CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

f-TIMID AND PUERILE." U,y comparison with that of Canada our New Zealand public works policy appears miserably timid and puerile. Even allowing for the difference in population and resources the comparison is very disadvantageous to the smaller of the two dominions. If we had the same railway mileage in proportion to the population as Canada we should have 5001) miles instead of a little mor.3 than half tluit figure. From April, 191:2. to March, IMS, only 52 miles of line were opened for traffic, increasing the total length of the system by barely 2 per cent., against recent annual increases in Canada of 30 per cent. It is little wonder tluit the tide of immigration into Canada steadily increases while immigration to New Zealand is small tind fluctuating. [ A vigorous public works policy in New Zealand would not increase the public indebtedness per head nor increase taxation, because it would draw thousands to produce wealth from the soil and in the factories. With the decline in the price of money the time is surely opportune for recasting our public works policy on more generous linos.—Auckland Herald. TACTFULNESS. To successfully manage the New Zealand railways, a man of tact, as well as of business, is required. Mr. Hiley appears to (ill both bills. This is what the Loco. Record has to say: —"A very agreeable and commendable change has taken place in the tone of the letter* written by the General Manager of Railways iin New Zealand, which has been brought about by the change of managers. The change is indeed refreshing, although the letters may contain negatives to our request, and contrast somewhat sharply with the harsh, snubbialt letters received formerly. The autocratic tone is removed, and in its place is a mellow, firmly-written letter, which shows that a general is at the head who adopts firm, tactful methods with a cosmopolitan staff under him." THE OLD CRY. The statesman, when campaigniae;, takes hold of every chance to do some i loud complaining about extravagance. 'The men in power, ho hollers, "still

keep your shoulders bent! ' It casts a billion dollars to run this Government. The cost goes on increasing," we hear him wildly shout; "their sins will be unceasing until we turn them .out!'' Wo gird our loins in anger, and say: "We'll crush this sin! We'll driv those skates to Bangor, and put some good men in!" Then to the polls we teeter, to put the skates to rout; to make our country sweeter we vote the rascals out. And still our trouble waxes until our hearts are sore; we have to pay more taxes than e'er we paid before. The statesman who assured us'that we were being robbed, who to white ang"r lured us ami saw that we were jobbed, now basks in ease and plentv, no tirades now he vents; while we still look like. 20 or 27 cent.—Walt Mason.