ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 17

ECHOES of the WEEK

• PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

Upon a right system of education depends the life-long'well being and happiness of the rising and future generations; it is-the basis of all human activity. The trained educationist has a post of great responsibility, and to the- credit of the profession it must be said that the duties are well and faithfully carried out. But to obtain the best results the co-operation of the parents is essential, and one of the phases of this co-operation is attendance at the meetings provided by statute for the general consideration of matters affect- • ing the schools.—Ashburton .“Guardian.’\ *

The more we improve local hospitals the greater is the growth of community interest, and while it may be argued that 46 hospital districts, with 46 hospital boards, make a cumbersome framework for hospital administration no board would submit to be obliterated. Local hospitals have been established to meet local needs, and the people rightly demand that they be-maintain-ed, although the cost of maintenance is a growing 'burden. Medical science may come to our aid by lessening the ills to which flesh is heir to, but-hos-pitals al the year round and unfortunately have not many vacant cots. The institutions are saving human life, and that is their justification. The public, however, require to develop the mental attitude that ’"he who cures a. disease may be the skilfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.—Danuevirke “News.”

The main argument that, so far, has been raised against the provision, of .special wards in general hospitals for • paying patients has been that 'doctors would concentrate their best service on those able to pay most, and give less thorough attention ..to the poor. The profession should be quite able-to set the public mind at rest ■en that score. But there is one further point: If the provision of paying wards in the public hospitals is to mean the ultimate extinction of fhe private hospital—as it may—will there be the same field as there is to-day for experiment' in the direction of hospital improvement? That is a question which many people would like to see answered.—Christchurch “Sun.”

We must get back to something like the old idea of work and .personal responsibility: we must revive the fear of suffering for idleness; we must make men understand-the importance of giving- good Service' "wh'eir‘*‘tffey ■ a're'“’eifi- - -ployed; and .looking for a hew job j when the?:- lose- an old one; we must ■ ill. the-paupeh, spirit;: we must cease to;have the State coddling grown men hnd idle men at the expense of the en- . terprising and thrifty; we must set about developing a race of sturdy workers instead of flabby jellyfish-— mqn with the' will to. seek work, to keep work, and to do Jt Protection for industry anu penalties for -indolence ought to be our motto. The policies of penalising enterprise, permitting ‘blackleg imports’ and pampering idleness” have been tried and found wanting.’*—“Hawke’s Bay. Tribune.”

If employers would utilise utid exercise the same amount of resource and ingenuity in seeking to establish the inierual organisation of their industries on humanitarian lines, as they employ in seeking to enlarge their businesses, and if workers re-directed their zeal by lending more and more willing and loyal co-operation to the industry that employs them, security would be established or Unproved, in* vesi'ius would be attracted, and industry could hot fail to enter upon better days.—“Hawke’s Bay Tribune.”

Like the frozen lamb industry, the ext ort of pork will depend for its sueces's upon the production of an article wlieii suits the consumer’s taste, and at a price which is within his means. In •climate and other particulars the Dominion should be eminently suited for the establishment of a large pig industry. To bring the lamb export business 'to its present position lias meant considerable outlay and experiments in breeding, etc. To maintain that position still entails a good deal of expense in these directions. Hitherto the cost has mostly been borne by the sheep-farmers themselves, and, though it has paid them in the long tun, the industry has often suffered from Jean times. The Government is how proposing somewhat similar outlay in regard to pigs, and if the new industry can be firmly established it should soon amply repay New Zealand for any outlay incurred in fostering it. —“Taranaki Herald.” << /

On the whole the evidence at the Industrial Conference t points to New Zealand having gone quite far enough, if not too far, in the direction of compulsory arbitration. If he is genuinely concerned about the cry for a higher standard of living among the workers, there is plenty of scope for inquiry at the other end. If it were possible to curtail some of the profit-taking which goes on during the transfer of. some of the necessaries of life from producer to consumer, the reduced cost of living , might make the workers more satisfied with existing scales of wages.—“ Dunedin Star.*'

There has been a great deal of mixed thinking on the subject of political rights and duties, and no doubt the members of Parliament,' suffering as they do under a political complex, have the feeling that parliamentary elections are of supreme consequence, and that political organisation of "the country should take precedence of everything else. But this is supposed to be a free country, and there are some individuals in it perverted enough to take no kind of Interest in politics, to live maybe, with their heads in literary or philosophic blonds, and to attain happiness by the contemplation of things spiritual, ajid they ought to be allowed to follow tifeir idiosyncrasies. As for the larger body of people who are politically indifferent, we see no reason why its members should be driven to the polls like sheep. Compulsory enrolment without compulsory voting is quite illogical, and when Parliament passed the legislation it apparently forgot that sound old adage about taking a horse to water.—“Lyttelton Times.”

