PRESS COMMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1927, Page 3

PRESS COMMENT.

It lias been written in the book ol destinies that we shall depend lor national revenue on the products ol the soil, and it must appeal to the whole world as a disastrous state of affairs that in a farming country at least half the farmers are more or less affected by excessive land values, and that this condition automatically brought the suspension of settlement, ihe candidates we require are those with a reasonable sense of proportion. While there are markets awaiting our produce we must export, and we cannot develop our export trade if farms are to remain idle and large tracts of land to remain undeveloped. “ Less Government in business ” might well be a prominent plank in the platform of any new party, but this interference is only a symptom of an ailment from which the country is suffering, anil if we strike at the root of the evil—the unsatisfactory land system—the habit of interference will disappear under the wholesome influence of increasing prosperity. “ Southland News.”

The ease for producing more economy and efficiency in local government by district councils remains to ho proved. But it is not hard to see that some degree of combination of all tlie various hoards, running into hundreds, which we now have, might easily render considerable saving possible. Any change that takes place is not to he set about j„ a hurry. The good work done m the past by numerous local bodies towards the development of the Dominion merits the highest praise. But there are considerable indications that a, further step in the administrative evolution of the country is now due. and the discussion initiated by • 1 Robert Stout should have real value in eliciting views on it.— Dunedin Star.”

Perhaps because so many people seem to lie unable to save without the assistance of some form of compulsion, the contributory fund method—flhe superannuation method-appears to be the more popular in this coun-

try. It does not appeal to all people, and it may easily tend to undermine independence; hut. especially where it is linked with life insurance, it is a guarantee of security to every worker who cares to take advantage ot it. and to give his best service. Also, the employer who may with an easy conscience! retire his workers hetoie their faculties begin to fall can reasonably expect a higher level of efficiency in his business Hp>« in that of a comnetitor burdened with a high percentage of old employees kept on for charity’s sake.—“ Christchurch Sun.”

Tt is to the advantage of local bodies to secure a uniform system of motor traffic control. The rules of the road should he the same everywhere throughout the country so that the pedestrian, as well as the motorist, would know, or at least would have no reasonable excuse for not knowing, the regulations concerning soeed limits, safety precautions and the penalties for breaches of the h\w. It is prohably true, that the cause of motoring accidents is clue more to had or careless driving and inadequate brakes than to motorists’ love of excessive sneed. Tlie proposed regulations are deficient in this respect; they ought to go farther in enforcing a. higher standard of motor driving. In ton many instances a driver’s license is too easily acquired.—“ Auckland Sun.