ECHOES OF THE WEEK

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 53, 25 November 1922, Page 11

ECHOES OF THE WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

What Mr. Massey told Dr. Gibb and his colleagues was that, in a similar set of circumstances, his Government would do the same thing again. Dr. Gibb, we should imagine, may now regret that, in a moment of thoughtlessness, he interjected to the effect that the people had a right to be consulted. The plain truth, however, is that, when war threatens, >a nation liable to be attacked has to act promptly through its Government. Any suggestion that its people should be given time in which to hold a referendum as to what attitude it should adopt must be put down as ridiculous. —Gisborne “Timps.” The influence exerted by the chambers of commerce upon the business life of the community , is indisputable, and the functions they fulfil are all on the side of progress and enterprise. For this reason it is a consideration of moment that the chambers in the several commercial centres should be enabled .to speak with the authority of a united voice on important questions of policy. In addition to what is annually accomplished by the conference in the interests of commerce generally, this gathering of business people from various parts of the Dominion cannot fail to be beneficial in other respects;—“Otago Daily Times.” There can be no question of placating the strikers by a surrender on the part of the shipping companies. To do .so would be to create a precedent which might have disastrous consequences for the whole system of arbitration and industrialism as well. But recognition of that principle should not be taken as absolving the Government from interfering in the dispute before inflammation sets in. The Prime Minister has had to exert his good offices before on occasions such as this, and he caff scarcely refrain now that the position has developed grave symptoms.—Christchurch “Sun.” j In these days of mobile motor services it is clearly against the public interests for the Government to go on constructing branch railways that are not likely to pay their way, and it may be good policy to close tlfe worst of the non-paving lines (those that do not cover working expenses), providing suitable lorry services can be arranged to take their place, although there is always the danger that, run under Government auspices and direction, such services may not prove any more remunerative than the lines which may be closed. The Government policy in that respect will be watched with interest. The back country must be opened up by railways, where they can be profitably constructed and worked, and the Minister of Public Works is taking precautions to ensure that, before such lines are sanctioned, the fullest possible inquiries are made concerning the potential traffic as well as the cost of the undertaking.—“ Manawatu Evening Standard.” That it is desirable to have abundant leisure and good wages is a sentiment everyone gladly endorses. But to imagine that increased leisure and increased wages will achieve increased national efficiency .is to imagine a vain thing. There need be no wild vision of the nation reverting to slavery in the sacred name of efficiency. But in every department of life, individual, domestic, and' national, the scrapping > of old methods and the installing of new are constantly necessary. In short, it is really a question of using our ever-growing knowledge intelligently. Science must be increasingly made the handmaid of human exertions. The housewife in her kitchen, the accountant at his desk, the chemist in his laboratory, all must ever bp striving 1 to make their efforts with greater ease’and accuracy, and to make the results of these efforts more acceptable to society.— Pahiatua “Herald.” Mr. Massgy favours the creation of an Imperial Council which would sit periodically, and in. that direction lies/ we think, the solution of the problem. Such a council should meet annually, and, if possible, not always in London, though the difficulties in the way of British Ministers being absent from Homg for several months might prove an insuperable obstacle to its meeting in Australia or New Zealand. Such a council would not merely discuss current questions, but would, consult on matters of Imperial policy . affecting. the Dominions, and, though it could not decide definitely on any of these the course to be followed, the deliberations would afford those present.some approved plan to lay before their r§-. spective Parliaments when occasion de-; manded that that particular question should be dealt with.—Christchurch “Press.” The report of a school medical officer on the condition of the teeth, of the children attending the schools in Masterton does not make satisfactory reading. Of course, there is not likely to be any concerted action taken by parents to remedy matters unless provision is made to attend to children’s teeth at a small cost. The most sensible way to deal with the matter is that the Health < Department should set up one of the dental students who are granted bursaries at the Dunedin Dental School, and are under agreement to work for the Government, in an out-patient dental department; the hospital authorities paying the salary. An out-patient department in connection with the Timaru Hospital has, it is stated, revolutionised the state, of the children’s mouths in that locality. • —“Wairarapa Daily Times.”

The. public have to get the truth firmly into their 1 heads that the national wealth necessary for the maintenance of the aged and infirm must have its expression in food, clothing, and other necessaries—and the assuring of such supplies on a great national scale would demand very careful and intelligent management of a national pensions scheme. Then there is the proper care of families bereft of tho breadwinner. By some such scheme, this family must be maintained in reasonable comfort. Compulsory contributions by the individual, supplemented by the State, should provide all that is required. It is a bic task, a bio: need, but there are no insurmountable difficulties. — Nelson “Evening Mail.”