The primary producers must realise that it is a special duty on their part to encourage Dominion manufacturers and Dominion business-people so long as the prices charged are reasonable and fair. On every hand, it is agreed that the latest tariff amendments were well-intentioned. In particular the decision to allow certain goods that cannot be manuafactured in the Dominion to come in free after the middle of the current year was very conimenadablo. . What is needed is an extension of that principle and in order that it may be brought, about the Government must curtail the costs of administration so that it will not. be necessary to make the Customs Department so largely a revenue-collect-ing machine. • If the high costs of living could be cut down appreciably in this and other ways, it would, go far towards ensuring a greater measure of political, as well ns of industrial, stability.—“Gisborne Times.”

If the people of the British Isles buy food and raw materials from within the Empire family circle—and they are New Zealand's most consistent customers —is it not obvious that overseas people, in their own interests must, if they desire to be paid (as, of course, they will), “buy” British freights, instead of foreign freights, pay interest in British rather than foreign capital, and support British industry by purchasing British goods. This course of action is prompted not only at the dictation of good sentiment, .but it is good business. If, then, it is an axiom that “you ennnot sell unless you buy, since trade is a matter of exchange.” the organisers of the Empire Shopping Week can base their appeal on business as well as sentiment. - The initial meeting held yesterday, although not very largely attended, should not deter the promoters, but it is hoped that the illuminating address delivered by Mr. Milner, which aroused such enthusiasm, will enthuse the people of this district and ensure the successful inauguration of a worthy movement which aims at the promotion of trade within the Empire—“Timaru Herald.”

The task of supplying Empire goods of good quality, reasonably priced and regularity is clearly one that must be 4>y .. thfi ‘producers';’ bitt the Committee recognises that there are many problems associated with the production and transport of foodstuff's which can be solved only by organised scientific research, and work of that nature has been initiated and supported by the Empire 'Marketing Board. Meanwhile it is satisfactory, to learn that notable Improvements have already been effected in the trade reputation of produce by the recent adoption of definite standards for quality and packing. — “Waikato Times.” .' .

One still fails to find in primary education a close enough connection with the varying after-lives of pupils —a line that will not snap when they have left the school aud enter the struggle of life. , The problem still is how to better equip those designed as a preparation for the overcrowded professions, aud who intend to enter trades. Primary education is too largely less for the real exigencies of life, and even this new road may continue for many pupils to be The Road to Nowhere.—“ Auckland Sun.”

Is there any clue as to the marked difference between, opr two islands? We think there is one to be found, and that the dairy industry supplies it. In the seasons making up the year 1926-27 this country exported 61,105 tons of butter, and of that all but 0520.t0ns went from the North Island. In the. same year we sent away 71,682 tons of cheese, and of that all but 2750 tons went from the North Island. The obvious suggestion here is that a steady development of dairying in the South Island would do more to advance its productivity and prosperity than anything else. This points a moral which has before found place in these columns, in the shape of a recommendation to the Government to adopt as a laud policy the eneburagement where possible of the conversion of sheep into milch cows. The South Island could do much better than it does in dairying, and development of this industry would tend not only tl> an Increase in its population, but. in its per capita productiveness also. — “Napier Telegraph.”

It is a great task, as it is a responsibility, that teachers are given. They have a right to all that wise methods, wise expenditure of money, and the fullest opportunities for increasing their own efficiency can do to aid their work. Their efforts will finally be judged by their success in evolving a generation convinced that citizenship demands, that liberty and self-discip-line go hand in hand: that personal desires and aptitude must frequently be subordinated to community needs and service; that honesty of mind and conduct are essential to progress, and that to shirk social service is to miss the 1 fullness of life.—“Taranaki News.”

.New Zealand requires the unselfish service of all her people. She needs most the services of her voting men. Her place, as a great country, depends much more upon the future than it does upon the present, but foundations now cannot be neglected without infinite loss. Tn th!* respect our universities are hardly assisting as. they might do. Because political life is not '.is satisfactory as it is thought it might be our students appear to look upon it with indifference if not actual distaste. Healthy ambition would rather seek .to imnrove bv action than to impair bv neglect. It would be more hopeful if, instead of the present apathy, there could be set up, of natural rather than of artificial purpose, a healtliv rivalrv among voung men as to who could serve New Ze-land earliest and best.— “Poverty. Pay Herald.”- -