PRESS COMMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS

WHY SHOULD AYE RETURN:I "It is probable that it is 10,000 veal's since this artificial fife began, sonic- , where in tbe East. Before then men lived on what they could ‘grub’ from tbe earth and what they could catch ( as hunters. And tbe further back wo go in time the worse we find man equipped as 'grubber 1 and as •hunter’. The truth is that as soon as man's brain began to enlarge, and lie escaped from that state ill which tbe ape is still confined, be abandoned the ' life of nature,’ and began to live under ‘man-made ' or artificial conditions, ■ and these conditions have gone on becoming more and more artificial ever since. Alan is the most domesticated and most adaptable of all animals; wo see no signs which indicate that bis powers of response are being exhausted. There is no return to a state of Nature possible for Man unless be is prepared to dispense with all those parts of his brain which make him a rational' being. AA by should we seek to return, when I lie poorest pauper in England is belter fed. better clothed, better housed, than was the richest, man in England • filPO years ago:' Every step back means less of everything for everyone.” —Sir Arthur Keith in tho " Evening Standard.” TO INTERPRET FACTS. " in order to interpret facts it is necessary to go beyond them, if we wish to bo polite, we call this process making inferences ; it impolite, guessing, which ever it is. however, it is not gospel. Once we go beyond tho facto and attempt in give them a meaning we have to reckon with the element of personality, (liven the same facts, yon and I will take different views of what they mean, simply because we are ilifleront people. The facts upon which men’s creeds, for example, are based are the same lor all. yet there is no view about the Universe, however, fantastic, which lias not been field l\v some, and it is possible ro find excellent reasons ior holding any belief under the sun.”—-Mr ('. E. M. .Toad, in tho " Referee.” ,

A Q [TEST JON OF lIP FED I NO. ‘‘The race-horse is bred for speed: Ctttlo for beef or to give milk: Rill what about human beings? Artisans are bred to become expert at their trade : artists to paintli or etch: scientists to discover toe secrets of the world : tile sons oi the nobility to play the part of gentlemen in their own society. And alas! a multitude of men and women have no breeding at all. Or •slipshod mind they live from hand to mouth. Rut in addition to their narrower occupation, artisans, artists, scientists, noblemen, are all .supposed to fulfil duties as citizens. They are therefore to be bred as members of a community.*’—Sir Robert Fni'coner.

| THE COLONIAL COXEEBEXCE. The meeting of the Colonial Office Conference marks what should prove to he a new epoch in the process of the development and the civilisation of the Empire. It is the first occasion upon which the Coventors and officials of the Crown Colonies. Protectorates, and -Mandated Territories have assembled together to discuss .among themselves matters of common interest, and to deal directly with one another with regard to opportunities for mutual assistance. Hitherto, formal communication between the heads of the Colonies has been conducted through the Colonial , Office. Xor are the Colonies brought together at Imperial Conferences. The Colonial' Conference is another kind of Imperial Conference, at which, as a ! studp of the agenda shows, economic j and administrative subjects rather than | questions of policy are debated. The | Crown Colonies, Protectorates, and I -Mandated Territories present examples! of what government should be. It is . conducted hv riders who are personally! responsible for administration, and under them are the young men who are J often placed in sole charge of vast and; savage territories, occupying lonely I outposts far from a white settlement. There they administer justice, main-1 tain peace, and bring healing and sustenance to tlie people with whos welfare they are entrusted. The British Coi'onial Service is a tiling unique in the world.—“ The Morning Post” (London). j