ECHOES OF THE WEEK

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 35, 4 November 1922, Page 11

ECHOES OF THE WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

In New Zealand, where it has constantly been emphasised that settlers are wanted for agricultural districts rather than immigrants who may settle in the towns, a movement which aims at promoting the happiness and contentment of the wives and daughters of the setters should find a large measure of support.—Dunedin “Evening Star..” 1

. It is - interesting to note that while the export of lamb has remained stationary, that of, mutton shows a decrease in value of two millions sterling as compared with last year, only one-third of the number of carcasses having been shipped. On the whole it seems that the exports have been very satisfactory in quantity, so far as this year has gone, and a true comparison of values would indicate that conditions in the world’s markets are rather more favourable that some figures would suggest. If the cost of production of some of the Dominion’s export goods can be reduced and the output can be still further increased, the road to the restoration of prosperity will not be unduly long.—“ Northern Advocate.”

There are few causes more important than that of education, and among the educational forces at work in New Zealand and other parts of the Empire the Boy .Scout organisation occupies a unique position. The movement is a constructive effort. to "Crain young people iu those virtues' of helpfulness, respect for duty, and' courtesy which make up sb much of what is comprised in the tgrm “good citizenship.” The Boy Scout movement has become a popular and valuable auxiliary of olderestablished educational agencies because it is based on lines which indicate a vgry thorough sympathy for the human ooy and a good imaginative grasp of his psychology. It is safer to try to make a boy a good scout than to tell him you are going to make him a good boy.—-“Lyttelton Times.”

In part, free education, by special qualification, is in existence at the moment, but the field of opportunity for advancement should bq widened. To assist those qualified, but lacking in financial resources, hostel accommodation should be more completely provided, and all country children should be enabled to secure the equivalent advantage of the town child able to live at home and attend higher schools,-in the form of a 50 per cent, reduction in the boarding fees. The country child being almost dependent upon a good primary education, should receive preferential treatment instead of suffering the disabilities of to-day. . To encourage teachers in the direction of entering schools in the outlying portions of the Dominion a preferential salary grading should be instituted in favour of schools distant more than six miles from a town centre. —Wairarapa Standard.” \

We are not concerned very much where the deviation is made so long ns the present handicap is promptly removed, but we are gravely concerned over the delay in coming to a decision on the question of route, which, Mr. Massey has stated, is the only thing that stands in the way of a start being made on the long-overdue deviation. Ministerial promises to expedite the surveys have periodically been made for years past, and now an extra and secret route is being trotted out, thereby causing further delay. The PQSition is very unsatisfactory, and the quite unnecessary secrecy oyer the r.eiv route must raise the suspicion that the Government is playing “fast and loose with the project.—“Wairarapa Daily Times.”

The Meat Producers’ Board has just circularised the industry and the Press with certain suggestions for improvement. Greater care is called for in the handling of cattle on the road to the freezing works, whether by road or rail. Double bagging of each quarter of beef is necessary, so that, it may turn out more attractively. More care is required on the wharves and ships. More tifhe in the cooling room before freezing will improve the appearance of the meat All these details must have proper attention. Given this and a constant effort to have the standard of beef raised will enable New Zealand to recover its trade, and though beef may not prove as remunerative as mutton and lamb it will almost certainly prove a pavable business if properly conducted. Since Taranaki must raise cattle or see its land go back there should be no hesitation in keeping the freezing works in operation. —“Taranaki Herald.”

The Government has developed an extensive and admirably managed system of lending money to farmers, and nt the very moment that it introduces this Bill to permit the. establishment of rurjl credit banks it proposes to extend the operations of its own State Advances Office by lending money on chattel security, which would be one of the functions of Lie new banks. This docs not seem to be the most favourable time to start these rural banks. Farmers have littlo money to spare for such an experiment, _ and private investors may be shy of supplying it, especially after tlieir experience of Government interference with investments. The banks, however, may find the money, as they often do in the case of agricultural hanks elsewhere. If a beginning is made it will be in a small way, and if success comes it. will be through the gradual acquisition of confidence and experience. . The limit fixed for advances, £SOO, is low, but doubtless if the first associations can show good cause this will be raised. —Auckland "Star.”

