NEWS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1929, Page 6

NEWS ITEMS

» ELECTORAL REFORM

“Everyone admits, says the “Scotsman,” “that our system of Parliamentary representation has become anomalous with the growth of a third party in the State; but outside the Liberal Party there is no enthusiasm for reform. Socialists and Unionists are equally prepared to take their chance at the polls, believing that the swing of the pendulum will give them their opportunity in time, whereas a change in - the electoral system might result in a never-ending succession of minority Governments. It is a difficult problem, and is not likely to. he solved in the present Parliament.” NEW ZEALANDERS IN MALAY STATES. “ The staff of the Federated Malay, States Survey Department includes about 35 per cent of New Zealand surveyors, so that our younger men who may be'fortunate enough to be selected for vacancies there will find themselves among freinds,” says the “ New Zealand Surveyor.” “Among these countrymen of ours we notice also that two are drawing over £I4OO per annum, two over £1250, and a further, six over £B7O ; these salaries carrying fHither allowances for married men of A, per cent and for single men of lQ,.per cent, and pensions on retirement as well. These are interesting figures,; being actual New Zealanders’ records,' as showing that the opportunities offered are real, for the right men. «. The work in Malay is at-present increasing rapidly; no doubt in the future, a generation ahead, it will, as in New Zealand, dwindle ,in volume and change ip character. Meantime, the young. New Zealand surveyor must make his hay while the sun is shining.”

STATISTICS'. “ Probably the most popular statistics in this country are those relating to cricket, football, and racing results, and if evidence were needed of the' utility of the statistical method in ajl departments of col’porateMife, it could be found by reference to the-amount of space accorded in various s sections .otf our newspapers to matters of this kind,” says the ‘‘Midland Bank Review.” ;‘‘ Indeed, the science of statistics possesses, probably in a peculiar degree, the quality of being essential to every other branch of science, physical or social j it is equally important, in medicine, ; engineering, geology,' and economics. The increasing utilisation of the science in tli'e more popular fields of knowledge, however, is no indication of juvenility. On the' contrary, it- Has been working ever since man became human. Despite its.age, however, it ip only comparatively lately that, statist tics has become of very general .integ: est

Nowadays politicians use—or misuse—statistics even on the public platform; the present-day craze for ‘ records ’ is a phase of the same development.”