PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 3

PRESS COMMENTS.

“ It is being taken for granted that the continuance of daylight saving is desired by the majority of people in the larger centres; and a movement has been commenced to that end. The Mayor of Christchurch has promised to put the idea into train through a conference of business firms and publei bodies, and the A\ ellington City Council will consider at its next mooting the advisableness of taking similar action. The practicability of a partial adoption of the summer time system, as a public measure, is by no means a certainty. However, it does not seem right to regard the present proposition as a hopeless one. I here are difficulties, blit where there is a will there is a way, and if the feeling in the centres of population is ns popular and strong as the enthusiasts believe it to he, an effort to retain the advantages of daylight saving without altering the clock should he well worth while.”—“ Marlborough Express.”

“ The precise value ol the territorial system is sometimes questioned, but, if the country is to train her manhood so that it may be prepared for the possible eventuality of war and invasion, there can be no doubt that the territorial system is distinctly fail'd than the volunteer system. Events arc moving so rapidly towards the international repudiation ol the practice of war as to encourage some measure of hope that disarmament may become a practical policy. It would, however, lu- premature as yet to bold that the possibiltiy of war may be wholly ex cl ivied from our calculations for the future. In these circumstances, it void he quixotic to abandon all j'l'euutvMis for the defence of our coun;.y and of the two systems that may be utilised as protective measures that of compulsory military training is distinctly the superior.”—“Otago Daily Times.”

There is good reason for further legislative effort to deal with the inmatograph film industry as it affects this Dominion, and a prima facie case can be clearly made for the Rill. Of greatest interest is the reappearance of the quota proposal designed to ensure that a proportion of films of British manufacture shall lie exhibited. The weakness of this quota principle, so long as it deals only with quantity and not quality, is that a renter financially interested in, sav, American films may fill the quota with poor films of British origin, in order, by contrast, to maintain the popularity of the American article. He could thus defeat the purpose of the statute, observing it in the letter but breaking it in the spirit. For the proposed differential tax on gross receipts Imm films rented from suppliers, in accordance with their origin in New Zealand Britain or foreign countries, there is much to be said. The film industiy is so organised that renters can escape income tax. which they certainly should pay. In principle, therefore, this proposal is justified. In its details tiie Bills calls for careful consideration by Parliament before it finds its way to the statute book.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

\ beginning 1 1 •is been made with the laupo railway. The first sod was turned without ceremony or celebration. merely as the essential starting point for a work to be taken m hand. It is a verv different first turning Horn those of years ago when the occasion was made one of rejoicing, hut the difference was that the turning ol the first sod then seemed to lie the most important thing; completion of the work did not appear to be ol the least moment. There are actual instances on record ol the ceremonial hrst tuinin.r of a sod 25 years ago for lines not vet built. The Taupe project illustrates perfectly the change m the method <*f handling public «oiks. ■ coat task has been finished on the Fast Coast. I’h.nl ami stall have been transferred to a new fheatm ; options, where work has i.eu - promptly, quietly, and without D ostentation. To those who knot, s m - thing of the pumice lands and then possibilities, one of the greatest developmental works possible ot accomplishment in New Zealand h. s b «... hu.nehed with the turning of the hist sod of the Taupe, railway.- Aw» land Herald.”