ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 195, 19 May 1928, Page 17

ECHOES of the WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS *

There are at least four different political parties raising a clamour already for support at the general elections this year. Has any one bf them got a practical remedy for unemployment?’ If so, now is the time to disclose it. As things are in the world to-day, unemployment is the curse of countries enjoying or suffering government by Tories, by Liberals, by mild Labour and by mad Labour, and by dollars and different kinds of dictators. And none of them has solved the problem of unemployment. There is surely a great opportunity for New Zealand politicians again to load the world.—Auckland “Sun."

When it is said that the "dressing" of New Zealand carcasses still leaves something to be desired, it is reasonable to infer that two causes are at work, not one. Insofar as New Zealand butchering and handling are at fault, nothing should be left undone to reach a higher and the highest possible standard in preserving the quality of the meat and securing its attractive superficial appearance. But the (fault lies probably as much \or still more with the conditions of carriage and refrigeration. There is still a great deal to be done before the problems of transport under refrigeration are thoroughly overcome; and to-day’s cablegram indicates how necessary it is, in the interests of New Zealand’s export trade, that they should be.—Christchurch "Sun.”

What has obviously impressed the farmers of the syllabus to be given effect next year is the obstinate economic fact that many primary pupils cannot look forward to a prolonged opportunity of attending day-schools. They belong to families whose circumstances compel these pupils to begin, earlier than others, remunerative work. Under existing conditions, not to be altered without vast difficulty, the best that can be done is to prepare these pupils Tor profltable use of the opportunities presented in tech-nical-school evening classes;, and this the new syllabus endeavours to achieve. In this respect, it offers a very valuable contribution to the solution of a problem that has long demanded attention, and its working out •in practice will be watched with great hope.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

If trade unions cannot, or will not, control their members to the extent of compelling them to work- in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down by the Court, those being the only terms and conditions that employers will recognise, clearly, their default undermines the whole compulsory arbitration system. The public, which pays dearly for adhesion to this method of settling Industrial troubles, is. denied the prosperous continuity of industry that it wants; the employers are denied the security that the Court. should give them when it essays to regulate their relations with their employees: ' and the rank and file unionists are denied regular aud peaceful employment.” The “Herald” adds that the only excuse to be made for the union mass is that possibly these things are done in spite of its real sentiments by officials who have ulterior motives to serve. If that be so, there is the more need for the speedy passage into law of the Bill which the Federal Government has introduced for the purpose of restoring control of the trade union to its members. —“Poverty Bay Herald.”

One fact that, stands out very clearly Is that New Zealand is not now cultivating that most valuable asset, the volunteer spirit. Somewhere in the scheme of military training room should be made for meu who, without being professional soldiers, have.the true soldier spirit; the men, that is to say. who would bring to the serious business of preparation for the defence of the country the ardour and . enthusiasm that, under present conditions, are being diverted wholly, to. field, games. The essential factors in the production of an efficient defence force are physical fitnpss. "intelligence”, and the spirit of which we have just spoken. These are the factors that must be in the minds of the statesman whose task it is, or should be, to recast the system of compulsory military training.— “.Lyttelton Times.”

The Dominion is already full of misfits whose incapacity is entirely attributable to the lack of co-ordination between the educational and industrial systems. It is a perfectly easy matter to effect an adjustment that will give to the country many skilful artisans instead of flooding it with incompetent professional men. It is surprising that the sanity of the methods it is now intended to adopt did not suggest themselves before, and we may only assume that the system ■was permitted to get into a groove from which no Director of Education was courageous enough to endeavour to extricate it. The proper syllabus should as nearly, as possible prove a natural development of the early teachings inculcated at the mother’s’ knee, and the stereotyped methods which cut lessons off like yards of cloth or strings of sausages should be banished for. ever.—‘‘Southland News.”

The preponderating majority of the members of the wheat pool organisation are said to be well satisfied with the results of the system. Apparently, moreover, the wheatgrowers in New Zealand who propose to apply the Canadian system in the organisation of their own industry have convinced themselves that the pool in the prairie provinces of the sister Dominion has actually proved a distinct success and that it furnishes a model upon which a scheme for the necessary protection of the interests of the wheat-growers of New Zealand may be effectively based. There are, however, interests other than those of the wheat-growers that merit consideration. and it is to be hoped that they will benefit through the operations of the Wheat Research Institute, which, by ■the application of science to the industry? may be able to point a way to a reduction in the cost of the production, of both wheat and flour.— •“.Otago Daily Times.”

