PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

Now Zealand is at last doing something through its Publicity and Tourist .Departments to let the world know that it exists, hut it would he in our own interests for 11s to look into the landing regulations, and also examine the barriers raised against the tourist who wishes to travel through the country in his own ear. And wo suggest that such an investigation could he made more profitably by members of the New Zealand Motor L’nion, than by officers of the Departinent.s coneeihied. Uuwera ‘■Star.'-’ The Main Highways Hoard has considerable funds at its disposal. Soon, with the fruits of the petrol tax to hand, there will be even more money. Koadmuking at an increased pace would be a useful and practicable source of employment. It would not matter much if it were done well j ahead of any schedule at present con- | templatcd. The money is available, men for the task are demonstrably obtainable: an acceleration of pact I therefore would do good rather than anything else. Later on, when the | present urgency relaxed, there could i be a slackening off to a more moderate pace. The results would be of per- ! manent value. There would be 11c j atmosphere of a work specially created i to employ men. an expensive and par- [ licularly futile brand of charity. This is hut one suggestion to meet a position which should unit exist. More could surely be found. While this ibeing done, there should bo a <oticerted effort to discover and remedy the causes.—“ New Zealand Herald." We do not hear quite so much as wc did of “going slow.” fn all probability "the men who carried out orders l>y doing so loathed the job. Tf men put some thought into their work they take a pleasure in it. It is not more muscle that is wanted, hut more brains. On the other hand, if men are to give this improved service employers must learn to do the same. It is useless to expect men to be enthusiastic- about work while the employer goes to races or puts in two or three afternoons week howling. Cooperation must he' practised by the employer as much as by the employed. Conferences are not likely to bring about a new Heaven and a new Earth, hut they may make a beginning, and the benefits which are to he had from co-operation will not he easily abandoned after they have once been experienced.-—“Waikato Times.” The I’rime Minister thinks that rising costs have curtailed the farmer’s ability to employ labour and undoubtedly lie is right. Hut the rising costs have not been confined to farming ; they have affected all industries, and Parliament lias contributed not a little to the increasing by permitiug the expansion of an unproductive civil service. by authorising increases in taxation. and by encouraging governmental extravagance. All these items have added to the cost of commodities, have compelled workers to seek higher and higher wages, and have severely" restricted the natural expansion of secondary industries-. The solution of the unemployment problem is. therefore, quite materially a Government responsibility, because the (iovernmcnl's short-sighted and extravagant policy has contributed so largely to tl ? creation of the problem. We do not expect the Prime Minister to admit the responsibiliy. It does not matter wl.ether he admits it or ncl. publicly, so long as he and hi-' colleagues recognise it and act accordingly. Lyttelton “Times.” Methods which are effective in New Zealand often are useless in dealing with a native population like that of Samoa, and the Government wisely has decided to make a display of power in a manner calculated to impress the native mind. The deportation of the three people is part of ibis tlisp.iv i f power, and the effect 011 the natives will lie far greater than llit* 'lilies of the Government think. ..Mr Conies has put up a strong case in exp! lining the reasons governing the action taken, and. ill the interests of 1 ho Samoan people, it is to he hoped that this firm hand is maintained until lights! vestiges of the unrest are stamped otit.—“Southland Times.” For years past preservative in butter has been used and no bad effects liavp been reported. Now our butter has to go to the market without preservative and the report that it will not keep long once it is removed from cold storage is probably true. Tf its keeping qualities are poor at this time of the year (the English winter), the prospects for the summer months are decidedly bad. Certain British interests have in fthe past done much to kill the New Zealand beef industry in favour of the Argentine, and one is inclined to think that there is more behind the abolition of preservative in exported butter tliuii the alleged desire to protect the health of the consumers. The New Zealand Jovorntnen should take steps without delay to protect the country’s export tracie. for if the London market lor b-ut'er *s injured through the activities of the "Dominion’s competitors the country will suffer seriously and we nvght even witness a repetition of the i’isuster which has betaken the leef trade.—Wanganui “Herald ” The community has to pay. and does pay heavily, for the inefficiency which is encouraged as oiten as an industry or trading concern is sheltered from the full blast of competition. Gas companies continue to make profits, and to make them without robbing the public, because they must do so or cease to exist. Many ot the trading concerns of the State and of the municipalities would actually be losing money if they were compelled to stand wholly 011 their own feet, and they

Iv. 11l <1 ill 111 UU.MUthSj WllCUilU » lise it or not, because they are being subsidised in two or three directions by the public. The public pay their taxes for them, they pay for most ol their good-will, and they also, an] especially, pay for their faulty and costly methods. Tt is amazing, as the “Press” has so often pointed out before, that we not only tolerate the injustice of unfair taxation, but go on paying the price of it.—Christchurch “Press.” New Zealand is calling out for better government and greater development and by the inculcation of the right spirit of independence, and tho direction of the child in the right channels of employment much can bo done. The skilled trades are the basis of industry and together with the settlement of the land For the production of our primary wealth will go far in the building up of a self-re-liant and progressive nation that in the course of time will be required to meet new situations that are Itoiind to arise in international affairs.-—“ Southland Daily News.” The commercial production of petrol from coal seems to be within measurable distance, ft looks as if it may sooner or later be possible for New Zealand to reduce her big bill for petrol supplied from abroad, either by the discovery of petroleum in this country, or by carbonisation of her coal. In any case Hie processes which arc being evolved in Britain. America and Europe, whereby the valuable constituents of coal are being separated. should prove of great commercial importance when they are perfected, and one of the benefits should be the lessening of the motorist’s bill. In any case, if to the petrol produced from petroleum can lie added the petrol contained in coal, it is evident that the motorist and the motor trade are going to be greatly benefited.—“ Nelson Mail.” It is not likely that many occasions will arise when the New Zealand Ministry will dill’er from the Home Government on matters of foreign affairs. There will often arise oceassions. however, when it complete and speedy interchange of opinion would on-are certainty that tlie 'decision of the British Ministry was the only one to be taken. The newly appointed officers should be able to supply just the advice that would he needed by Ministers in London and in "Wellington so far as ordinary matters are concerned. "When matters of graver moment arise the value of the Increase of consultative intercouse between the two Governments would be almost incalculable.— “Taranaki Daily News.” Co-operation in detail can only be worked out by pat Tent effort in particular industries. A great and valuable impetus may be given to such detail efforts, however, if the present national conference, representing as it does an influential body of employers and the General Council of the British Trade I'nioii Congress, reaches the degree of agreement that appears to be in prospect. M’hat may be expected at the conference in an authoritative affirmation that British industry is no man’s private preserve, but a national undertaking demanding the highest development of leant work in lair and equitable conditions. If industry is t* contribute as if should to the needs and welfare ol the nation, means must be louiul of substituting a true partnership bo- j t ween those engaged in il tor I lie conditions of strife, or thinly veiled hostility. that arc now often I lie nib 1 . ] —“Wairarapa Age.”