PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

The action of the Aleat Producers’ Board in practically vetoing any sale of freezing works to overseas concerns was prompted hy a laudable desire to prevent a valuable industry from falling under the control of operators who might exhibit small respect for the interests of the producers. It must he acknowledged, however, that it has actually had an effect that is extremely embarrassing to those who are engaged in the industry and require capital for the prosecution of it. To pretend that it is not so. as the Aleat Producers' Hoard and the Afinistcr of Agriculture do. is simply futile.—“Otago Daily Times.” The fact is that wo are not creating enough wealth to keep our population employed. Tt is only begging the question to say that too many immigrants have been and are being allowed to come in. There is plenty ot latent wealth in the Dominion to provide n goof 1 living tor a vastly larger population than we have at present. Policy must he directed to developing these latent rsourcosi on systematic and economic lines. I here is money enough to be had, hut too much is being spent upon luxuries and unproductive works, and the unemployment agitation has accentuated this, many works being put in bund m provide temporary relief without sufficient, thought as to whether ihe expenditure will permanently itch) the situation. Now is the time to institute better methods, before winter tomes again and brings with it acute unemployment: which must he dealt with the lirst way that comes io hand.—“ 1 aranaki Herald. No I'nii'-minded man will withhold his sympathy from the present Government when it is blamed for economic troubles that are entirely beyond any Govermnont’s control, hut even amongst fair-minded men they ate too few who realise Ihe significance of the fact that the Government does (hits come in for unjust criticism. AVI nit it signifies is that the democracy has grown so accustomed to looking to “the State” for health and wealth and happiness and ease t hat it believes Thai everything that happens is the' result ot what is done hv Parliament, the Government, and the vast machinery ot the public Departments, and what this means is that one of the most urgent needs of the time is a policy directed steadily towards the encouragement of local and individual self reliance, and this policy necessitates an abandonment necessarily gradual, hut still as rapid and' complete as poffitilrle— of “the Sintes’s” unsuccessful and inconvenient attempt to he an earthly Providence.—Chrixteluirch “Press,” If the deplorable lack of interest invariably manifested in municipal affairs is an indication of the general attitude of the great mass ol the people, in regard to their own afluus, there is no proof that local taxation, if such an unlikely change in the financial policy of the Govertnn nit in relation to the provision of funds tor edticatiyn were contemplated, would create and sustain local interest in education, so long as laymen who evince an interest- in educational progress are denied Hi" exercise of administrative control of the schools in which their children are taught. ■ ltd for which they prmitle the Incus, whether through the national perse, or hy means of local rating. A complete overhaul of the -ystem ol control of education is long overdue, not that the way may he made for the introduction of an American system, hut in order that New Zealand i. ■ rhi evolve a system designed to licet He count rv’s peculiar needs.- i nnaru ‘' I rent Id.” To ohvint > the ditlii nliy of > surnbts of teachers the Education Department hits evolved a plan ol restricting t in* number of probationers ~i:d training college students according to the requirements of the v rvim, hut it will he some time before its effects are apparent. The state ot alia is as at present existent demands some remedy. The difficulty h.o. boon obvious for tears past, and it is hard to understand why sonic modification of such tilt tins it' lacto y system has not been made long ere this.- Lyttelton “Tint.'s.” Allowing for all the difficulties attendant on the breaking-in <•! tins country so long neglected, admitting that it is a task for united rather than individual effort, it is tone nevertheless, that the decision to l.nk its development with the unemployed problem recreates tin opportunity .similar to that lost when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was being demobilised. That the Alnu-dcr of Lands and his Department now propose to put their hands to the wont is perhaps the most hopeful augury which could greet the new year.— “New Zealand Herald.”