DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 144, 14 March 1931, Page 20

DOMINION TOPICS

By What Kight? By decree of the maritime unions, the carrying of cargo in foreign ships between New Zealand and Australia or the Pacific Islands has been forbidden and the shipowners concerned have apparently decided to submit to the prohibition. There may be a good case for such restriction on foreign competition with ships manned by New Zealand crews, enjoying conditions and privileges superior to those obtaining under foreign flags, and already affected by severe unemployment owing to the depression in the shipping industry. Nevertheless, the unions have no constitutional power to make and enforce such rules, and have done so only by an implied threat of violent measures if their demands are ignored. A trades union is neither a legislative nor a judicial authority, and official and public condonation of such actions implies a disregard for law and order that may have grave consequences.— “New Zealand Herald.” TF.a Burden of Kates.

In times of plenty there has naturally been a desire to provide numerous facilities which largely have come under the category of luxuries.-and loans have' been light-heartedly sanctioned and raised for a hundred and one schemes which would have inflicted no hardship had they never been undertaken, and it can be asserted with tolerable accuracy that the extravagance of the past is the bane of the present. This statement . requires no amplification when the fact is stated that for the financial year 1928-21) the local body expenditure reached the enormous total of £22;400.000. It cannot seriously be affirmed that that huge sum was' spent in necessary work, despite the scrutiny which the various schemes were supposed to receive from the Loians Board Local bodies owe it as a duty to those they represent to back up the endeavour of the Government to secure financial equilibrium.—“Waikqto Times.” Strike Threats. ,•

Mr. Roberts said that many trade unions were agreed that if wages were reduced there should be a general strike in the Dominion. That was thought to be the only effective way of rebelling against "further lowering of the standard of living.” If such a strike could be organised, which is not likely, it would be a death-blow to many industrial and commercial concerns which are striving at the present time to keep going not solely in their own interests, but in the interests of the workers and the people of the Dominion generally. Mr. Roberts says that the conference complains that the wages of workers have already been reduced by from 20 to 30 per cent, through the casualness of employment. If there were a strike, the wages Of most workers would be reduced by 100 per cent., and wretchedness beyond description would soon be abroad in the land.—Christchurch “Sun.” ,

The Wage Cut. It is not proposed that public servants should alone make the sacrifices which are held to be necessary in the interest of the community. The Government will introduce legislation that will enable the Arbitration Court, if it thinks fit, to review existing awards in a manner that will admit of a reduction in the costs of production of industry. If the Court decides that there should be a reduction of wages comparable with that which the Government proposes in the case of public servants, the lowering in the costs of production should, it is considered, have such an •effect on the already sharply falling cost of living as would give to earnings an effective purchasing power that would approximate to that recently possessed by them.—“Otago Daily Times.” Our Local Bodies.

The election of local governing bodies this year unquestionably offers, the heavily taxed atepayers au opportunity to instal in office local authorities fortified with a definite mandate to carryout exhaustive investigations of the cost of local government. Members of local bodies who have been elected for a specified term of office have no right to expect an extension of their term of office without rendering an account of the stewardship to the constituencies, and we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that there are few local governing bodies in the e—pansiie scheme of local government throughout New Zealand which would not be the better for the infusion of new blood.— “TimarU Herald.” Is It Equitable?

The most interesting aspect of the whole question of earthquake relief is the proposal to 'make the surtax a permanent charge in order to build up a fund "for use in any future national disaster.” This raises the question as to whether the surtax should not be graduated according to eartliQuake 01 fire risk. It might be argued that thus .would not necessarily be equitable, because some localities are more subject to earthquakes than others, but these circumstances are already taken into account by insurance companies, and therefore it would seem that lf a “j built an earthquake and fireproof build ing he should get credit for reducing the probable damage in any national disaster, and should have Ins^premiuin reduced accordingly. Moreover, the rate proposed is far too high, because .a comparatively small overriding tariff on the insurable property of the whole Dominion would in the course of jeaf® provide a fund sufficient toreplace even a city of the size of Wellington. “Christchurch Star,”

Pity the Poor Bursar. A reduction of about £lO a year in the amount available for each university bursar’s expenditude may mean a good deal to a great many people. It is exceedingly unfortunate that the Minister did not see his way an ‘ nounce the economy before the colleges began the year’s work, but he seems .to make a practice of procrastination. A month or so ago he contrived to make his offer of extension o* free places at secondary schools after the term bad opened, thus robbing his policy of much of its virtue. ’ Moreover, the Minister and the Government can scarcely claim to be consistent If the Education Department can afford to extend the provision for free secondary education it surely should be able to treat university students equally well; indeed, the university student who is qualified to bold a bursary would seem to be the better investment for the State’s funds, since he is nearer the point of becoming a useful and even profitable citizen.—“Taranaki Daily News.”

