ECHOES of the WEEK

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 169, 12 April 1930, Page 21

ECHOES of the WEEK

PRESS OPINIONS ON :: NEW ZEALAND TOPICS

The Level Crossing. So far as motorists persist in ignoring regulations that are designed for their protection they must be held mainly responsible for the accidents that occur. Over-confidence on the road has unfortunately brought about regrettable results, and will continue to do so. But it would be a sorry reflection, were it justifiable, that the degree of danger attaching to any particular railway crossing should become recognised only after a serious accident has drawn painful attention to it. The tragedy in the north, by reason of the toll of killed and injured, is probably the worst of its kind in the record of level crossing disasters in this country. It is to be hoped that its awful lesson may not be without effect as a warning to the users of the roads. It is to be hoped also that it Will serve to stimulate' still greater effort on the part of the authorities concerned to reduce level crossing risks by every practical means within their capacity.—“Otago Daily Times.” Another New Zealand Loan. The prospect of another New Zealand loan being offered in London shortly is mentioned in a telegram in which emphasis is placed upon the statement that an undertaking was given to keep off the London loan market until after the expiry of the 1929-30 financial year. The nature and the origin of this undertaking were the subject of controversy during the early part of last year and on several occasions during the session of Parliament. Though it led to a positive conclusion upon one point, the fact that nothing was done by the Minister of Finance in the Reform Government, nor anything neglected by him,'' that embarrassed his successor, there was never any evidence presented that a definite undertaking of any'kind had been given. It was understood when the £7,000,000 loan was issued in January that its proceeds were to meet the requirements of the 1929-30 financial year, and naturally assumed that there would be no occasion for further borrowing until the normal time this year.—’’New Zealand Herald.” Publicity for Wool.

Pure wool is a commodity- essential for so many purposes that it ffiust always find a market. Although there are periods when lower prices have to be suffered by the growers, there is no need to fear a general and permanent decline in world demand. The opposite is much more probable, a growth which sound methods will stimulate 1 and confirm. Advertising and research stand first among those methods; and co-operation among all woolproducing countries and wool-manufac-turing centres to press on with both will give the industry a new energy and prosperity. Such a policy is immeasurably better than any calculated restriction of output to raise prices; for an assured and expanding market at fair prices will do more to benefit the grower than any temporary expedients born of depression.—Christchurch “tress.” Last Session. Last session, dispassionately viewed, resolved itself into a demonstration of apparently unending complaisance in the Labour Party. All things considered, it got very little in return for its readiness to form up and march into the appropriate lobby at the first hint of a serious attack on the Government. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the session to come it should look for a return, especially since, in the meantime, a seat long desired and long sought has been won and its strength has been correspondingly increased. It is well to know from Mr. Fraser the demands to be served on the Government when Parliament meets aguin, for this finally fills the gap left after the statement from the February caucus, and the less definite commentaries heard from other members Of the party since.—“ New Zealand Herald.” Our Secondary Industries.

In face of rapidly increasing public interest in the Dominion’s manufacturing industries, the Government would under no circumstances have been justified in abandoning the Parliamentary Conunittee investigation of industry promised at the end of last session. Difficulties arose through the defection of Mr. H. R. Jenkins and the absence ' of the Hon. J. G. Cobbe in Samoa, but there was no reason at all Why substitutes could not be found for these men. The Minister of Industries and Commerce has now announced that a new committee of three is to be appointed: the Government intends to keep its •promise. It is high time for action in this direction; politicians, growing sensitive to public opinion, have issued statements iu support of the manufacturers’ cause, but there has been unwarranted tardiness iu helpful activity. —Christchurch “Sun.” A Terrible Toll. Within the past 10 years no leSs than 100 people have been killed _ and 400 injured in level-crossing accidents in New Zealand, and with the increase of motor traffic the death-toll is not likely to diminish unless something more is done to warn and protect the travelling public. It must be admitted that the Government cannot And £10,000,000 to get rrid of all the level crossings at once. But the fact that” various loeal bodies have for the past four years been appealing to the Railway Department at least to install warning signals at the five crossings on the line between Hikurangi and Whangarsi shows that the dangerous character of these crossings was generally recognised in the district, and it is much to be regretted that the necessary precautions have been so long delayed.— Auckland “Star.”

