PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

’J no people who organised and christened the United Political Party Organisation of New Zealand—now called the United Party for short—wore not happy In their choice of a label. They had tried nearly every other suitable iinino without effect, and there'was nothing hut “ United ” left. This was unfortunate, because although the fact might have been concealed that there is no real party, it lias been impossible to conceal the I act’ that whatever else the thing may he, united ■it certainly is not. Sir Joseph ...nil lias received mi invitation from fifty of the party’s candidates asking him to accept the post of lender, and while be is thinking it over Mr George Forbes, the acting-lender, declares that lie knows nothing about the message to Sir Joseph. The public will no doubt await with interest further news nl the schisms and dissensions within this unhappily-named organisation.Uiristchuieh “Press.” /

The statement was made in the House of Representatives by a Labour member that the business of Parliament is conducted in a way in which tlio smallest business would not he conducted. The members of the Labour Party, very loyal to one another, gave point to this statement by wasting practically the whole of the sitting in a discursive discussion on parliamentary procedure. . ... It won. be possible to prevent the wnsto o time that is involved in needless d.s mission by tlio introduction oi the p: i linmentary weapon known as t ■ closure. In seme Legislatures in which this weapon is utilised it'is employed in tho most tyrannical way to deprive minorities cf the freedom c speech which they claim. It is high' undesirable that the closure should h introduced in New Zealand, but, there are any advocates of it, they ai being provided with a powerful nign meat in the tedious repetition that has marked the more important debate in tho House of Representatives in th" existing Parliament. —“ Otago Daii; Times.”

Tho Prime Minister’s suggestion that the United Party should join the Gov eminent forces has, been unsympathet ' icnlly received by M.r Forbes, thong, his observations are evidently offered as those of the lender of the 1 ai lia.-mentai-y nucleus of the new organisa ticn, and not as an authoritative pro nouncement, oil it;s behalf. . Wliethr the new party’s grievances are tnngibl will be tested when its conference on den.vours to record -them in defiuit terms. That it will, succeed in from ing a national policy likely to make genuine appeal to the people is expect ing too much. It is.wonderfully eas to criticise the Government in sue! general terms as Mr Forbes uses: i will he much more difficult to drr.ovon nil election programme upon prin ciples so clearly distinguished .her those of the Reform Party as to justif the intrusion of a third party in national politics.—j‘ New Zealand Herald.”

The need for the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment of disease liar been emphasised by two medical men lecturing in Hamilton recently—the ono on tuberculosis and the other or. cancer. Both mentioned tlio prevalence of an unwillingness or fear to consult a doctor, hut neither hit upon tho fact that what alarms most people is not the possibility of learning of : serious ailment but the certainty ol having to pay a fee. The fee may Ik perfectly reasonable in view of the doctor’s skill and training, hut it is a big consideration to most people. , A farm wife who is,.struggling to make ends meet on £2, or £3 per week will laugh at the suggestion that she should consult a doctor Icon us© cl nil recasiuial spitting of blood when she feels well; and the labourer’s wife who notices nil insignificant growth on the breast will suppress any alarm she may feel about it rather than spend a guinea on nil examination—a luxury, as she would regard it, that would amount to robbing her little ones.” “Waikato Times.”

A general definition of his policy as manager of the railways lias been given by Mr Sterling. Its cejitral principle is. that the system' should give ‘‘more and better service.” That is a welcome acknowledgement that a State enterprise, no less than a private commercial undertaking, . owes . a duty its customers to meet their requirements efficiently and economically. That tlie railways should give jnore and. better service is unquestionably sound, lmt it is equally unquestionable that those who receive thoije services should pay for them. The only rational policy for the management of the. railways is to make them pay as a commercial proposition, and it would at least he a stimulating influence for the department if the .general manager would also proclaim an ambition to make them pay without artificial aid of subsidies from taxation. —“Now Zealand Herald.’’

One reason why the American millionaire class do not come to New Zealand more freely is that they do not get the hotel. accommodation to which they are accustomed. Go where you like in America and Canada, and a bedroom with bathroom attached is standard equipment. Americans expect to pay for their comfort, but they demand it and get it, and until our hotels are brought’ up to date wo licet] not expect this country to become a real' playground for the tourists who spend freely.—Christchurch “Star.”

Tlie Prime Minister lias been very kind to State employees who have I rejected at the parliamentary polls, but he should set a limit to his iciiee and generosity. If public servants do not care to be as other workers and risk their jobs and working status in a battle for a re-

seat in Parliament, they can look forward to superannuated retirement with ample leisure for politics : >-

of bowls and commercial business. The new manager for railways, for oxair.-10, on retiring in seven years’ time with a pension rf £2001) a year, might well qualify for tlie post of Minister of Bailways.—Christchurch “Sun.”

After thirty years successful work amongst the Maori adherents of t.’.e Church of England, the Bov. F. A. Bennett lias been appointed llisliop of Ao-tea-roa. . . . Tlie Anglican Church throughout the world is coming to realise more and more that native churches must be self-governing, and that growing in accordance with their own traditions and outlook, they are destined to make their own contributions to the general life of the Church universal. Hitherto the Maori clergy have seldom been able to make their influence felt in synod discussions or to present their own point of view with effectiveness. For many years their financial condition was deplorable. Wo may reasonably expect that Mr . Ueunctt’s appointment will put them in a much bettor position to carry on the work which they have done with courage and perseverance under circumstances that have often been far from encouraging.—Auckland “ Star.”

It would be nil ill-mannered mid churlish tiling if the Government did not make distinguished people the guests of the country. There is not a New Zealand parliamentarian who visits Australia, who does not have all

his expenses, apart from hotel expenses, paid gladly by the State or Commonwealth Governments, and while Governments, like private individuals, are occasionally, no doubt, pushed into the position of offering hospitality to people who have no claim to it, wo should not fail to entertain strangers on that account.— Christchurch “ Star.”