The Earthquake Levy. The Government’s statement tbafc “those who carry their own risks” will also be taxed on the insurable value of their property may be taken to mcini that no person who does not insure fibs dwellings or business premises will be allowed to escape the levy. If this is so, the levy will be universal. There! is much to be said for such a method of taxation for this special purpose, and for establishing a fund to meet similar liabilities in the future. The levy will fall on the kind of property, that suffers, and will be spread widely.. It must not be overlooked, however, that though special taxation is inevitable and the Government’s proposajs are sound, another £300.000, is to be added to the taxation of the country, and this does not complete the programme of earthquake assistance. To meet this and other extra taxation two policies must be pursued energetically. The country must be made to produce more, and wasteful public exp.-ixli urc of all kinds must be rigorously -cut down.—“ Auckland Star.” The Gold Seekers. It should not be forgotten that if a keen prospector should manage to wash out an ounce of gold in tin course of-a Week he would make more money than i' he had a job in a factory. Then there is always the possibility of striking rich ground. If this were not true there would be no lure in prospecting for gold or platinum, and most men. would be content with a license to netquinnat salmon. Moreover, if. as a result of the Government’s special grant, a prospector should discover a goldfield, there would be no, unemployment problem, and only the Unemployment Board would be out of work.;. There still is ample scope for prospecting in . this country, especially in Westland, Central Otago, and along the western seaboard of Southland, where there is even a platinum industry. It is at least certain that precious metals , will not be found on the doorsteps of unemployment bureaux. —Christchurch “Press.” . - Vanished Twenty Millions. A' drop of something approaching £20,000,000 in the value or our exports, despite increased production, makes it self-evident that retrenchment and increased taxation of those best able to bear it affords the only prospect of bah ancing the budget which must, be achieved’if the Dominion's credit is to be maintained. The situation Is one . in which political rivalries must be sunk and all parties combine to. weather the shoals that lie ahead.’ It - seeins plain that the whole world is destined to experience leaner times before the return to normal conditions I comes, but of all countries New Zealand, with her expanding production of ■ meat, butter and ■ehee'se. 'should be th. the strongest position to withstand the.: critical period through which all are passing.:—“Southland Daily News.” Tourist Roads. The Tourist Department','under the guise of assisting to relieve unemployment. has poured money into roads of dubious value, and is at present sinking a very large sum into the new Milford Track, which will not increase the revenue of the country from outside tourists by any amount commensurate ■ with the outlay involved. While the West Coast Sounds enterprise of the Hinemoa is scorned, money is being put into the .Te Anau.road. and this . new track at hn alarming rate. Queenstown, which, needs , road . connection witli Invercargill, and wliicli has that connection almost within its grasp, is denied this necessary link because the Railway Department must . maintain Its steamer service on Lake Wakatipu at a heavy annual cost. The road connecting Queenstown and Kingston was almost completed -when the United Partv came into office and dropped the work immediately. The money expended up to that point represents m the meantime so much waste, and the only excuse the Government can offer is the maintenance of an unprofitable steamer service, which shows’ absolutely no prospect of showing a credit balance on its annual operations. “Southland Times.”

Mortgagor and Mortgagee. The mortgagee is as much concerned as the mortgagor. lu ninety-nine cases out of a hundred probably lie m as worried as the mortgagor, ami will-' ing to meet the latter as far as his circumstances'will permit. In any case they are both in the same boat at present and they must pull together at least until the navigation becomes easier. For every ease of harshness «>n the part of a mortgagee that can be cited there are scores of instances in which perfectly friendly arrangements have been made. To threaten a boycott is calculated to have the effect of turning, the attention of capitalists, without whom the average farmer cannot carry on, to other investments than broad acres. The Hamilton resolution is puerile and should be disclaimed by other branches and executives of the Farmers’ Union. —“Taranaki Herald '

The Limit of Free Education. It is the duty of the State to give every child an opportunity to avail himself of the facilities provided, but to set out to give them all a complete education in each of the multitude of subjects taught is carrying the conception of the State’s responsibility 100 far. There appears to be no legitimate reason why the cost of education should not be substantially curtailed without in any way reducing the opportunity for every child in the country, and unless there is some immediate reasonable economy, and some indication that the vast sums now appropriated are being spent to the best advantage, there- is bound to be a strong reaction against this steadily increasing expenditure.—" Poverty B-iy Herald.” Parliamentary Clouds.

There will be some loud talk in >i.e special session; we can expect "stonewalls” by Labour, though the time when anything useful was produced by a "stonewall” would be hard to recall. In the end we can expect that the Government’s programme will o< passed. To kick against tlie pricks--a be the most foolish of courses wbe--the real pricks are not applied by an.forces within our own borders, but are a part of world conditions. Easier agreement should be possible foi tin House in another task that will corn before it, that of grappling with earth quake conditions. It will not be : pleasant session, but we see no reason to differ with the Prime Minister’s expectation that it should be ended m three weeks. —-Dunedin “Star,” .