WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 6

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

POINTS FROM THE PRESS. THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. The Labour Government lias managed to crowd into three months an unprecedented volume of important legislation, some of which has received really scant consideration. The essential measures in which haste was at least reasonable were the Primary Products Marketing Act, the Reserve Bank Amendment Act and possibly the industrial bills. The Government was naturally anxious to get its marketing policy into shape before 'the commencement of the new producing season, but in the case of virtually all the other measures a more leisurely consideration would have been wise. So fast has the Parliamentary machine been working that the public must bo a little bewildered, and some of the measures affecting them intimately will be in operation before they have had an opportunity of knowing just in what respects the methods and systems in use will have to be modified. The Government itself realises" that there is likely to be a period of confusion, and has been a little unfair to the industrial and commercial communities in making the interval before the measures come into operation so short. In fact it is doubtful whether the necessary changes to the machinery of State can be completed in the brief time allowed.—"Christchurch Star-Sun."

TILTS AT THE NEWSPAPERS. Certain of the .Government members who expressed themselves in support of the Broadcasting Bill appear to have embraced wholeheartedly an opportunity of attacking the Press. What set them in such ferment can only be ft matter for surmise. But they have themselves revealed that their ideas of fair argument and their actual knowledge of the Press and its practice are equally exiguous. The Labour party seems to possess some exceptionally newspaper-conscious members. Their efforts in the debate convey something of a reminder of that hero of Waterloo who, in the Byronic line, "rushed into the field, and foremost fighting fell." The Minister, in opening the debate on the second reading of the bill, went so far as to say that the newspapers had tyrannically restricted the news services hitherto supplied by radio, using quite unfairly an illustration from Australia relative to conditions that are entirely different. The newspapers of the Dominion are particular about their sources of foreign information, and that they require that news from abroad should be sifted and reliable. The Broadcasting Board, sis listeners know, has appreciated the fact that, by courtesy of the newspapers, it has been accorded the opportunity of transmitting a certain amount of information which tlicy supply. —"Otago Daily Times."

LICENSING REFORM. An Auckland magistrate, Mr. Wvvern Wilson, speaking on behalf of the Auckland Licensing Committee, has appealed to the Government to undertake "a comprehensive re-enactment of tlie licensing laws,' which are, ho says, "in many respects archaic, having come into existence in tile 'seventies and early 'eighties, when the public requirements were quite different." There was support for Mr. Wilson's attitude at the annual meeting of the Rotorua Licensing Committee a few days ago, when a general redistribution of licenses Svas declared to be necessary "in the interests of the public and of the tourist industry." At present the distribution of hotel licenses bears no relation to the distribution of population; and licensing committees have no power to remedy the situation. It is absurd, for instance, that a petition to Parliament should be the only means of securing the transfer of a license from Thames to Matamata (this was the. case that provoked the Rotorua committee's resolution), or that the owners of a large tourist hostel 011 the West Coast should be unable to get a license, despite the fact that most West Coast towns have far too many licenses. The trouble seems to be that the periodical battle between the prohibitionists and their opponents prevents the sane middle course of licensing reform from making any headway. The results of the liquor poll last year ju> tify the contention that prohibition is- a lost cause and that the time has come when the triennial poll should be abolished. If that is_ done, it should be possible to end the eliaos of the present licensing laws and distribute hotel licenses rationally.—Christehurcli "Press."

MODERATE REGULATION. Issues which extend far beyond the pharmacy business are raistd by the recommendation of the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives: "That the organisation of chemists' services be regulated by license under the control of the Minister of Industries and Commerce." The recommendation, with the proposal that •large-scale pharmacy companies should not extend their operations till existing chemists have had an opportunity to reorganise, was the Committee's answer to the petitions of chemists. It proposes, in effect, that the public should have the benefits of large-scale business with the minimum injury to the persons already conducting that business. Thus expressed it is an endeavour to humanise the doctrine of laissez-faire and to assure at the same time that protection docs not unduly hamper progress. Under the old order the path of progress was strewn with wrecked businesses, careers were brought to a sudden stop, and skilled craftsmen were thrown out of employment. Considered as a whole, the progress was beneficial to humanity, creating work and raising living standards for the mass of the. people; but many individuals suffered unduly in the process. Times are still changing and society continues to advance. Can the advance be made with less individual hardship than formerly? The Parliamentary Committee's report is an attempt to answer this question affirmatively. Large-scale shopkeeping and large-scale business are gradually developing. Recent industrial legislation, such as the forty-hour week, will tend to hasten that development. The Committee proposes to regulate this movement so that existing businesses may bo not eliminated, but reorganised.—Wellington "Evening Post."