■There are indications that the sense of honour and. probity of which wo previously felt proud has been weakened, and that some step should be taken to regain our former high reputation. It is not suggested for a moment that our young, people have deplorably deteriorated in character or otherwise, but it is contended that in many cases their environment and daily experiences are not of a nature calculated to inspire loftly ide&ls or to inculcate the principles of good citizenship. The foundation of good sitizenship lies in the home.—“Woodville Examiner.” z In New Zealand a large section of H the workers desire to end the arbitration system, although it has given them as good working conditions and wages as any in the world, and has. actually fostered their organisation and development by stipulating in the first place that workers must combine in a union before they can obtain the Court’s Jaward, and in, the second place, by giving preference to unionists. It is the workers’ own affair if they kick from under them the ladder whereby they have climbed.— “Ashburton Guardian.” The lamb market is buoya.it. Out butter and cheese continue to command excellent prices abroad. And now comes the jump in wool to emphasise the return of better days, and better days for all. When the primary producers are in the doldrums that condition is reflected throughout the community ;■' everybody else iu gloomy! When the farmers are doing well all classes feel the I enefit. It must be so, since, the bulk of the goods.we have to sell is land products. We lean heavily on the rural industries of this country; too heavily, in our opinion.—Christchurch “Sun.” Few people realise the possibilities of swimming, of all that has been done, and what there is to do. Swimming is the best of all sports and recreations, yet we read yearly of the wicked waste of lives by drowning in New Zealand through lack of instruction. We have schools for com- -, pulsorily developing education and phy-. siquo. of our children, but nothing to compel all children to learn to swim in order to save themselves when ao- , cidentally precipitated into river or sea.—Waihi “Daily Telegraph.” It is undeniable' that the establishment of such a powerful controlling body as the new B.A.W.R.A. would mean setting up a rival to the Government itself, about which there ar® certain Clements of danger. Should, however, those rivals join forces and coalesce, in effect, though not necessarily in name, there are great possibilities for Ovil as well as for good. It will be extremely (interesting to see , what attitude the New Zealand producer will take towards this Australian proposal.—Dunedin “Evening Star.” . It is a gratifying circumstance that the world’s wool buyers recognise that there are advantages in making their, purchases of this commodity m the country in which it is grown; If the New Zealand grower can be saved all the charges involved in disposing of his product in a distant market, and yet realise prices equal to those that... are there to be secured, he clearly.: reaps a considerable advantage. Signs, that the market for the world’s wool is. becoming stabilised once more are highly welcome. A good clip and good - prices are of prime importance to the prosperity of this Dominion. —“Otago Daily Times.”

Private enterprises are expected to produce, and actually doproduce, if not harassed too much by officialdom and regulations, certain profits after paying rates and taxes. There would be something in the case for State and-, municipal tradings if these, after allowing for depreciation, showed an even balance, leaving profits out of the question altogether. But they more frequently show a loss. How, then, would they fare if they had to provide out of their earnings considerable sums by way of rates and taxes? And how is it that the average company shareholder, in his capacity as taxpayer or ratepayer, will regard composedly a statement of municipal finances for which, if presented by his own board, h® would immediately consign, if he possibly could, the luckless directors to the block?—The “Industrial Bulletin’ (N.Z.).

The Churches must work out jnnonfi men everywhere an intense spirit ox ambition for the common good, and a plan and atmosphere for the peaceful, iust and honourable settlement of au disputes and difficulties. Their supreme task is to bring about a Christian spirit in the whole community. If organised Labour keeps outside th| Churches it can hardly complain « , the Churches are mainly represented bv other classes and to some extent reflect their ideas. Labour as well aa Capital needs a less material outlook* and this higher outlook can only be obtained by each individual realising the twin ideals of. justice and toteraitv in his own life, and -hus helping the Churches to build higher and . stronger, dominating the injustice and hatred of the world, the walls of that city which hath foundations.—Auckland ‘‘Star.”

The Wellington wool sales show clearly that the market is reebvertng that buoyancy associated with prewar days. Competition, was keen, and a favourable factor in connection with the sale was that Bradford and the Continent were eager to secure coarse and low crossbred- at an advance of £d. per lb. on the Rlay sales. Though the lower grades of wool are still lagging behind in the, market advance, 'they v/ill undoubtedly move forward when the Via World fills its requirements m the finer wools and resumes the pre-war demand for those grades of wool which are used for the clothes of the worker. The corner of the slump period had been turned, the wool market is righting itself, and trade pro-, spects for tho future appear to be very bright.—‘Wairarapa Daily Times.”