' Told in the Trade Returns. The main feature of the just published trade returns, covering the current exporting season from last August up to the end of February, 1930, shows an adverse trade balance of about two millions sterling, as against a favourable one of about 3 1-5 millions for the corresponding period of last season. ' Exports have dropped nearly 4 1-3 millions, and imports have risen nearly 1 2-3 millions. Increased production has not made up for lower world • prices. The position is worse than had been imagined until recently, because exports have had to be revalued on a basis of lower prices. And it is made more serious still if the invisible imports are reckoned in, these being investsnient abroad, largely in Australia, for which money has left New Zealand.—Dunedin “Star.” Overhauling a System. : ‘ .■ If the defence sys'tem can be recast sO as to produce better results at less cdst, and it would be surprising if it could not, the country is ready to an- ■ cept the reform; but the Prime Minis- ' ■ ter’s statement tells us so little that the nature and extent of the proposals can only be surmised. It can only be said that many developments have pointed to the necessity for a reform, and that the Prime Minister’s statement gives a hint of changes consistent with it. We are not told whether less money will be spent on the same kind of land defences and training, dr on a different kind, on a volunteer force, for instance, and the specialist corps of a modern mechanised army; we are not told w’hether the money saved will be spent on improving the air and naval defences; but these are the sort of question that the Prime Minister's statement prompts, and the answers, when Parliament meets, will be heard with deep interest.—Christchurch “Press.” Vocational Guidance. That Great Britain is dealing systematically and practically with the important problem of Vocational guidance is evident from the recently published report of a New Zealander'S activity in pursuit of the subject in Loudon. New Zealand, which has so often, led the world lu social reforms, is unfortunately backward in this respect. It is true that during the last two years the Education Department has disseminated among pupils leaving ■ school pamphlets on vocational guidance which contain a great deal of information concerning the choice of a career which would be valuable if the people in whose hands it is placed were able to make the fullest use of it. Although these pamphlets may be of some assistance, it is reasonable to suppose that the benefits which result from their publication must be small in comparison with those which accrue from the more practical system in vogue in Great Britain. The desirability of the adoption of some'similar scheme in New Zealand seems to become more and more apparent. —“Otago Daily Times.” Value for Money in Defence. For years now there has been a growing feeling of discontent With the territorial training system. It has been costly; the youth of the country has gone unwillingly (for the most part) through Its training; and it is questionable' whether the young men are much more efficient as soldiers at the‘end of training than they were at the beginning. Many of them have little interest in the work, and the standard of efficiency is not as high as it would be in a volunteer force which had its heart iii training. Money has to be spent on defence in New Zealand as in every other country; but the taxpayers have a right to expect the best returh for the money which they contribute at the rate of seven shillings a head each . year.—Christchurch “Sun.” A Foolish Boycott. ,

The Alliance of Labour has behaved very foolishly indeed in trying to organise a boycott of the coniffiittee that is to investigate the subject of workers’ compensation. The move is the butcome of an objection raised against the appointment of Mr. Bloodworth to the committee. It is true it was stated there was no personal objection to Mr. Bloodworth, the Alliance merely claiming the right to nominate a Labour representative, but Mr. Bloodworth’s nomination for the Parnell seat gives a colour of irony to the Alliance’s folly. He is, of course, quite exceptionally well qualified to help in this important inquiry, and even if Labour organisations would have preferred another man they should accept the Government’s decision cheerfully. In Christchurch and Wellington,, we are glad to see, union opinion has expressed itself against the boycott, and we trust that this attitude .will be general.—“ Auckland Star.” Facts for the New Generation.

In New Zealand for some decades the trend of both legislation and administration has been in the direction of assisting or encouraging the primary industries without any adequate recognition of the esentlal importance of the secondary industries. And, indeed, the farmers have been encouraged to believe that any help given to manufacturing industries must be at their expense. The generation now growing up, if it takes advantage of its educational chances, ought to have a very much sounder knowledge of the elementary facts of economies. It is true that a country can carry on purely on primary production, importing all its manufactured requirements, but under such conditions the country would be liable to severe slumps and to periodic unemployment, relatively, as severe as New Zealand now experiences. The solution of the unemployed problem is not quite as simple as this arguments suggest, but it will be impbsible unless the fundamental truth of the argument is appreciated,— "Christchurch Times.”