PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

It is not n matter of legislation, but of the right kind of legislation, and' three hig measures last session would have pretty well served requirements, always providing for necessary amendments and adjustments. A measure to restore settlement conditions, to provide finance for farmers, and to ensure the industries operating at full pressure, would have put New Zealand in a happy position. Instead of the week or two essential to the carrying of these measures. Parliament sat for over five calendar months, and did little that is visible to the ordinary impartial eye.— “ Southland Daily News.”

As the increase in the number of deaths proves the need for increasing the pace at which the work of installing warning devices and eliminating crossings is proceeding. .Moreover, the most efficient and reliable automatic device is inadequate for crossings in urban areas. Only elimination will ensure safety, and until local authorities and the railway management provide bridges or subways, they might co-operate in providing efficient cross-ing-keepers. If traffic control is necessary at busy street corners, where the responsibilities of all traffic are similar, there is great need of it at railway crossings, where one form of traffic has special privileges. The cost of crossingkeepers may he considerable, so is the cost of street traffic control, ami great - er than either is the cost of lives sacrificed by the perpetuation of the deadly level crossings.—“ New Zealand Her-

ll' the give-and-take of hard times could be extended to the periods in which the land is “ flowing with milk and honey ” we might reach almost unattainable heights of prosperity. And a permanently better relationship between employer and employee should not be difficult to accomplishment, for each is dependent on the other. There is a big movement afoot in Great Britain just now to try and establish a permanent peace in industry and make things better for all. It would he well for both employers and trades union leaders to study this movement, whirl is representative of both Capital and Labour, and to lose no time in seizing for consideration any points of benefit ii may offer.—“ Auckland Sun.”

There is smash after smash, and death after death, at level crossings all over the Dominion, and the only reply made by the railway authorities to the charge of culpability is that the crossings arc made “ as sale as possible,’ that victims have not exercised “ reasonable care,” or that there are nr funds available to replace crossings with bridges. Where they have been reproached by local bodies alter a latality. they have argued that the responsibility is as much that of the local bodies as of the Railways Department. One or two of the most dangerous crossings have been replaced by bridges ; hundreds of which can reasonably be deemed dangerous remain to take toll of life. It is biglt something was done to alter such an inexcusable situation. The lives of citizens should be set above the mere consideration ol the cost of salety. 'llie only way In remove the deadly peril of the crossing, in urban areas at least, is to remove the crossing.—-Auckland “ Sim.”

ft is a matter for continual wonder

that so many of our young people grovup to lie reputable and valuable members of society in spite cl this ignorance, and it only goes to prove wlnu results would accrue if parents gave the same thought and attention to the training of their children that they (to to the ordinary business of life. The means by which the family shall he restored to its old position as an educational agency, perhaps the greatest of all, is probably the most difficult and at the same time the most vital of pre-sent-divy t/./obloimp Probably in no country in the world is it so fully realised as in New Zealand that the rhiet asset in our manhood and womanhood, and how to reach a higher standard is a matter which confronts all concerned in the national well-being.—“ Lyttelton Times.”

The Council of Education in our own Dominion has expressed its realisation of the “ paramount need for educative work in the direction of international knowledge as the indispensable prelim inary for international goodwill and service.” and lias recommended the Department of Education to utilise more fully available educational publications for the purpose of familiarising schools with the organisation and activities of the League of Nations and the work and ideals of the League of Nations Union. There is no reason why New Zealand should not keep pace with others which arc interesting themselves in educational effort of this kind.—“ Otago Daily Times.”