PRESS COMMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1927, Page 3

PRESS COMMENT.

Moreover Parliament ought not to delegate to the Government, as it is constantly doing, the power to make an Act operative or null at will. The Government itself, ol course, desires to do the best for everybody, but it is largely dependent upon its departmental advisers, and the general result of the gross abuse of the delegation of Parliamentary authority is, as we have often pointed out, to make the officials as powerful as Parliament itself.—Christchurch “ Press.”

It is necessary to say again—it can never he said too often or too plainly—that if its natural, and proper, and wise, desire to help the manufacturing industries were going to divert the Government from otlr primary industries, or in any degree at all lessen its interest in them, it would he better that every nlanulacturer iu the country should lie leifc to sink or swim. Enduring prosperity can come to us only from the soil, and if we arc now, as the Government thinks, and signs indicate, going to enjoy a little more of it than we have had for some years, it is the land, and all the men and women engaged on it, who must continue to he the State’s first concern.— Christchurch “ Press.”

Though there may l/e many who would prefer to see a vigorous policy of la nil settlement inaugurated, it must lie remembered that Mr McLeod lias adopted his present policy aftei poisonal investigation of conditions throughout the Dominion and upon the advice of his expert officers. He is out itled, therefore, to legislation essential for carrying out that policy, and if it proves able to assist overburdened settlers to overcome their difficulties to increase production, and to enable farms now abandoned to be profitably occupied, it may be of greater value to New Zealand in the long run than a move spectacular attempt at rapid stimulation of land settlement.—“Taranaki News.”

The banks have their legitimate field outside of the rural credits scheme, and there may be a fear that in a scheme of co-operative finance involving Departments of State, stock and station firms, and the speculative public, ten many cooks may spoil the broth. It is probably in the best interests of the country that ordinary banking should be kept distinct from State activity, in order to allow scope for conflicting opinions on security. The rural credits scheme comes into operation at a moment when pr -spectu are brightening, and farmers generally are in a bettor position to claim, an extension of their credit. If the scheme commands the confidence of the investing public it should prove an 'aid to production.—Dannevirke “News.”

Wo have always argued that the freehold is really the best principle only when men can afford it, and the truth of this the present muddle demonstrates. The fact that commended the freehold most to those who advocated it., in season and out, was that it acorded security of tenure. The fallacy of this the exodus from the farms during the last few years clearly manifests. The scheme of the future must lie based on small holdings—lenselmV for the man who is feeling his way, and freehold for those who can pay down a reasonable amount of the ready money. Only in this policy does safe!' lie, and, after all. it is merely a policy of ordinary commonsense. — “Southland News.”

Mr Amery, who is a strong protectionist. may consider our recent amendment of the tariff a step in the right direction. On the other band, lie may fie capafile of understanding what be sees, and may realise that, from the point of view of population. 1 anything in the nature of protection I is disastrous. .settlement on a bie scale is what the country wants to lift it out of the slough into which we have drifted. Motor transport has made such settlement possible in many districts where formerly it was difficult. Reduced taxation, reduced interest, reduced prices, would quickly attract settlement and population, and industries would then have a chance to succeed. Such a policy would offend soni“ vested interests, hut it is the course which we must pursue to again achieve prosperity "\Yaikato Times.”