PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

New Zealand either can or cannot profitably grow wheat enough to feed itself. If it cannot the policy of subsidies upon wheat and flour is a ruinous one. At best such a policy can only stave off evil day, at an enormous cost to ill? consumer—iiicidently increasing the cost of labour—and at worst bringing about economic eliaos. If we can not grow enough wheat to make the bread we require, the sooner the policy of the Government in regard to subsidies and duties is reversed the better it will be for Xe Zealand. At present we are not raising half enough wheat to feed ourselves. We must import wheat and flour. In the circumstances to levy heavy duties upon wheat and flour is to plunder the consumer.— “Napier Telegraph.” Flax production has seen many ups and downs in the past, but at last it is being taken seriously in. hand, and there seems every possibility that good results will he obtained from the areas now being planted with tlie best kinds of fibre production. The Research Department has also tackled the problem of breeding improved kinds of flax, a hitherto untouched field of investigation which may give wonderful re' suits. A great deal of this Dominion consists of very rough country, so it will be a very' great gain if these areas I :-an be utilised for the production of L imluir onrl Q-sr f/vr Tjrri4r*Vt nriTVsni* I

to lio exceptionally suitable.—“ North Auckland Times.” New Zealanders have often wondered why it has seemed sufficient to fly trom London to Sydney or Melbourne, while the Empire ends fifteen hundred miles farther on; hut the fact simply is that the Tasman is not just another lap but another Alight. And now at length it has been crossed by Our own people, and our own aerial trainees. We know nothing yet of the hardships of the way, and cannot fill in the details of the last desperately anxious hours in the dark. But we know that the bight has been made, and it is sufficient for the moment to reflect that as long as flying remains an adventure, yesterday will seem one of its big days.—“ Christchurch Press.” It is sometimes said that the banks discourage enterprise and production by raising their overdraft rates, and even that their sole desire is to make profits. Actually, however, they cnii and do exercise a very useful check upon extravagant expenditure which is not warranted by the circumstances of the people as a whole. The. quarterly returns indicate that a check lias been applied to extravagance, the spending power of the community lias been curtailed and unemployment lias followed naturally. But the position is becoming sounder, and if file producing season continues good and prices of produce are maintained, a few months ought to see a revival of trade in all directions.—“Taranaki Herald.”