NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1820, 30 April 1918, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Sir Joseph Ward thinks New Zealanders ought to thank God every day of their lives that they were a producing country. So far as the future of New Zealand was concerned, he looked forward (o the exports reaching £151,000,000. The commercial community would have to consider the intertwining of Capital and La hour, which was essential.

Able-bodied men who do no useful work —the feckless, the indolent, Hie hangers-on of “sport,” the idle inheritors of wealth —are a reproach to a community at any time (says the Melbourne Argus). When aXvar is on they are a drag on national energy. The Canadian Government may or may not be able to apply ef-» feetively its edict that all males between sixteen and sixty years of age must be engaged in some useful occupation, or be sent to gaol. But the fact that something is being done to put such persons in a degraded class will not be without moral effect, and it willenable the law to lay its hands on the worst cases. Canada is" comparatively near to the great cities of older countries, and it: may have more than a fair proportion of people who, having been a. burden on friends in (he old world, are shipped to the new. The Government’s action will discourage (he mere loafer from going to Canada. But every country produces useless people, and in times like this (he Slate has a right to demand (hat no healthy person shall be a burden on others. There is work for all, and those not willing to do something useful should be cleared out. Referring to the remarks of Mr Frazer, the Auckland Magistrate, who heard the case against the men who assaulted (ho Rev. Howard Filial t, the Rev. Mr Miller, of Foilding, declared at a P.P.A. meeting at the Wellington Town Hall, (hat Mr Frazer had practically commended (he men who had committed the assault. Taken to their logical conclusion, his words amounted to (he advocacy of lynch law. Since the men who committed the assault at Fcilding had (he right to believe that a Magistrate had condoned, if not commended, their action, Mr Frazer should stand in the dock with them when they were put on trial next month. (Applause.) He rejoiced to see that his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and their beloved magistrate (Mr McCarthy) had at once disassociated themselves from Mr Frazer’s statement. The logical conclusion, surely, was that Mr Frazer should resign. (Applause.)