PUBLIC OPINION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1930, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION

THE LOST ART OF AVALKING

“It is curious that a nation so prone to an open-air life as ours should so long have neglected tlie simplest of ali forms of outdoor exercise—walking. AA r e have never practised walking as a fine art like some of our neighbours, especially the Germans, though wo have ever been pioneers of the sterner art of mountaineering. It may be that pacing the countryside afoot does not sufficiently indulge our zeal lor action ; or perhaps it is that our predilection

for games takes full toll of our leisure. To-day there is a danger that the ease and luxury of mechanical locomotion may enfeeble our sense for tlie more intimate enjoyment of nature, or even supplant tlie healthful use of our limbs.”—“Morning Post.” REFORMING PARLIAMENT. “The reform—the ‘rationalisation—of Parliamentary procedure is a complicated question, hut it is obvious to the meanest intelligence that it would be perfectly possible to multiply .Parliament’s capacity for useful work by at least ten times without sacrificing any of the reality of popular,control over the executive government, Incidentally,: hew ludicrous is the spectacle of politicians—the Lord Privy Seal, for example—calling on great, industries to rationalise themselves, while these same politicians repudiate with horror the idea of rationalising their own industry! Yet, compared with Parliament, the cotton industry is a model of up-to-date efficiency, and the mineowners, compared with the men who control the procedure of Parliament, are daring innovators in the vanguard of progress,”—Air John Strachey, AI.P.

BRITAIN AND A AIERIC A AND THE TARIFF. !■ !<; til II :: ■ • ill-::

“Great’Britain has thrown her mar-' kets,and -where she has- had'the power' the markets'of I the British-Empire open to the ‘United-'States and to’tlie world.' American'Statesmen ha ve l their duty to their own country and to riobody l else-; So far ifrom trying to ‘ contract : otit‘of the struggle! for -existence, 1 * they- -rejoice' in it—as*a strong man tri run a nice.'It would *be contemptible)* l ’-'therc-forej 1 either to squeal'or to scold; our duty is rather to ; take' our‘own meiifiure rot' our own.defence. And here let us point out that the American- tariff is directed not only against Great Britain but all the British' Dominions and Colome's, and especially Canada, since not only manufactures but raw produce are -shut out of the American amirke-t, There we have something which;,oughti-to.,bring the Empire together. Canada-has taken, the first step, to-, slipw (that .they/are mistaken jvit remainSiifpr Great’ Britain ; to follow ( that excellent, example. “Alorning .Post:’.’ •

THE DISTRICT NURSE. “Why do certain nurses choose district work? What is the appeal, and how do they meet it?” asks the “Nursing Mirror.” “As a general rule, the district nurse works alone, although in the large town she may he one of a large staff. She is the centre of the village, the mother of her people, the friend and comrade to whom they come in diliicinty. She knows much more of their troubles and is told many more intimate details of their home life than the hospital nurse. Her work is not entirely concerned with nursing them hack from an acute illness to a lit state to pass out from the hospital doors, to be known to her no mere. It is delicate and intimate work, requiring unlimited patience, abounding love, a complete selflessness. It lacks the thrill ol the operating theatre, it is removed from the dispatch of the casualty depart-

ment, the sudden press of the acute ward. Its interest lies in- human nature, its reward is in the love and confidence it inspires rather than in a miraculous cure or a dramatic surgical operation.” EMPIRE FREE TRADE Oil PREFERENCE. “Tire Empire Free Trader wants me to go to the electorate of this country and suy that we mean to impose taxes on foreign food without .saying .what articles .are to be taxed, what the amount:of tax is to he what effect that tax would have on tile cost of living, arid what advantages the Dominions are going to offer in exchange for that tax. I believe the only business-like policy, and the only one fair to the electorate, is to, say , that we will not raise this issue of food-taxes until vo have conferred with the Dominions am’

[ explored the whole problem and can lay a definite plan before the country state exactly what taxes will he required, and exactly what we are goi’Vr to get in return. Our policy is reciprocal preference, which s can go 10 almost any extent you will. For tint purpose I would set up at once, a permanent Imperial Economic Confere.i e represnting every part' of the Empire, •which would be in continuous session examining these very problems and (examining before us the data win Hi is lacking at present.—Air Stanley Raidwin. .;•, ■ l • < : J ) • .

SALUTE TO THE SHIP’S . , f ENGINEER. The engineer has not .(been given his dup recognition.. He hss worked, and sometimes died at his post, out of, .eight, >. and too. often out of sight has been out of mind. McAndrew said that what he had seen since oceansteam began left no doubt for the machine, but what about the man? Mine at the last—when all is done it ail comes back to me, The fault that leaves six thousand ' ■ torys a log upon the sea, ■ln the Tahiti’s ease the machine failed, put . the men were true to their tradition, and what they did gives the world an opportunity' of acknowledging the,,-,, heroism of their calling.—“ Auckland Star.”