WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 6

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

POINTS FROM THE PRESS. CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICS. The great majority of civil servants will in future bo included in "industrial organisations," and if they are encouraged- to contribute to party funds their associations will be able to command a very large sum every year. Political organisers will not always be high-minded patriots, and the temptation to enter into bargains will always be present. The Government, it is true, can logically argue that public servants ought to be given the fullest rights or citizenship and that the right of their associations to contribute to political funds is a matter of principle and not of expediency, but there are very obvious reasons why the application of the principle should bo | limited in this matter. —"Christchurch StarI Sun." MEDICAL TRAINING. The Ota go Medical School has over a long period built up the reputation which it enjoys. It would 1)0 pertinent to ask how long it would take a second medical school to acquire a similar status. The Auckland Hospital Board would shelve the question of the enormous cost of establishing and maintaining a school of medicine in Auckland by looking to the Government for funds. But the Otago Medical School is recognised as a national institution, and it is beyond question that 110 need exists for a second institution of the kind. The existing school is very complete and efficient, and visitors from abroad have frequently expressed their appreciation of the excellent provision which it makes for medical instruction. It would be a retrograde step to set up a superfluous rival institution.—"Otago Daily Times." * • * • YOUTHS AND THE BASIC WAGE. The law requires the Arbitration Court to fix within a few weeks a basic rate of wages for adult male and female workers. In the case of males, this rate must be sufficient to enable each man to support a wife and three children at a reasonable standard of comfort. The new rates will, of course, apply only to union labour, but the new legislation governing the organisation of labour will compel the majority of manual and clerical workers i:i the country to become unionists. According to the evidence of those who are in touch with the problem of juvenile unemployment, youths of 18 and 1!) are now finding it very difficult to get employment because their employers would be compelled, after a period of two or three years, to pay them the basic wage. The Government should keep a careful watch upon the incidence of unemployment among youths, and if necessary postpone the operation of the basic wage clauses in flic Arbitration Act.—Christchurch "Press." ♦ * * • A TEMPLE OF THE MUSES. It is fortunate that the magnificent edifice on Mount Cook, by including in its embrace the National Art Gallery as well as the Dominion Museum—a rare combination —can justify a claim that seems almost unique in modern times to be a true Museum, a Temple of the Muses, such as Alexander designed in the city that still bears liis name. As such its influence is doubly enhanced, presenting within four walls the best that the Dominion can show in the development of its arts and crafts, and also representing specimens from the world around us. In the last two generations museums and art galleries have come to have a different meaning for the people. They are recogniscd universally now as a most valuable means of visual education in aesthetics—the appreciation of beauty and humanism in the life of man in relation to his environment.—"Wellington Post." TRADING ON A GOOD NAME. Tt has long been a complaint of New Zealand exporters that much high quality produce from the Dominion has been blended with lower quality butter and sold to the public as "Empire" and sometimes as New Zealand butter. There is 110 desire to interfere with the legitimate sale of blended butters, but the exporter and the consumer, have the right to be safeguarded against misleading wrappings and names under which butter has been sold, and a possibly'unsatisfactory mixture purchased as being a product of the Dominion. It is hoped that the local authorities in Britain, which are now being asked with the British Government and the Dominion, will show more vigilance in the future in detecting what is nothing loss than sharp practice in trading. —"Taranaki Daily News."

HELPING THE CRIPPLES. An encouraging report of activities will lie laid before the first annual meeting of the Now Zealand Crippled Children Society. Although the public appeals for funds to supplement the two gifts from Lord Nuffield (of £50,000 and £10.000 respectively) had disappointing results, the society itself lias been widely and vigorously organised, until now it has sixteen branches spread through the country from Auckland to Jnvercargill. In the first year more than a thousand cases of crippled children have been recorded, and the society has come to the conclusion that its main work will lie in preparing and helping cripples to establish themselves in the economic life of the country.—Wellington "Dominion." m** « ■ REPLACING MEN IN INDUSTRY. There is something refreshing about the object, and the atmosphere, surrounding the activities of the Government's new .placement scheme for dealing with unemployment,- One value of the scheme is that it is able to find openings for men, at a distance, which may not exist in their own district. It also ensures, as far as possible, that employers will he satisfied. There are 330 trades, professions and callings represented in the Dominion registrations under the scheme, which suggests a large army of workless still to be dealt with, and the important advantages which may result from this classification of men according to their ability. The Government will lighten its task by every act which helps normal employment to increase and not diminish. —"Dunedin Star." DOMINION INVESTMENTS.

The stock market is a sensitive barometer of a country's financial condition, and it is usually one of the first indicators of better times, for market levels are based more 011 future prospects than on the current position. New Zealand's prospects at the moment should be quite as good as Australia's, since botli countries are to a large extent dependent upon the same primary products.—"Southland Times." * * * * DEATH TRAPS.. The comment of the general manager of the railways that if road Utters would comply with the law the majority of railway crossing accidents would be avoided is perfectly true, but not in the least helpful. Every road user intends to comply with the law, but it is clear that as accidents happen at the crossing's every few days there must be something wrong either with the law or with the conditions to which the law applies. Men may break laws deliberately—but they do not drive deliberately into death traps. The maximum penalty imposed by the law for the offence of driving across the railway when the line is not clear is a fine of ten pounds; but the actual maximum penalty is death.—"Christchurch Star-Sun."