ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 17

ECHOES of the WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

Sympathetic observers from other lands, foreign in geography, friends in sentiment and chivalry, have noted with expressions of pleasure the spontaneity of the British nation’s love for its King. This may occasion some surprise among people who look upon the British as a race without demonstrative sentiment; but it will cause no wonder at all among the peoples of the world's greatest Commonwealth of Nations. The reason for the demonstration of solicitude for their King in the grip of illness; is simple, as well as natural, and even beautiful. ThroughOut the long march of the British Monarchy across the years of wide history no ruler has been nearer to the nation than King George has been in the course of a reign marked with abnormal difficulties and supreme tests of regal and national character. —Christchurch “Sun.”

King George has given himself the least respite from routine since he ascended the throne. ■ How exacting that routine can be can be very easily imagined from descriptions . of His Majesty’s working day, which have been published from time to time. In justice to his subjects and himself the King must take more holidays in the future. His illness has shown again the rare esteem and affection in which he is held by his subjects. The crowds waiting for bulletins outside Buckingham Palace, and concern felt throughout the Empire at his indisposition, have made that affection plain. But this illness was not needed to reveal it It has been felt throughout his reign, the attachment due to a King who has always placed his duty before all other objects.—Dunedin "Star.”

Growth of cities implies the development of that “home market” which, because it is close, at hand and constant, is, as Adam Smith shows, the best of all markets in proportion to its size. And if the farmer has occasion to complain of the scarcity of agricultural labour, he should remember that this is partly due to the displacement of manual processes by machinery, which, even in the primary industries, has deprived large numbers of rural workers of employment and driven them to the towns for refuge. If we add to these the surplus immigrants whp through a mistaken policy have been attracted to the country before aiiy adequate provision has been made for them, and who have therefore never been able to “get on the land,” we have gone some wav towards explaining the “urban drift”—Auckland “Star.”

Many are the good causes in the name of which street collections are held,, but an objectionable principle cannot be defended simply for that reason. The street collection often exacts tribute from those least able to afford it, and the badge that gives immunity usually has to be purchased at an unerasonably high figure. Ship girls and clerks pay, while many who come to town in motor-cars are never invited to contribute. The system is palpably unfair to the city retailer, because it sets up outside his door a rent-free counter-attraction, while he himself has to pay a high rental for his .premises. In short, the case against street collections is too strong to be overridden by sentiment.—Auckland “Sun.”

The loss of the old service between Melbourne and Bluff, via Hobart, discontinued during the war and not restored, has been a continual grievance of the South Island. Now there has begun a movement in the business world to reinstate a service similar to that which used to run. The Associated Chamber of Manufacturers of Australia has raised the issue, and has invited the co-operation of chambers of commerce in New Zealand. The Australian chamber proposes to do what it can to re-establish the service. This, it may be said immediately, is the proper way for the business to be attacked. The organisations representative of industry and commerce can approach shipping companies, and put the proposition to them in a purely business way.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

The first half-year’s results from the New Zealand Kailways showed' an increase in the revenue, but a slightly larger increase in the expenditure as compared with the April-September half-year of 1927. Although the goods and live-stock traffic shows an improvement, the reverse is the case with the passenger traffic. This is in spite of special efforts, being made to popularise excursions by train. They are being fairly well patronised, and perseverance in- their continuance may yet regain some of the traffic lost to road competition, for it is a great thing to encourage the people to ride by train and so cultivate wl;at is with many a lost habit. But we are still of the opinion that not much headway can be made until fares are reduced. Train travelling in New Zealand 7 is dear. Compared with pre-war days, it is dear elsewhere also. The British railway companies are beginning to recognise that it is too dear. —Dunedin “Star.”

The appointment of a suffragan bishop whose work will be confined mainly to ministering to members of the Maori race is a new departure expressive of the Importance which the Church attaches to its labours among the descendants of the people to whom the Rev. Samuel Marsden came to preach over a century ago. The deeper purpose and significance of the creation of the new episcopal position were expounded by Archdeacon Williams with considerable force, and it should be the hope of all who have the welfare of the Maoris at heart that the anticipations that have been encouraged in this matter may not be disappointed. The consecration of a dignitary bearing a designation so picturesque and euphonious as that of the Bishop of Aotearoa. who will reflect in his office something of the ideals of the Native race in New Zealand and its increasingly. successful adaptation to the thought and progress of the times, is an event of general public interest. — “Otago Daily Times.”

