PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1928, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

It is certain that if the Arbitration Court is retained the unions will never consent to exempt the farming industries, and, if the steps proposed in the Bill before Parliament are insisted on it will be in the face of the strongest opposition from Air. Holland and his colleagues. It is impossible, we think, to arrive at some useful settlement by strengthing the funcions of the Conciliation Boards and abolishing coinbreeds discontent and defiance. If the farmers are excluded .in all consistency preference to unionists must he repealed, and this means the end of arbitration in the adjustment of dispues. If there were no Court to settle the differences of the parties they would be settled by agreement under the persuasion of Conciliation Commissioners and the understanding would he much more lasting one:—“Otago Daily Times.”

oo long as the system ot a nominated membership remains, the cxistanco of the Legislative Council wll continue to be attacked. The Reform Party has itself exposed the evils of the present system, and the means lie to its hands ment needs only fo issue a proclamation in order to bring into force the Act which provides for the reform of tho Chamber that would be affected by making it a ncleetivo body. The operation of that Act lias been far too long suspended. In the adoption of lie reform, for which statutory provision was made thirteen years ago, rests the true defence of tho Council against any attacks u|x>n it.—“Lyttelton Times.”

The legislation of the session lias been framed to meet changing conditions, when the people are adjusting themselves to the effects of deflation. The continued-demands for social services and development have prevented reduction in taxation, and no party in Parliament has been hold eongh to show where expedfture can be reduced. Tho solid work of the session-was unfortunately obliterated by the failure of Parliament to deal with the licensing question, and the shoving of the exemption of the farming community from the awards of the Arbitration Court. Both these questions are rather a blot on the session, because Parliament has confessed itself impotent to deal with them owing to the division of opinion in the country. Politics, however, are rather threadbare at the moment. People are not so much concerned by the fact, that the session has closed a shy the knowledge that ho wool sales are on and Christmas is coming.—Dannevirkc “News.”

PLEASURE IX WORK. Tlie exhibition of Industrial Designs arranged bv the Royal Society of Arts, at the Imperial Institute, furnishes many pleasing examples of the art ol advertisement, which were submitted in competition for the prizes offered bj various industrial linns and companies. Here are designs for advertisements in Hu, Press, for posters, show-cards, coverings for packages, and the titlepages of books, ft would appear that the unnatural and artificial quarrel between the uses of trade and commerce and the art of the designer is now being composed, with excellent insults. The misunderstanding of the true relation of industry to art is expressed in the familiar words. Applied Art. which convey a fallacy, for Art cannot be applied like an ointment or a coat of paint. For the mail who makes an advertisement is by virtue of his task a. maker, and a maker is an artist. Ho may or may not achieve excellence, but be is an artist none the less, whether lie likes it or not. It is in the hope of encouraging excellence that the great commercial houses wisely offer prizes for the best advertisements. In so doing, they respond to the needs and desires of their customers, whose attention is always attracted to beautiful things rather than to ugly compositions. What advertisement has ever been more successful, for instance, than the reproduction in colours of a fine picture by a famous artist proved to he?—The “-Morning Post.”