PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

With a population of less than a million and a half to supply New Zealand manufacturers, whether of hoots or of clothiny, cannot expect to compete, except in the most commonly used lines, with those who have scores of millions to supply, and it is economically, wrong to use the' Customs to prevent the people taking advantage of the superior methods and facilities of manufacture possessed by other countries. New Zealand has peculiar advantages for the production of wool, mutton, lamb, butter and cheese, and we should keenly resent it if the British Government placed high duties on those commodities. Yet w<T place a high duty on many British manufactures —l>oots and clothing for example and local manufacturer want these duties increased still higher.—“ I aranaki Herald.”

The loss to the country through lands lying waste and covered with weeds is enormous, hut we cannot see that much good will result fnm tinkering with the problem and threatening farmers with fines for failing to succeed where scientists have so far not arrived at a complete solution. Fader the present law a farmer can he ordered to attack noxious weeds or he fined for failing to carry out an inspector’s orders, and the majority of farmers obey the Act. Let us hope that scientists will soon provide the cure for the evil, which has for years defied goad intentions and hard work, and which is not to lie overcome by Mv Hawken’s Bill.—“Wanganui Herald.”

There are not many industries which could not be established in New Zealand through tariff protection. That is to say, one can keep most foreign goods out by making the tariff high enough. Indeed, one could ensure the establishment of almost any industry hv prohibiting foreign competition altogether. His protection is merely modified prohibition, and must produce some of the effects of prohibition. In a groat country like America, which can easily produce anything, this would not greatly matter. But the distinguishing feature of New Zealand’s economic life is the production of a "large exportable margin of meat and- wool ami butter and cheese. The most productive labor in the Dominion is labour on the land, and any fiscal policy which tends to operate against the primary industries cannot hut ho harmful.—“ Christchurch Press.”

Some few months hack, complaint was made that the public did not respond sufficiently to the slogan, “Buy New Zealand-made goods,” and it was then pointed out that, generally speaki'jg, the public was usually shrewd enough to buy where it got the best value, irrespective of the country of origin. Tariff protection is well enough within certain limits, but the best protection any industry can have is the excellence of its products combined with reasonableness of price.—“Wanganui Chronicle.”

The Education Boards have, as a rule, accepted tamely the demands of the Department, instead of resisting where they felt that an important principle was involved. The British Education Boards secured their omi dignity and independence only bv resolutely resisting the aggressive policy of the Central Government, and our Boards might well take this less-n i heart. The. decision of tbe Canterhnrv Board to examine the regulations and to inquire into the recent Departmental encroachments upon its privileges and powers seem to us dearly a step in the right direction.—“ Auckland Star.”