From whatever point the argument may be started, one.comes back to the conclusion that the only safe policy for New Zealand is to promptly adopt a system of closer settlement and intensive cultivation. The Dominion must materially Increase its exports, for it cannot exist for ever by manipulating its accounts to show theoretical profits and illusory surpluses. There is only one way to conduct sound business, and that applies as much.to the national as to the private enterprise.—“Southland News.”

We shall probably see an effort made to bring all motor traffic under the charge Of the Railway Department, but-it will be a very unfortunate day for New Zealand if such a thing should ever be done. The railways have certainly great difficulties ahead of them, but it will not do to meet them by suppressing competition by law. That merely denies to the public a form of .transport which they have found useful, and leaves them the poorer in consequence. If railways can hold their own on their merits so much the better, but if they cannot they must not ask for legislation to crush the opposition. If that were done any and, every improvement might be ruled out on the ground that it displaced some Existing enterprise. Socialists may rejoice at such an adoption of their theories, but the ordinary man who wants efficient service at an economic price will strenuously resist.—“Waikato Times.”

The best teachers need no syllabus, but the" education authorities have to bear in mind the large number of teachers who for lack of confidence in themselves or an inherent incapacity to organise acceptable schemes of work, will need expert guidance and friendly oversight. For such teachers the liberty allowed is not so great as it appears; nevertheless it is obvious enough to most teachers that the more the syllabus leaves to them the more it requires of the individual. For this reason, the Education Board’s action in organising refresher courses marks a distinct advance, since under the new very generous permissiveness allowed the'teachers,'it will be found .that the real quality of the teaching staffs will be revealed in the efficient manner 'in which they avail themselves of the new freedom and in the quality of work they do under the new education system which comes into operation next year.—Timaru "Herald.”

Two things are evident: The farming industry here as, a whole needs a fresh infusion of capital; and it needs also a replacement of out-of-date methods by modern ones. As the late Mr. Page said, farming must be made a business. If there is an impasse it possibly traces back to a disinclination of the capitalist to provide the money until the methods are-changed, and an inability of the farmer to change his methods until he is provided with the working capital to make such a change possible. There is a wide field for the Ministers of Finance, Lands, and Agriculture to combine to work, so that the two parties who should be the natural complement of one another may be brought together.—Dunedin “Star.” ‘

We can understand “conscientious objections” to fighting based on religious convictions. What he cannot understand or tolerate is the refusal to make adequate preparation for selfdefence, or to assist those on whom the burden of this'terrible responsibility must fall. The people who talk so fluently about “social service,” and the necessity for carrying on the special work'in which they happen to be engaged, may be invited to reflect upon the important fact that if their country were invaded and conquered by a foreign foe—for example, Bolshevik- Russia—the existing social system, with all its duties and obligations, might cease to exist, z and they might be swept away with it. Objectors of this kind have no moral right to shelter themselves behind the men who sacrifice themselves to maintain the opportunities for “social service” which those who refuse to assist in the great work of national defence profess to value so highly, and in our opinion they should not be permitted to do so.—Auckland “Star.”

Mr. Coates’s conviction that this country is to enjoy a period of steady prosperity will be generally shared, and providing each section of the community does its part faithfully and well there should be no need for anxiety among work-seekers. The Premier, of course, makes the best of the prospects, just as Labourites present the most doleful picture. Impartial judgment suggests that Mr. Coates is more right than is the Alliance of Labour, and that another serious financial depression is not an event of the immediate future in this country. Confidence and cheerfulness will encourage wise spending, Whereas pessimism will'develop what is bad into a great deal worse.—Greymouth “Star.”

If the 'credit of Australia were as good as that of New Zealand, it was pointed out by the Federal Treasurer, and it were possible to convert all the Commonwealth* debts, the people of Australia would make a saving of £1,500,000 in interest alone annually! In this connection, it should be noted that, in its endeavours to secure loans for Australia on better terms, the Federal Government has brought all the State Governments —four- of them Labour, and two non-Labour —into .an agreement on what is, of course, a national, and not a party, . question; Such very high praise of New Zealand’s standard of credit as that proffered by the Federal Treasurer, enables the Government of this Dominion confidently to ignore any criticism within the Dominion which aims at suggesting that that standard is not as high as it might be. Whether New Zealand is over-borrowing is quite another matter, and time alone will tell. Meantime, the British investor certainly does not display any evidence of alarm or ®ren of shyness. —Gisborne “Times.’'