WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 46, 23 February 1935, Page 8

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

POINTS FROM THE PRESS,

WILL IT WORK? Mr. Downie Stewart's searching criticism of the Mortgage Corporation Bill derives additional force , from the fact that he is frankly in sympathy with its object, the relief of those in difficulties with their financial commitments. His chief concern, which many people share,'is that in the form proposed the corporation will sooner or later find its administration embarrassed by political influence. This influence may not necessarily be of the kind known as ■ wire-pulling by individuals. It ill ay manifest itself in subsequent legislative acts, for it well; established that the beneficiaries of paternal acts of Government are seldom if ever satisfied with what has been-done for them. They ask for more. As one instance, the State Advances Office was obliged to reduce its margin of security for loans to a point which no sound private lending institution would consider. The danger resident in the national mortgage plan is that the relief measures provided may not be considered adequate after it lias been in operation, and Parliament will be asked for more. "If," says ilr. Stewart, "it is not possible to create a really independent corporation on the lines of the British Act which the Minister quotes with approval,, then it means that the habit of reliance on the State is so deeply ingrained that the object he lias in view is unobtainable." This is to say that the Governnient's only hope of passing such a measure is by an extension of the system of paternalism, which Is Socialism thinly disguised. This aspect of the bill was .trenchantly dealt with by Mr. R. A. Wright. It must be clear that with tho ground thus prepared fof it, a Socialist Government would need but a stroke of the pen to convert the scheme into a full realisation of the aims so candidly stated by the Leader of the Opposition when speaking on the bill.—Wellington "Dominion."

GOLF AND LEGAL HAZARDS. It appears, from a decision given in the Magistrate's Court in Wellington yesterday, that if a man goes on to a golf course to play golf he does so at his own risk. The plaintiff in. the case had been hit in the eye by a ball sliced fr<sm the tee by the defendant, a" lady player, and from a golfing point of view 'thex case was complicated by the fact that the plaintiff had himself pulled his ball and was therefore likely to be oil the straight and narrow path of his own fairway. There is an old rule of the markets, known as caveat emptor, that a buyer must look out for himself. We do not know what the corresponding rule of golf, if any, may be, but it seems reasonable to suppose that in any game every player must be expected to take the known risks of the game, and in golf, we infer from very indifferent knowledge, one of the risks is that a lady player is liable to slice a ball off the tee. Some men, for all wo i know to the contrary, may do the same tiling. It is not a crime to slice at golf, otherwise every beginner, and most skilled players, would be criminals. Slicing, in fact, which we understand to mean, a diversion of the ball from the expected and intended direction, consequent on the failure of the player to follow the advice of the professional instructor, is a common fault. The over-correction of this fault produces the vice known as pulling. This, also, is common, and the combination of the two creates an area of danger, of which the arc subtends an angle of approximately 125 degrees at the tee, Within this wide angle players and spectators venture at their peril. This we take to be the meaning of the Wellington decision. And it accords with common sense, since it is merely an application of a principle of universal acceptance in games. It is even ,doubtful if a batsman would have a valid case for damages against a bodyline bowler, though we should be glad to see the matter argued. If the Wellington case had been decided otherwise no twentyfour handicap player could have dared to play a round of-a golf course without an insurance poliev in 'his pocket, and such an expense, we imagine, would be contrary to the spirit of any game that originated in Scotland. Whether players should insure themselves against injury or whether the clubs should take out a blanket cover are other issues, but it is certain that if slicing and pulling were to involve the liawirds of the law courts as well as the hazards of the course the game would speedily decline in popularity. —"Christchurch Times." < • » • « LOCAL GOVERNMENT. On the first day of the resumed session of Parliament the Minister (if Internal Affairs, Sir Alexander You'.ig, was asked whether he intended to carry out his promise to appoint a local government commission as soon as the House rose, ami jt seems hardly a good omen that lie preferred not to give an answer then and there. In due course, no doubt, the country will be informed, as it lias been informed a dozen- times in the last three years, that in view of something or other the Government "does 'not consider the time opportune" for the appointment of the commission. The excuse offered this time can hardly be pressure of other business, since, according to Ministerial statements, the members of the commission are already selected, and the terms of reference decided upon. Moreover, much preliminary work has already been done by an ..inter-Departmental committee on local government reform, which was at work for more than a year and which 'lias delivered its report til the Government. All -that is needed to set the local government coin mission in motion is a stroke of the Minister's pen; but as there is an election pending the country will probably have to wait at least another year for this very urgently-needed reform. The Government's failure to honour its many specific promises to straighten out the costly and inefficient tangle of local governing bodies becomes the more inexcusable when it is remembered that its legislation lias had the effect of adding- enormously to the country's already staggering load of governmental machinery. Much of this machinery, particularly in the field of local administration, is not merely useless but harmful. Besides adding to the cost of government, it makes government less efficient. The country is entitled to expect that a government which deliberately extends the authority of the State into new spheres of activity shall at the same time make a reasonable effort to ensure that the institutions through which the State functions are efficient.—Christchurch "Press." * » » • TRAINING OF YOUTH. There lias been a definite revival of late in the boy scouts and girl guides movements. As organisations founded upon the principle that service for others is the basis of true citizenship, ,thc movement is one to be ■encouraged. It combines healthy pleasure, individual and community effort, and cultivation of a sense of responsibility during the years when character is in its most plastic condition and when wise guidance can make all the difference. Self-reliance, self-control and a desire to help those in need of assistance are the ideals impressed upon scouts and guides. The movement takes no account of social standing, creed or colour. On the contrary, ohe of its aims is to break down social and racial burners and to show how little they mean in the advance of civilisation.-— "Taranaki News."