PRESS COMMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT.

If central control of education had resulted in greater efficiency and the attainment of a higher standard ol education sonic excuse, if not valid reason, might have been assigned for the Department’s centralising policy. But nothing lias been gained in either respect. All that it lias produced is a greatly enhanced cost ol administration, lor which the Laxpa.vers of tbe country have to provide the money. An army of officials is being maintained at 'Wellington to provide work for themselves in justification ot their salaries by constant interference in all manners of ways and on all manners of pretexts. It is, indeed, time that there was a searching inquiry into Hit* whole matter. The Education Board lias asked for slicli an investigation, but it is not in the least likely t> elicit a favourable response. The Department would not dare face sueli an exposure as would result from a complete examination of the facts and ii urcs by an independent body of inves-tigators.—-Onmam “ Mail.”

Nobody can suggest with reason that the existent laws governing gaming are incapable of improvement, vet any attempt to change them opens the flood gates and lets loose a veritable torrent of argument, deuneintion. and attempted amendment in all directions. Not only is progress on the actual measures negligible, the whole business of the country is held up for the time being. Hero is where the least desirable feature of it all appears. (4o keen is the interest taken in these few questions that others of deep national importance tend to I ecomo obscured at elections and after-

wards. There is no real Psuo from such a position, hut the ideal one* would he for Parliament to determine . that legislation on all such contentious ■ subjects, embodying the best, coninro- j mise possible, should he put through in ' a given session, and then that both House and country he allowed a respite during which a circumscribed set of soniiil issues would not he permitted to divert attention from wider national isues and the task of efficient public j administration.--“ New Zealand Her- 1 aid.”

The carrying of prohibition means so great a revolution in the sumptuary laws of the country and the habits of the people that it cannot bo exposed to decision according to any passing whim of the hour. To obtain the great reform on a hare majority and lose it (lie very next asking would leave prohibition in a discredited position involving loss of subsequent support. As we have previously pointed out, stability is an essential quality that is worth buying at the cast of some small sacrifice of demo-

cratic principle. For that reason, as well as to secure a straight-out vote on a two-iss'ino ballot paper, we think the alliance would be acting in the highest interests of a great social reform by agreeing to a compromise upon the majority question, always provided that the same majority was niado necessary to enable licenses to be restored.—Oamnru “Mail.”

Tt, is only natural to* suppose that the troubles which have afflicted agriculture have led fo some extra effort, but that cannot he expected to continue. AA’liat is required is that conditions he made favourable for those on the land. In every country they have suffered, which shows that there is some general cause, and that cause is the change in the value of currency. When prices fall farmers suffer more than others, and the last few years have seen falling prices. Tlie Government could not have prevented the suffering, hut they might have done something to mitigate it. Instead they have taken steps which have increased the trouble. AA T e are badly in want of some financial guidance, and for want of it are losing all the advantages of our unrivalled soil and climate.—'“AVaikato Times.”

The manufacturer who can establish his claim to equality with the foreign article has to do more than depend upon the quality of his wares “getting him there.” He has to convince the prospective purchaser that, given equal j value for the money, he or she should i purchase iiis product from a sense of j duty. The prospective buyers can he j made to see the force of the argu- j meat through various mediums. For some it. will he sufficient to remind them what our Empire is. how it has grown, and what are its prospects for , tho future, to impress others if will he necessary to show the more personal side of the picture, and impress upon them that* the primary products which come from New Zealand. and the j manufactured goods which come here from the Mother Country, are the,, result of the labour of one great family which is interdependent.—Hawera “Star.” The confident expression of the belief j of ardent prohibitionists that the Do-1 minion would not reverse.its decision ( if, upon a hare majority vote, it once j adopted prohibition, must he taken i simply for what it is worth. The three- j

fifths majority necessary to bring about a restoration of licenses in electorates that had carried no-license has not availed to prevent one district from regaining its former statns. And, especially in the circumstances in which only three years separate one poll from another, it is impossible to hold that a decision by a majority of only a few votes or even of a few hundred votes in favour of prohibition would necessarily. or even probably, possess the element of permanence. There is, therefore, a very sound reason why a decision in favour- of prohibition, or. In the event of prohibition ever being carried, a decision in favour of a restoration of licenses should be effective only on the votes of a substantial majority of the electors.—‘'Otago Daily Times.”

As things are (and these are not bad enough vet to be intolerable) the system of industrial arbitration is not ready for such an experiment. ft would bo infinitely better for the good cf empPoyers and workers alike to carry on with the existing machinery for the settlement of disputes and adjustment of wages until the Government. recognising its own defects in constructive statesmanship, has arranged a.,conference of experts for the purpose of devising a superior system. Meanwhile, the Deform Administration should forget the clamour of disgruntled farmers and withdraws its deformed measure.—-Auckland “Sun.”

Clearly the land cannot contribute more of that revenue than it is already doing, or it will be forced out of production by the inordinate rating placed upon it. Equally as clearly the motorists have the ability to provide the revenue, since in the past they have paid as high a price lor petrol as the current price plus the tax. If, however, many motorists cannot afford it, they will curtail their mileage, and th-e.ro will be a corn spoildiugly lower need lor maintenance on the roads. But when the benefits from the expenditure on maintenance become tangible motorists will 1.-o recompensed by lower running costs, and gradually the present ‘ swinging tax,” as Mr Coates calls it, should press less hardly. The curious part of the business is that- such strong denunciations against- oppression of a section of the uimmunily should he made when so large a munt>er of th(> proposed victims have ex pressed themselves as seeing relief than oppression come Irom the imposition of the tax. As Mr Coates says, the petrol tax. though heavy. is equitable, and motorists will pay it willingly provided jhey get results. It- is for the Gobcrntnent and its engineers to sco that they do got the results.—Dunedin “Star.”