry time-tables in their heads, and death at a level crossing is only too common an occurrence. As long as these death-traps exist no amount of cure will prevent* fatalities 'due to what is known as the human fuel or.— Auckland "Sun."

People must he "educated up” io healthiness and the value of hygienic, strength-giving habits. Then they will find unfitness repugnant alio* " ill take personal steps to reform their own methods of life. Already* the necessity of new methods is being inculcated in the schools, hut it "ill take many generations to make healthiness a cardinal doctrine and render disease anathema. Meanwhile, experiments such as that in Virginia demonstrate a vigorous psychological reaction which "ill have a distinct value on moie timid communities. For. as a philosopher once remarked : ”ll takes all the wisdom of the wise to i ounter-iu-t the- folly of the good.”—‘‘Ashburton Guardian.”

Obviously it is more profitable to ell terrain the tourist traffic witli it;

"money to burn," as it were. I ban to engage in primary production. Happily for New Zealand, many of the

most remarkable ol our scenic attractions are readily accessible to the motorist; and invariably the tourist is a confirmed motor .st. Olivnotisly the potentialities ol tin l tourist traffic as well as the road needs of Now Zealand ers themselves it regarded only from the pounds shillings and pence point ol' view, confirms the view advanced hv those i losely interested, that a handsome return can he reaped from any expenditure on hotter mads Now Zealand undertakes in making provision for liiith tourist and everyday users of rural highways; more particularly hi view of the fact that tourist traffic is coming in increasing numbers to the scenic attractions in all parts ol the Dominion. —“Taromiki Herald.