ECHOES OF THE WEEK

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 150, 21 March 1925, Page 13

ECHOES OF THE WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

It has beeu reported that the coalminers’ complaint is not against the co-operative system, but the alleged action of the Department in allotting the best working places to co-operative parties, which would be in disregard of the custom of allotting working places in rotation. It the latter is the correct explanation, it is wholly inconsistent with the formal resolution proclaiming a boycott after a fortnight’s notice. The only logical inference, therefore, is that the strike has been ordered because the union objects to miners making their own terms with their employers, and that it is so greatly concerned with the maintenance of its own authority that it does not hesitate to cast its members into idleness, to call upon the Government to repudiate . contracts, nor itself to repudiate the implied contract that the miners will maintain a regular supply of coal.—“ New Zealand Herald.” ' .

Theoretical training in the science of farming should go hand in hand with practical instruction. Even it the number going to the higher grades of study is small, an institution ot university status is needed for the instruction of teachers in the lower grades. To be a good teacher an instructor - must know more than is actually on his syllabus. At the same time practical training must be given. The best place to learn farming is a farm, and a mixed farm at that. The’ very fact that there is so much specialisation in Auckland farming makes it all the more necessary that farmer-students should be trained on farms where general work is done. J’Auckland Star.”

A majority (formed by one vote) of the National Park Board has just decided that the heather should be eradicated. Science has triumphed so far over sentiment, though'scientists form a minority of the board. But it may be a hollow victory. The majority does not say that the ling is to be eradicated All it says is that it ought to be rooted out. Whether that course 'will be practicable is now a question, Thepark warden believes that it has obtained too strong a hold. The Minister of. Lands who opposed the motion, has declared that the removal of it would en tail tremendous expense,” and it is to the Government that the board must look for its main funds. Dr. Cockayne has proclaimed that the vigorous evader of Tongariro is not Scottish but German heather. That statement should give the death blow to sentiment if it is incontrovertible; but we aie not sure on what grounds the assertion is based. Scotland has no monopoly of heather, it is a plant widespread over Northern Europe. It is to be presumed, however that this particular heather was brought from Scotland. It would be in its> place in a Scottish national park.—Christchurch “Press.”

It is held that if the Masseyites and Wilfordites persist in their cut -t l ’ r °at tactics the Socialists will slip between them into office. Overtures have been made to the Lib.-Labs. in times past with the object of bringing about amalgamation, but the price demanded by Mr Wilford and his executive was unreasonable. They refused to move in the direction of a. fusion unless and until Mr. Massev unconditionally resigned. No man in his senses believed that Mr. Massey would resign or ought to resign. He enjoyed the confidence of a party which is nearly 100 per cent. stronger in point of numbers than Mr. Wflford’s. He was easily the most dominating figure in the House. He had piloted the Dominion through the war and through the aftermath of the war. His work in those desperate years earned him encomiums at home and abroad. That such a man shou d have been asked to step aside in Ins hey-day suggests either a tragic humourlessness or something even less edifying. Christchurch “Sun.”

Theoretically the Protocol would involve the possibility of Great Britain being forced, not of her own choice and against her will, into a war with the United States. It must even entail an automatic obligation on her to make war on her own Dominions, which are, in the eyes of the League of Nations, treated as separate nations. Against any such possibility the miiid of Great Britain naturally revolts. Because of this implication, and of. other implications in the Protocol, there has been a justifiable reluctance on the part of Great Britain, as there has also been on the part of th? Dominions, to commit themselves to a ratification of the instrument. While they may be completely in sympathy with the conception of the Protocol, they do not consider that it constitutes such a perfect plan for the avoidance of war as to be accepted, at least without important modifications. —“Otago Daily Tinies.”

Acting on the advice of some newspapers the employers of waterfront labour decided to take the men at their word, to call for labour and give them the cliance of rolling up and going ahead. The guarantee of continual labour which thev had demanded went by the board on' the assurance of some of the workers’ representatives that it was quite unnecessary, and, indeed, rather insulting. So the day arrived, the bell clanged on the various wharves throughout New Zealr.xd and on the whole work resumed- smoothly. But though most of the large ports were working factious obstacles arose in several other smaller ports. In New Plymouth there was a complete deadlock, purely, it seems, on a point of dignity. The outlook is again anything but pleasing, and nobody with any discernment can feel the least bit satisfied that all is well.—“Wairarapa Age.”

