PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

There are at least four different political parties raising- a clamour already for support at the general elections this year. Has any one of them got a practical remedy for unemployment? If so, now is the time to disclose it. As tilings are in the world to-day, unemployment is the curse of countries enjoying or suffering government by Tories, by Liberals, by mild Labour and by mad Labour, and by dollars and different kinds of dictators. And none of them has solved the problem of unemployment. There is surely a great opportunity for New Zealand politicians again to lead the world.—Auckland “ Sun.”

When it is said that the “dressing” of New Zealand carcases still leaves something to he desired, it is reasonable to infer that two causes arc at work, not one. Insofar as New Zealand butchering and handling are at fault, nothing should he loft undone to reach a higher and the highest possible standard in preserving the quality of the meat and securing its attractive superficial appearance. But the fault lies probably as much or still more with the conditions of carriage and refrigeration. There is still a great deal to he done before the problems of transport under refrigeration arc thoroughly overcome; and to-day’s cablegram indicates how necessary it is, in the interests of New Zealand’s export trade, that they should he.—Christchurch “Sun.”

If trade unions cannot, or will not, control their -members to the extent of compelling them to work in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down by the ( ourt, those being tho only terms and conditions that employers will recognise, clearly their default undermines the whole compulsory arbitration system. 'lhe public, which pays dearly lor adhesion to this method of settling industrial troubles, is denied the prosperous continuity of industry that it wants; the employers are denied the security that the Court should give them when it essays to regulate their relations with their employees; ami the rank and file unionists are denied regular and peaceful employment. The “ Herald ” adds that the only excuse to he made for the union mass is that possibly these things are done in spite of the real sentiments by officials wlio have ulterior motives to serve. If that lie so. there is the more need for the speedy passage iiTto law of the Bill which the Federal Government has introduced for the purpose of restoring control of the trade union to its members.—-“ Poverty Bay Herald.”

One fact that stands out very clearly is that New Zealand is not now cultivating that most valuable asset, the volunteer spirit. Somewhere in the scheme of military training room should he made for men who, without being professional soldiers, have the true soldier spirit; the men,’'that is to say. who would bring to the serious business of preparation for the defence of the country the ardour and enthusiasm that, undci present conditions, arc being diverted wholly to field games. Tho essential factors in the production of an efficient defence force are physical fitness, intelligence, and the spirit of which wo have just spoken. Those are the factors that must be in the minds of the statesman whose task li is, or'should he, to recast, the system of compulsory military training.—- “ Lyttelton Times.”

The Dominion is already lull of misfits whose incapacity is entirely attributable to the lack of co-ordination between the educational and industrial systems. It is a perfectly easy matter to effect an adjustment that will give to the country many skilled artisans instead of flooding it with incompetent professional men. It i* surprising that the sanity of The* methods it is now intended to adopt did not suggest themselves before, and we may only assume that the system was permitted to get into a groove from which no Director ot Education was courageous enough to endeavour to extricate it. The proper syllabus should as nearly as possible prove a natural development ol the early teachings inculcated at the mother’s knee, and the stereotyped methods which cut, lessons off like yards ol doth or strings pf sausages should be banished for ever.—“ Southland News.”

The preponderating majority of the members of the wheat pool organisation are said to he well Satisfied with tho results of the system. Apparently, moYeovcr, the wheatgrowers in New Zealand who propose to study the Canadian system in the organisation of their own industry have convinced themselves that the pool in the prairie provinces ol tbe sister Dominion has actually proved a distinct success and that it furnishes a model upon which a scheme for tho necessary protection of the interests of the wheat-growers of New Zealand may ho effectively based. There are, however. interests other than those of tho wheat-growers that merit consideration, and it is to be hoped that they will benefit through the operations of the Wheat Research Institute, which, by the application of science to the industry, may he able to point a way to a reduction in the cost of the production of both wheat and flour. “ Otago Daily Times.”

What lias obviously impressed the farmers of the syllabus to bo given effect next year is the obstinate economic fact that many primary pupils cannot look forward to a prolonged opportunity of attending day-scliools. They belong to families whose circumstances compel these pupils to begin, earlier than others, remunerative work. Under existing conditions, not to he altered without vast difficulty, the best that can he done is to prepare these pupils for profitable use of the opportunities presented in technical-school evening classes; and this the now syllabus endeavours to achieve. In this respect, ft offers a very valuable contribution to tlie solution of a problem that lias long demanded attention, and its working out in practice will be watched with great hope.— “ New Zealand Herald.”

From whatever point the argument may he started, one conies hack to the conclusion that the only safe policy for New Zealand is to promptly adopt a system of (-loser settlement and intensive cultivation. I lie Dominion must materially increase its exports, for it cannot exist for ever by manipulating its accounts to show theoretical profits and illusory surpluses. There is only one way to conduct sound business, and that applies as much to the national as to the private enterprise.—“( Southland News.”

We shall probably see an effort made to bring all motor traffic under the charge of the Railway Department, but it will be a very unfortunate day for New Zealand if such a. thing should ever he done. The railways have certainly great difficulties ahead of them, but it will not do to meet them by suppressing competition by law. That merely denies to the puhiio n form of transport which they have found useful, and leaves them the poorer in consequence. If railways can hold their own on their

men'its so much tho bettor, but if they cannot they must not ask for legislation to crush the opposition. If that we 10 done any and every improvement might be ruled out on the ground that it displaced some existing enterprise. Socialists may rejoice at such an adoption of their theories, but the ordinary man who wants efficient service at an economic price will strenuously resist.—“Waikato Times.”

'Hie best teachers need no syllabus, but the education authorities have to bear in mind the large number of teachers who- for lack of confidence in themselves or an inherent incapacity to organise acceptable schemes of work, will need export guidance and friend- . Iv oversight. For such teachers the liberty allowed is not so great as it appears; nevertheless it is obvious enough to most teachers that the more the syllabus leaves to them the more it requires of the individual. For this reason, the Education Board’s action in organising refresher courses marks a distinct advance, since under the new very generous permissiveness allowed the teachers, it will he found that the real quality of the teaching staffs will lie revealed in the efficient manner in which they avail themselves of the new freedom and in the quality of work they do under the new education system which conics into operation next year.—Tiniaru “Herald.”