PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 1

PRESS COMMENTS.

Apart altogether from _the prospect of an improved pack, it is evident that tho further development of the Hax industry in New Zealand would spell a corresponding increase of prosperity for the Dominion a a whole. Therefore, even though it should so eventuate that the time is not yet mature for the practical marketing of such industrial discoveries, every encouragement should (be given to those who are interesting themselves, in enterprises of tho kind.—Dunedin “Star.”

Motions against daylight saving have been carried here and there; but it has been noticeable that the motions were supported, and carried with much less fervour and conviction than animated the opposition to the Act before its provisions had boon tested. This is actually the best of reasons for prolonging t-lie experiment and against breaking it off. It has made far more converts than enemies; it has taken the fire out of tho hostility to it. It has indeed, some strong supporter among farmers It is to be hope tha.t such leaven will work powerfully in the the agricultural lump.—Auckland "Sun.”

The bulk of output from the farms and Orchards of Now Zealand can be increased by increasing their number through developing land now lying idle. This is an essential task which should never be neglected. At the same time production can be increased by conquering pests -which attack crops or pasture plants, by improving the technique of cultivation, by working to produce better quality in the varieties of plants cultivated or the breeds of animals fed on the farm. These needs are adequately recognised in the list of research subjects. Maintenance of quality in the article produced and its preservation by proper handling are equal in importance to the increase in quantity; for New Zealand produce must face unrestricted competition in the world’s markets. For this, too, suitable provision is made, so that tho, lines on which research proceeds can be endorsed as thoroughly sound and full of promise for the future.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

For fifteen years the Liberal Party lias been urging that they and tlie Reds ought to get together, and on nearly evory occasion Labour’s officiul spokesmen have replied that they have no desire for any fusion or nllinnce, although they would be glad to accept as a free gift any assistance which tho Liberals could give them. Even although it became quite clear, ns time went on, that joint action against the Government, if successful, would not put the Libera] Party in office, the Liberals continued to urge the need for co-operation. When the suggestion of a fusion was first made, the Liberals wero more numerous, in Parliament and out of it, than the Labourites, hut to-day the position is the opposite of that. The Liberals, therefore, wild are proposing a fusion of tho nntiGovernment sections are proposing merely that the non-Socialist sectiop of the anti-Ministernlists should help too Socialists into power.—Christchurch “Press.”

If slipshod and ungrammatical writing is tolerated in the university colleges, the standards must bo lowered in all grades of the educational system. And beyond doubt that is what is happening. Faults unchecked in the primary and secondary schools are carried to the university grade, where the students are still permitted to perpetrate them, and so they are reproduced once more in the schools which draw their teachers from the ranks of the university student's. The evil is too pronounced to be ignored. It is made very manifest in the newspapers of the Dominion, where, no doubt, it is excused on the plea of hasty production, in the correspondence that flows daily into the newspaper offices, and, again, in the commercial correspondence. To our mind it is more serious than the bad penmanship that nowadays attracts such widespread comment and condemnation, and it should be given very careful consideration by "the educational authorities, from the Board of Studies of the University downwards. — f ‘ Lyttelton Times.”

It is interesting to note that the Education Department issued what amounts to an invitation to teachers in primary schools to consider writing text-books on any of the subjects of instruction in the new syllabus. _ ~ere must be many teachers of experience who could do this Well. Unfortunately, the Department desires to have all such books in readiness for 1929. This leaves little time for the careful work that should be required, but the idea is excellent. We want the experience of those who have been engaged in the actual work of the class' room.—Auckland'“ Star.”

The more we see of the Agricultural Department’s scheme of centring its activities in the North, the plainer it becomes that the control of agricultural investigation in the South Island should be centred at Lincoln. It would be a saving of men and money to provide a special staff and equipment to deal with the special problems of the cropping areas, while to investigate them casually as . a .side line of Palmerston North’s activities is quite absurd. Lincoln should he given largely increased resources, and Unless our members of Parliament begin to be as busy again soon as they were when danger threatened !ast year the College may yet end aa mere appanage of the institution? at Palmerston North. —Christchurch “ Press.”

Already the area .under ' this country’s control is vast beyond the expectation of the pioneers. Its demands will grow. .To bear this responsiblity with credit will entail find ing men of high administrative efficiency to fill the multiplying positions. This aspect of the matter is not new. Hie providing lOtj adequate facilities for the training of such men has been gravely urged. In British experience there has been set a very high standard in the Indian Civil Service. Technically trained as well as equipped with a splendid general education, the officers of this service have a world; vide reputation for capacity and character. What will be required—the want lias been felt already—is a Pacific Civil Service equal in calibre to the Indian, and given facilities here for their production there ought to be no need to send across the world for those to man it. Men of New Zealand, who have been in v close touch with the Maori, ought to be the very best to handle the problems arising in the island groups where the Maori’s Polynesian kinsmen dwell. They will be

the very best if adequate training be theirs, and it ought to be available.— “ New Zealand Herald.”