PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

No doubt there will he unemployment again, but there is no justification in a country such as this lor the assumption that unemployment is an inevitable seasonal phenomoii, though such an attitude may help to inake it so. Tlie Labour Party has cultivated this idea most carefully, and to some extent tlie Government has accepted it. with the result that, in this city at any rate. a. section of the unemployed seem to regard themselves as a permanent and recognised social institution. Tf any of our readers think this a haid saying, let them, read the report, printed in this issue ol a deputation that waited i n the Mayor to discuss relief works.' The main purpose of that deputation, with its amazing series of resolutions, was to defend, not the right to work,” hut the right to remain unemployed.” Christchurch "Press.”

We have always advocated the encouragement ol trade within the Empire. but this is best done, not by n.tirow agreements between countries, but bv a broad appeal to the consumers of the whole Empire to give voluntary preference to goods produced within its borders. To discuss the trade relations of any two countries part from the rest is meaningless and useless, and mav easily result in friction.—-Christ, church “Prc.-s.”

The potentialities of the country as a field for the investment ol capital should be given full weight in any organised publicity scheme. This may interlock to some extent with the encouragement of tourist traffic ; for the traveller merely seeking a holiday may learn simultaneously that the country both needs capital for its development and promises good return from the investment. This is useful, but not enough. Alore aggressiveness should be shown in pressing the claims of New Zealand on the investor. Then this country deserves advertisement a possible home for the uian possessing moderate capital and desiring to establish himself amid pleasant surroundings. These are but two directions in which publicity might well be extended, but their citation serves to show the need for a more comprehensive and considered policy as the basis for inwen sod activity.—“ Now Zealand Herald.”

Tbe Maori need not sink bis individuality, but for his own sake he must enter even more completely into the life of New Zealand than he has yet done. The movement proceeds, even if slowly. Recently the Maori, by beginning to play a more active part in shaping its' own destinies, lias been saying farewell to the state of tutelage in which he lias necessarily been since his old tribal organisation lost its effectiveness ns a social system. That tbe young Alaoris should be shoeing such practical interest in prosent problems is a most hopeful sign. They deserve all the assistance and encouragement that ca nbe afforded them, for the future well-being of the Dominion as a whole will he vitally affected by the relationships that exist between the two races. —Ashburton “Guardian.”

The country would bo well advised, we think, in refusing to lie beguiled by the critics of the Arbitration Court. No system can lie fool-proof, and when employers and employees indulge, in stupid tactics—as they frequently do—how can the Arbitration Court lie blamed for not achieving a result satisfying to all parties? It js no use saying that the Arbitration Court has failed, because since its inception numerous strikes ami stoppages have occurred. How much more would these have increased if the Court had not existed? It is frequently claimed that New Zealand’s industrial conditions are the happiest in the world. Much of this the country owes to the present system of compulsory arbitration, and it should he suspicious of any economi“gold brick” offered in exchange, especially when the offer comes from a class never famous for being cheerful about paying good wages.—Greymouth “Evening Star.”

That New Zealand can produce all the wheat required to meet in full its requirements needs no demonstration, and that farmers will he found ready to grow wheat on an adequate* scale if afforded an assurance that tney will not lie exposed to unfair competition, and enabled to obtain a reason able return from their enterprise, may be assumed as certain. The results of such a stimulation of a vital industry will he to widen tho avenues of employment, reduce the Dorniniofl’s ex-

cossive imports, and do something, loards tlio initation of a self-reliant- policy, which is a prime essential if tile country is to enjoy solid prosperity and provide employment- for its workers. —Oamaru “Mail.”

in a manufacturing country the absorption of population by the towns jvould be natural, but when we depend for our exports of meat, wool and dairy produce for practically the whole of our revenue, the loss of over 8 per cent of the rural population to the towns in 29 years is bad business, because the need was for a material increase in the number of producers. Seine time ago we published the figures for Denmark, which showed that about 80 per cent of the population was rural. This is one reason why the Danes, with all their disadvantages, are commercially prosperous. The need for New Zealand is an attractive land policy, and the extensions, as far as possible, of town conditions to country districts.—“ Southland News.”

At the pfesent time official action has been taken t-o halt the flow of migration previously encouraged. Yet New Zealand supports a Tittle over a dozen people to the square mile, while England has substantially more than n thousand. The empty space.- of the one are not being made available for the' surplus of the other when all the dictates of policy, sentiment, and social resemblance demand that they should be. Why is this? The reason is similar to that explaining why New Zealand’s town community grows faster than the country. The process of rural development is not proceeding as it should. The movement- recently started to encourage settlement should find an incentive to zeal and effort in the census returns of 3926.-—“ New Zealand Herald.” -