NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 8, 4 October 1929, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

“Buy New Zealand products” is a slogan that is every year receiving wider acceptance. At least two instances of its application occur in the Railways Statement. One is coal. Last year the railways burned 356,724 tons of New Zealand coal against 66,6/ 5 tons of imported. Only five years ago the proportion was in reverse rati0—94,351 tons of New Zealand and 313,107 tons of imported coal. Much of the credit for this change, beneficial to New Zealand workers and employers and to the national trade balance, belongs to Mr. Coates. He found a condition of inertia in the Railways Department. The answer to every suggestion was, “it can tbe done.” He induced a new spirit of willingness which often answered that “it can and will be done.” So New Zealand coal found an enlarged market. In like manner, by willingness to give them a trial, it has been found that New Zealand timbers can be given further utilisation for rolling-stock after a process of kiln-drying. Thus the once conservative Railways Department is setting an example in finding uses for New Zealand products which could be more widely followed to the advantage of national economy in general, and to the particular advantage of both capitalist and worker.

The correct pronunciation of Maori place-names comes up everv once in a while for discussion. The purists would have us speak these words as the Maori himself would. No doubt there is much to be said for this, but after all every language, and particularly the English language, is governed by usage. This is so true that common usage becomes the standard, a truth of which there are hundreds of examples in our final lingual authority, the Oxford Dictionary. Those who have been contending in Auckland this week for correct pronunciation of Maori place-names are, therefore, trying to establish an ideal. It is permissible to ask how these purists pronounce such place-names as Paris or Marseilles, which have been fully Anglicised, or how they greet Mr. Cholmondeley when they meet him in the street? And if they want to go to Paraparaumu, how far would they, get if they asked for a railway ticket in pure Maori and stuck to it? It is the sad, old conflict between the ideal and the real. After all, purists or no, usage has made, and will continue to shape, the English language.

A Royal Commission perhaps unique in the history ,of British Government is that which, it was announced yesterday, is to make a comprehensive inquiry into the present status and condition of the Civil Service. For some time past there has been a strong and persistent agitation on the part of the Civil Service for something of the kind. The main objective is an increase in salaries, especially in the technical branches, for which it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit good material on account of the low scale of salaries. The women’s branch is demanding equality of pay for equal work, an agitation opposed by the men, who apprehend a levelling-down as a result. The system of recruitment is also said to be due for a thorough overhaul with a view to basing eligibility on merit alone. The agitation has recently gained considerable strength as the result of the attitude of the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer in refusing to receive a deputation which proposed to ask for an inquiry. Mr. Churchill then said that the state of the country’s finances precluded any hope of increases and an inquiry would, therefore, serve no useful purpose. The Labour-Socialist Government, more astute, has now granted a Royal Commission, which commits it to nothing. Careful investigation, however, may serve useful purposes,- if only for possible revelations of anomalies the removal of which may mean increased efficiency and a more contented .Service. ..