WHAT THE-PAPERS SAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 147, 23 June 1934, Page 8

WHAT THE-PAPERS SAY.

POINTS FROM THE PRESS. THE ARAB AND THE CAMEL. The Railways Department's entry into roacl competition, by tlie purchase of a transport service operating between Wellington antl Wanganui, suggests the fable of the Arab ancl the camel. The State lias a way of first getting its foot inside the tent, and finally squeezing the poor old Arab out. In regard to road transport there is one thing alone that ought to put the public on their guard. It need not he imagined that the State will long consent to the payment of petrol tax when it has entrenched itself in so many other directions against the payment of local rate* of every description, and has disembarrassed itself, even, of the obligation to pay adequately for fire protection. X:> wonder Mr. Shaw found we were Communistic.—"Christchurch Star."

WHICH IS FAIREST OF THE FAIR? Kowliai (.">9 votes) headed the voting list for Xeiv Zealand's "national flower" at the Wellington Horticultural Society's annual meeting, but if the supporters of pohutukawa (42) had been reinforced by those of its sister rata (Hi), crimson would have been only one i vote behind yellow. The purest of white or cream was represented in clematis (2o), and [maliuka (33) can lie anything from white to crimson, though crimson is itt> "exotic" mood. As to form of flower and richness of foliage, much might bo said. Ivowhai is formed piquantly, clematis divinely; the latter is a climber, the former a fair-sized tree, whiles rata and puhtitukawa can be gii.nts. Manuka varies from the bush kind to considerable height. What a diversity of colour, form, and growth habit is represented by these five, and they are but live of a marvellous flora. Hitherto there has been a tendency to make the fern the national emblem, so there is a choice between yellow, crimson, white and green. And green in a way typifies the whole evergreen forest. But' the subject is endless, and can be left to the individual imagination. A yellow colour does not alienate Australia from the wattle.—Wellington "Evening Post."

FARMING IS LOOKING UP. There has been so much "down-and-out" writing and speech making about the lot of 'the New Zealand fanner that many people will find it difficult to believe the statement lof the president of the Royal Agricultural Society at its annual meeting that for many fanners "this last year has been the best since 1914." But Mr. Mac fa rla lie's official position gives his pronouncement sufficient authority to warrant acceptance as a statement of fact, and a very welcome one. The distress of the dairying industry has perhaps coloured too dismally the imagination of the public in regard to farming as a whole, and oliscnred its vision in regard to certain factors which give cause for a more robust outlook. Jf we are to believe Mr. Macfarlane, the depression has weeded out of farming many who should never have been in it, leaving the real fanners to work out their destinies. Those who remember the post-war land boom, and •the rush to fanning of many whose pre-war occupations were totally different, will no doubt agree. Farming to-day is a scientific business, and also a business proposition in the commercial sense. A man -who goes, in for farming' without adequate knowledge of principles and methods, and with no capacity for business, is courting disaster. It is astonishing but true that while people readily admitted that special training is required for proficiency in the learned professions) and in the skilled trades, they have entertained until recent years the idea that anybody could go 011 the land without adequate preparation. It is something gained for the future prosperity of the primary industries that this delusion has been largely dispelled. Thanks to the agricultural colleges, to the systematic education of the fanning community 011 the urgent need for scientific methods, and to the insistence bv overseas customers on liigh standards of quality, a new and progressive spirit is animating those engaged in the primary industries. The annual report of the Royal Agricultural Society lays special emphasis upon the factor of quality, and acknowledges with gratification that stock breeders are concentrating 011 quality, recognising that "quality first and-foremost must bo the slogan of ail her primary producers." This point need not be elaborated. Its importance has been stressed repeatedly in these columns. The president of the society predicts that when confidence in the land* returns the business world will be "falling over itself to get money into 'primary production at any sort of low interest." He must realise, however, as ho probably does, that th : s will depend upon our success in the overseas markets, and that in turn will depend upon the quality of' our products.—Wellington "Dominion."