What inducement is there to a busy man, whose time and' brains are valuable, to join a school committee, or an education board, or the governors of a secondary school, when it matters so very little what he thinks, what he says, what he does or tries to do? The machine in Wellington lumbers on. Bocal administration of schools, on present lines, can end only by attracting persons who like playing the part of the fly on the cart-wheel, fancying themselves very important, or who actually enjoy the petty, business of dotting departmental “i's” and pasting up departmental notices. —Christchurch “Sun.”

Sir Joseph Ward had at one time a scheme to compel the holders of all land over a certain value to put it on the market within a certain time. That was a proposal of sheer expropriation. It would result in the owners of such lands losing enormously, and would, in cases where the land was mortgaged, drive them to financial ruin. Such a scheme Mr. Coates would be bound to oppose. Mr. Holland. If he honours his pledges, would also be bound to oppose it. We doubt if it could be carried even in the present House. But it is worth while mentioning as a measure which Mr. Coates might reasonably consider as not for the good of the country. ■ “Hawke’s Bay Herald.”

Parliamentary privilege allows a member to say without risk much that it would not be possible to say outside the .walls of the Chamber. It is necessary that there should be this liberty, yet it is important that it should not be abused. The Speaker may be called on to decide some delicate point depending on this situation, and, quite obviously, rules or even precedents may not help him. This, like other phases of his duty, shows that to be a successful Speaker demands no ordinary qualities. He is often required to be the mentor of members, he is expected always to be guide, philosopher, and friend to them. The way in which Sir Charles Statham, after six years in the position, has been chosen for it again, by common consent, with universal cordiality, is sufficient evidence of the degree of success he has achieved as successor to the long and illustrious line of previous Speakers, cited by Sir George Hunter in proposing him for reelection by the new Parliament.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

The more enthusiastic supporters of the new Prime Minister have spoken of him as a great statesman, but his handling of the situation since November 14 and his attitude during the present session have made all but a faithful and unthinking few revise their opinion. To put it quite plainly, Sir Joseph’s judgmen and sense of perspective have deteriorated so strikingly that the country may well feel some alarm as to what he may do. There are some sensible and experienced men in his party, but that they are not likely to have much influence ..with him was made manifest when they were unable to restrain him from placing himself and their own rather annoyed selves in a slightly ridiculous position. The country can only hope that it may not be brought into something more serious than a ridiculous position before the strangely constituted Ward Administration comes to an end. —Christchurch “Press.”

It is regrettable that the honourable profession of Law should have to consider schemes for thwarting the felonious activities of some of its practitioners, but each year there are falls from grace, and the public clamours for protection. To safeguard their honour, and to maintain the faith of the public, the lawyers will have to make a determined attempt to lessen the opportunity for maladministration of trust funds, but just how this may be done is a problem. The insurance scheme has much to commend it, yet it places a substantial burden on the young practitioner, who often has a hard enough struggle as it is. It is a drastic measure, and probably the desired protection could be provided if the Law Societies in the different centres were able to control admissions to the profession, and have, in addition, the right to put their own auditor into the office of a suspect.—“ Auckland Sun.”

It has been made clear also since the new Parliament was called together that the United Party’s chief concern has been the effect of the popular vote on the general welfare and not anything it has done or can do to the Reform Party itself. It knows that so preposterous a verdict cannot stand, but will be revised before any of its members gets a new grey hair. indeed if some of the things happen that the United Party’s newspapers keep telling their readers to expect—for example, the elevation of Mr. Atmore to the office of Minister for Education in recognition of his distinguished services to literature —it will be a rather rich experience, to sit for a while on the Opposition benches. But nothing that Sir Joseph Ward can do in that direction will have any permanent political significance. The Party may be in office for a month or for six months, or even for a little longer, but since it cannot remain one day in office without paying their price to the Reds, the future is not difficult to foresee.—“ The Press,” Christchurch.

Now that Sir Joseph is in power, we respectfully suggest that the country is looking to him for something bigger and more worthy of his distinguished record of service to the Dominion and the Empire than was contained in his speech on the Address-in-Repiy motion. He no more represents a majority of the electorate than Mr. Coates does; but the General Election has given him his opportunity. It is for him to make the most, of it, not for himself, not for his party, not for any one section, but for the whole of the people of New Zealand. —Christchurch “Sun.”