PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1927, Page 3

PRESS COMMENTS.

Private enterprise will Imild houses if given a chance. It is building houses here in New Plymouth every day, and why not in other pi'aces? There is, as a matter of fact, too great a tendency to call upon the Government for this, that, and the other thing. The Government cannot meet all the demands upon it and at the same time restrict its borrowing. Apart from that, however. we are convinced that the housing problem, taking the Dominion as a whole, is no longer acute and does not call for Government assistance or interference.—Taranaki " Herald."

The wheat output h greater in hulk and value, the demand for it is more widespread than for dairy produce. Yet il the immensely stronger body of whoatgrowers in, say. the United States and Canada, recognise they must walk before they run. surely the dairy farmers of New Zealand can recognise Die wisdom of adopting a similar policy. Rightly viewed, there is a valuable lesson for New Zealand in this year’s developments over wheat.—•“ New Zealand Herald.'’

The matter of providing the New Zealand consumer with tropical fruits at a reasonable price and at reasonable remuneration to the grower is not going to he settled merely by putting on a new shipping service. The whole business needs to he overhauled and re-organised both at the growing cm) and at the distributing end. as well as in regard to transport, and the consumer's interest equally with that ot the grower, the carrier and the distributor, should lie represented in any effort to perforin that task.—Wanganui " Chronicle.”

The Prime .Minister says the times cni'l for " brave hearts and a fixed determination.” The main slogan should lie •'increased production.” This is quite sound so far as it goes, hut Air Coates should realise that the public, mindful of what happened after the cry of “ more business in Government and less Government in business,” is critical of slogans. lie is justified in protesting that llio Government is not responsible for all the ills of the day, hut he may be properly told in return that the country expects from its Government a definite policy and definite leadership. and so far ii: has signally failed to receive cither.—Auckland "Star." Kcnomies are desirable and necessary, but with them should he associated. its Air Coitles insists, an increased effort, with the view of bringing about. ;t larger production of the goods which the country need.-. Individual enterprise and energy are less commonly exhibited in New Zealand than in the days of the pioneer settlers. The prosperity which the Dominion hits enjoyed has tended, perhaps, to weaken the fibre of the community. Industry, self-reliance, and thrift were three of the great virtues that wore prominently exercised in the buildingup of this nation. A spell of temporary adversity may not lie without its compensations if it brings with II the realisation of the fact that it is upon the efforts of tho people Ihemsci'ves that the capacity of the country for overcoming conditions ol oin—-barras.-nient la.rgcly depends. " Otago Daily Times.”

If Parliament i- careless of its responsibilities, the Government can obtain the power to tax consumers ol bread and flour so that the wheat-far-mers will receive their subsidy. How does it propose to tax the people, ili- ( lading the w heat-fanner.-,, to ensure "reasonable returns'' at constant level:-. to dairy-farmers, sheep-fanners, lice-keepers, llaxmillers. and the rest of the host ol primary producers who are dependent upon markets D ec'l ton! -itch artificial devicesF It cannot tspeot them to he content to pay higher prims for Hour and bread when they realise how simple it i.- for the Government to make them independent ol the vagaries of markets. 'the newscheme is, so far as there is any evidence. unnecessary; more than that, it is unsound and iinpracticahi'c. "New Zealand Herald.”

In the past, tile Education Department has been conspicuous in many directions for its penny-wise anil pound-foolish ideas of economy, anil this latest suggestion reveals no evidence of repentance. When such proposals. fraught with dangerous possibilities. emanate from the Education Department in the name of economy it provokes the retort that it would he much more economical to economise much nearer home. All the opinions expressed by the Department of only those “coining forward who wish Ln make teaching their life work, ’ of “ throwing the trainee more on his own resources,” and ol his having “the satisfaction of knowing that he had won his training mainly by his individual efforts and merit,” are pious wishes doomed to disappointment. AVe hope the Minister will closely scrutinise the proposals of his Department, for it is his imperative duty to see that economic handicaps are not pi’aeed on young people ol ability and enthusiasm who desire to engage in the important profession ol teaching. Lyttelton “ Times.”