WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 8

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

POINTS FROM THE PRESS. SALES TAX AND OVERWORK. The interior of Otago, with its wide variety of country and scenery, and its reliable climatic conditions in so marked contrast with those of Otago's coastal strip, is being visited by more tourists from abroad than ever, particularly when allowance is made for the closely 'related matters of world trade depression and restriction and heavy taxation. Besides the overseas visitors there is at present a high proportion of office employees from the town.-, principally young women, who are seeking- by a holiday to. avert a breakdown in health through long-continued overwork. In nearly all cases the explanation is the same: businesses (taxed as they are) cannot afford expansion of staffs which have been reduced by retrenchment, and the amount of clerical work entailed by the sales tax has i<o enormously increased the amount of work to be got through that overtime night after nig-ht is the rule and not the exception. This is Hot accompanied by any extra pay, but resentment is directed against the Government rather than the employers. "Why," ask the overwrought victims, "does" the Government compel us to pay unemployment tax for the support of those for whom there is plenty of work if they were allowed to do it? Our strength is being overtaxed and our .sniail resources drawn oil' to perpetuate idleness among those 'who crave to be in harness again." Jt is noteworthy what feeling there exists against the Government anions' a large section to whom politics has heretofore-been a sealed book, and it is also remarkable with what concentrated hate the salc.s tax is regarded by those humble instruments for its collection whom the Government kocps from recreation and sleep in their thousands week in and week out. Members of the. Government and of Parliament appear gratified at the amount of revenue the sales tax yields, but there is also a heavy debit side to the account which they cannot go on ignoring with impunity. —Dunedin "Evening Star."

THE CONFERENCE HABIT. There i.> many a true word spoken in jest, and the brief discussion at 'the last meeting of the Waitara Borough Council, when somewhat light-hearted reference was made to a forthcoming annual conference in Christ-church, was more significant than might be supposed. It is time the public took stock of the position the annual conference system hae reached to-day, and gave it a thorough overhaul with the object of eliminating much of the waste of expenditure that is going on. The principle of holding annual conferences is sound, providing they arc confined to matters that are of material benefit to' the delegates, who, on going home to their own towns, can apply the knowledge gained to good purpose. Unfortunately, the conference habit has been allowed to grow and grow, until matters of little value arc often included in the agenda papers, and valuable time and money wasted. It would be interesting to know, for instance, whether the two to three thousand pounds expended in holding the recent hospital boards' conference at Napier and harbour boards' conference at Duncdin will be returned to the boards in better service. The same question might be asked of a number of local body and public odieer conferences. The development of the remit .system seems to bo one of the chief weaknesses, and is one that might be overcome by appointing a committee to consider all suggested remits and bring before the conferences only those deemed to be worthy of such consideration. Conferences are like some people who have been too long a time at one job; they tend to walk round and , round in circles thinking they, are doing a preat deal, but actually getting nowhere. If the position were properly tackled there is no reason why they should not achieve their object and" at the same time 'avoid unnecessary expense and waste of time. —"Taranaki News." -

ARTIFICIAL FABRICS. The official representative of the Xew South Wales Government in London has been impressed by the extent to which the German people are using a substitute for wool. It is unlikely that the countries producing wool will ignore the possibility of artificial substitute,, being developed, and, of course,-New Zealand is one of those directly concerned. The question is not solely one of the quality of any substitute for wool, but the ability of the manufacturers M produce sufficient quantities at a competitive price, and as yet no detailed information has been made available concerning the actua,] cost of the German material." Marketing conditions there are so far from normal that consumers probably have very little choice, and they may be paying more for the substitute product than they would, in ordinary circumstances, have to pay for woollen goods. It would be both interesting and informative to have some particulars with regard to manufacturing -costs and the market '"prices of the artificial material, for those, in the long run, will probably be the deciding factors. "" The Department of Industries and Commerce should have no difficulty in obtaining some information, so that wool producers may be able to estimate what competition they' may have to face from this quarter. Experience, however, goes _to show that the threat of nnv textiles is no't always as dangerous as it-seems. British trade journals reviewing industries at Home for last year, record the fact that consumption of pure silk increased by 40 per cent, a recovery that was never expected by those who witnessed the rapid growth of rayon.—"Christchurch Times."

A QUESTION OF JUSTICE. A most unconvincing reply in the vaguest terms was made by the Minister of Finance in closing the second reading debate of the Rural Mortgagers Final Adjustment Bill. Mr. Uoates made passing reference to sonic of the strong arguments raised against the bill, but it cannot be said that lie replied to them. He made, however, one significant admission: that the term* of adjustment would be settled by the Special Court of Review and the Adjustment Commissions. This, he argued, was unavoidable. Parliament could not possibly state in exact terms how the various factors should be applied. We can agree with him on that point. The one item on which the bill sug-acjsted something specific—the maximum 20 per cent gift equity—would probably have produced great injustice. Nevertheless, we think that Parliament is failing lamentably in its duty when it proposes to set up a Court of Equity-and gives it no other direction than that set out as the purpose of the bill —to retain efficient farmers in the use and occupation' of their farms. There is room for many interpretations of so wide an instruction. At the present time, with much unemployment, many farmers may be content to work their farms for shelter and sufficient maintenance. Five years hence they may demand much more. How is the court to interpret the purpose that they shall be "retained ... as efficient producer*'.'? Is it even to consider whether they can be replaced if they walkoff? The legislation proposes that private contracts shall be broken. Hitherto it has been the function of courts of justice to maintain contracts. When the Legislature places upon a court a duty contrary to the principles which have hitherto tniided the administration of justice, it should Pi least set some bounds to the departure from those principles. If i , finds it impossible to do this it should lie warned thereby of the dangerous step it i> taking. And. being warned, it should decide that the instruction shouH not be given at all. —Wellington "Evening Post."