In his policy manifesto, Great Britain’s new Prime Minister, Mr. Bonar Law, has given a forward place to the promotion of intro-imperial trade and - the development of Imperial resources. Having regard to the heavy burden of war-debt under which almost j every section of the Empire is labouring, there can be no doubt but that these two factors, the one so much dependent on the other, are of supreme importance to the domestic well-being ' of all. For the people of this Dominion, as no doubt of the others, primary importance attaches, of course, to the development of our natural resources, a process which, having possibilities in view, has with us scarcely made more than a beginning.-— “Hawke’s Bay Tribune.”

Every one must be sorry that the Prime Minister could give the League of Nations .Union no reply in Wellington but the one he did give. We should all like him to have been able to say everything that tho most pacific delegates desired. If he had been free to announce that henceforth not a penny would be spent in New Zealand on ships or guns or ammunition or training; that such forts as wo have would forthwith become picnic-places, and that by the end of the year the only armed man in the ‘

country would be a straw-one in a museum —who is there so dull that he would not have cried Hallelujah? But if Mr. Massey had said anything like that he would have been a traitor to every father and mother in the Dominion. He would have 'abandoned those who pay for peace to those who merely prate about it.—Timaru “Herald.”

By giving the State Advances Office power to» lend up to £5OO on chattie security, the Government will come into • competition with the various lending institutions, many of which, however, as a result of the recent slump in the markets, also of the heavy taxation of the past few years, are unable to provide further ac’commodation. Though the State will be able to lend money at a lower rate, it not being burdened with heavy rates and taxes as are the private concerns.'there will be the disadvantage that Government methods are proverbially circumlocutory and dilatory, and may be far more in regard to chattel jecurity, simply because the officials have not that in-, timate knowledge of men and farmers’ chattels that is possessed by those directly concerned with this class .or work. The success of this extension of credit will depend largely upon the way in Vhich. it is administered. — “Taranaki Daily News.”

Not so many years ago landlordism was a speculation worth while, even though rents were relatively low. Since the fixation system arrived that form of investment has been literally driven out /of favour. And it will' remain out of favour just so long, as' the Government misguidedly persists in limiting the landlord’s dividend. It will be years before the supply of houses overtakes the demand. . In this respect .New Zealand is no different from anybody else. England, America, Australia, and Canada—to mention no others —-are passing through an experience similar to our own. Each possesses a housing <Jifficulty which, so ftir. has not bq*’> overcome. And it will not be except that private enterprise i.t given a free hand. When the restrictions are removed, rents are certain to rise. .This will involve a large number of tenants in hardship, but it should be only a temporary affliction. —Christchurch (‘Sun.”

It is quite safe to say that not a late*tram leaves Cathedral Square .any night in the week that does not carry voung children who ought to have been in bed hours previously. A week or two ago, during the progress of eomd competitions, dozens of youngsters, many under twelve, went home, for several nights in succession, by the last trams. That sort of thing, whether the children have been to the pictures” or to a Band of Hope gathering, is grossly unfair to them. A Rangiora schoolmaster had the courage a few weeks ago to denounce the carelessness of parents in allowing their children to keep late? hours at entertainments. There is great need that the injustice to. the children, against whicn-he so rigidly protested, shall be impressed upon parents who coo often, one is compelled to believe, place their own pleasure before their Children’s welfare. Too r.iuoh work before school is bad for a child, but; too little sleep after it is much worse. —Christchurch “Press.”

The weak point of Labour’s policy is finance. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Mr. Massey’s Rural Credits Bill, their leader .said that the party would not oppose it although it did not go far enough. He indicated that the objective he had in view was a State bank with the sole right of note issue. Just how this would aid the struggling farmer he did not show. There are already a number of banks operating in the country, and the general complaint is that they do not give the assistance the small farmer wants. Many add that the rate of interest is too high. It is difficult to see how the existence of a State bank would improve matters if the bank was to be conducted as a business concern. We already have an example of State enterprise in the ( Government Insurance Department, and’the only difference that that instituion makes is that the choice of an office is extended. There is certainly no competition in rates, nor have rates been decreased. —“Hawke’s Bay Herald.”