The readiness with which a little toddler runs to its mother with every scratch and bruise simply isn’t in it with the wild rush for Government aid whenever th» wind of prosperity shows signs of failing. . In modern industrial organisation a limited measure of State supervision and regulation is held to be justified, but the lengths to which the State would be used as a prop in this country if Ministers were at all soft-hearted is something quite beyond the bounds of reason. Pavment of the unemployment dole at Home is considered to have undermined the morale of the mana il working class- the endless demand for doles from'the coffers of State in New Zealand suggests that the. fiercely, independent spirit of the ptoneers. is fast becoming a thing of the past.—"Hapera Star/’

At the Dunedin Exhibition New Zealand manufacturers will be on their mettle. British and other imported goods are certain to be sjfown, and in a very attractive way. If the New Zealand-made’ article is to appear on equal terms with oversea competitors, it must be displayed with more skill and care than in the past. Too many manufacturers have been content to dress their stands with piles of tins and bottles, and to leave them so for weeks and months. Ruch displays lack even the interest of an average shop window. New Zealand manufacturers have a big responsibility. They employ about 30,000 hands, and the gross value of their products is round about £80,000,000 yearly. The exhibition at Dunedin may not have the international standing its promoters wish, but it is an excellent means of displaying the Dominion’s products to the Dominion’s people. If the secondary industries fail to use it to the full they will be neglecting a plain duty.—“ Christchurch Sun.”

The general features of the home education scheme may well be given a fair trial as an experiment, so that the result will be valuable in framing a definite scheme for use in any future emergency of a like nature. Had the Government been in possession of a proved and practical scheme it could have been put into operation immediately the Christmas holidays came to an end, and thus much valuable time would have been saved. Under the circumstances it may be assumed that the public and the Press will render such assistance as is in their power, in much the same way as when the influenza epidemic raged, but the Government is expected to do its share without raising the question of expense, for, after all, it is the public and not the Cabinet that has .to provide the money. —“Taranaki News.”

An amendment to the Land Act, passed in 1919, establishes the “Homestead” system of settlement. By this, land other than first-class can be allotted to settlers under license, free of rent. The term is for 10. years with power of renewal. There is authority to advance money to the selector for development work. If, after seven years occupancy he has complied with all the conditions of his license—in other words, if he has made a success of the enterprise—he may be given the freehold without payment. Three years have gone by and still nothing has been done, or gives promise of being done. The potential productive value of the gum lands is neglected, the land hungrv are condemned to remain hungry, and the progress of the Dominion is decelerated. The old apathy rules, the old lack of vision persists.— “New Zealand Herald." ,

Our cable messages show that the interested parties are considering these, regulations concerning preservatives in food and that some of them are alarmed. It would be interesting to know what the New Zealand industries concerned and the New Zealand Government ar* doing to put tlje New Zealand view before the British Government. The question seems to have excited little interest in dairying circles in this country. Yet it is very important. It is true that much butter is exported without boric acid; the fresher the cream when it arrives at the factory the less the need for using preservatives. Nevertheless preservatives are so widely used in the manufacture of this staple product that prohibition or drastic restriction of its use in food for the English market would be a serious thing for this country. “Auckland Star.”

Here, because of stiff duties and sometimes positive embargoes on the importation of foodstuffs, the operation of the ordinary economic laws of supply and demand is spiked; while our experience of Government control was unhappy for all concerned —with a few notable individual exceptions. Mr. Anderson stated recently that the master bakers had shown that, apart from the recent increase in flour prices, the tiade had had to face several additional costs in the production of bread, and that in order to improve the quality of the bread new ingredients had recently been introduced. But these new ingradients do not restore to the flour the important vitamines Which the millers are at great pains and expense to remove and sell in the shape of offals. If one asks almost any baker he will sav that the best part of the wheat is'not in flour, but in pollard. Our pigs and poultry derive more benefit from wheat than ourselves and our children. —“Dunedin Star.”

A schoolbov lias been heard to remark: "Wonderful are the works of a wheelbarrow.” More “wonderful are the working of the minds of the extrem’sts. who unfortunately lead the workers into the absurd position which exists at the West Coast State mines to-dav. Some of the men listen to Mr Semple and accept his statements, but as soon as they act upon them they find that tliev 'antagonise the others and even cause a cessation of work. How can satisfactory arrangements of a permanent nature ever be made with such people? And yet the extreme Labour Party is advocating that at the next general election its candidates should be elected ?—Wanganui “Herald.”

The great majoritv of the taxpayers know that there is no superannuation fund from which allowances will be paid to them themselves when their age or infirmity requires that they shall abandon active work. Thev must depend upon what they are able to save in order that thev may support themselves in their declining years. If they feel strongly that it is inequitable that, while thev must rely on the exercise of their own' thrift to provide for their old age thev should have to contribute annually to the upkeep of superannuation funds for public servants, whose employment has alwk.y been continuous and never subject to the fluctuations of trade, it is impossible to say that thev have not some ground for the view thev take. It h clear that the whole question of superannuation must be reviewed in the near future, and that a scheme must be devised on a basis much broader than that of the existing funds.—“Otago Daily Times.”