DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 292, 5 September 1931, Page 22

DOMINION TOPICS

Our Volunteer Army. It says a good deal for‘the defence 6taff aud for the officers and noncommissioned officers of the disbanded territorial army that training has again been resumed. If they had not all shown great tact and great persuasiveness, qualities which are not often attributed to soldiers, the whole organisation would have disappeared. It has survived largely because th.e Defence Department, when it had to learn, did learn, and if the lesson is not forgotten, all units may be more efficient in a year or two than they have ever been before. Discipline will, of course, be necessary, and very strict discipline, but restrictions lose much of their irksomeness when we impose them on ourselves. Nor can it be very important at this stage that the training units should be at full strength. An efficient company is better than a ragged battalion—to train, to exhibit, to persuade. What is important is that there should be co-operation between the barracks and the factory; that men who wish to train should be given facilities for doing so; and that there should be no interference by politicians. It is a volunteer army and entitled as such to be left alone.—Christchurch “Press.”

The Hikurangi Dispute. We have no wish to pass judgment on the Hikurangi dispute, and we suggest that the resources of conciliation and arbitration are not yet exhausted. But we do say it is shocking that in a time of depression like this a dispute should be allowed to develop so far as to endanger the whole of the industry in a town. If these mines are closed, bo much production will be lost to the community and the wage-earners will probably have to be kept at the expense of public or private charity, for the prospect of their finding other work is slight. And this when there are already fifty thousand unemployed in the Dominion! Surely it behoves both sides to do their best to come to an agreement, and anybody who can use influence in this direction should do so. —Auckland "Star.”

Public Broadcasting. Having got private enterprise to do the pioneering of public broadcasting and place the system on a paying basis, the Government now proposes to take over. Some of the Government’s reasons for acquisition are speciously good. Its best reason is the 8.8. C. precedent Yet "the British Broadcasting Corporation is a monopolistic body operating under a charter granted by the Postmaster-GeneraL” Thus what the New Zealand Government proposes Is not exactly what Messrs. Donald, Atmore, Stallworthy, and Murdoch would have the New Zealand public believe. These four minor Ministers would surely not describe the State as a “monopolistic body” 1 But the 8.8. C. is. It would be as well if the-four Ministers would explain fully to Parliament and the country how they discover their proposed New Zealand system to be a counterpart of the 8.8. C. And it would also be advisable for them to say whether it is proposed i that the whole technical plant in New Zealand is to be scrapped in favour of some other system, and whose advice has been given to that effect. Unless we are wrongly informed, there is a great deal more behind the new proposals than appears on the surface. — Dunedin "Star.”

The Peril of the Mountain. Knowledge of a mountain in all its moods is not gained in casual visits nor by climbing when the weather and other circumstances make the effort a pleasant one. Guides and rangers who know the mountain, know what weather conditions portend and how, best to seek shelter when disaster threatens, should be part of the staff of every mountain resort. It goes without saying that they must also have authority to prevent rash climbing. In the present case if the story of the disaster itself be sad there is nothing to be regretted in regard to the heroic attempts of the rescue parties. They have shown once again that the spirit of the young New Zealander Is as true as that of his forebears. Given the need, his assistance is as willingly, efficiently and gallantly afforded as in the days when pioneering was the common lot. There need be little tear for the nation's welfarewhose sons can display such qualities of courage and unselfishness as have been witnessed in action at Ruapehu during the past few days.—“Taranaki Daily News."

A Silent Investigation. Although evidence given before the Parliamentary inter-party committee is being recorded fully, very little information has been made public. It is recognised that matters of great importance have to be investigated, and that the work of the committee thus far is preparatory to the drafting of practical proposals to deal with the financial problems of the near future and to improve the position of the primary industries. Full publicity probably would have limited the scope of the inquiry by making witnesses reluctant to speak without restraint, but there seems to be no reason why the system often adopted at international conferences should not be employed here, and after each sitting some official spokesman give a brief statement of the general trend of the committee’s business. The ultimate success of any plan will .depend to a large extent on the cordial co-operation of the people, aud an official, statement would result in public opinion being better informed and the people them-, selves more interested in the actual work of the committee.—Christchurch “Times.” Customs Revenue Still Falling.

The Customs collections at the four main ports for the past two months totalled £370,495 less than for the corresponding period of last year, and it may be taken for granted that a decline in revenue has been experienced at practically every port in the Dominion. The figures suggest that for the country as a whole the Customs revenue for the five months is £1,200,000 at least below that obtained in the first five months of last year. To whatever extent the decline is arrested for the balance of the yearns it should be through the imposition of the duties on ten and sugar and of a 3 per cent, primage duty—it seems inevitable that the total revenue from Customs must fall heavily short of the estimate, and that, in consequence, the Minister’s Budget anticipations must be seriously upset — “Otago Dally Times.”

Radio for the Public.

The Broadcasting Company has advanced a scheme that is at least a

reasonable basis for discussion among those directly interested. The proper course for organisations that regard It as defective is either to propound an alternative plan, equally independent of State aid, or to enter into negotiation* with the company with a view to devising an acceptable modification of th® present proposals. The essential point to remember, however, is that only organisations or Interests who are prepared to contribute their share of th® necessary capital are entitled to any active part in the negotiations. Those who are ready merely to pledge th® resources of the State are not only speaking without authority but ar® offering a contribution of no real valuer since the Government cannot find any money for broadcasting finance.—“ New .

Zealand Herald." Back to the Land. To-day the one thing that counts is the provision of useful occupations for as many as possible of the 50,000 men who are’ seeking work, at the sam# time, if possible, securing some.benefit for the community which is finding th® money. Little advantage so ‘ far has been derived from the bulk -of th® board’s employment schemes, but under the projects now abandoned there was some return at least, for, as the Minister stated recently, the productiveness of several thousand farms has been increased considerably as a result of the work done under scheme® 4A and 48. The Minister could not say as much for his No. 5 scheme, yet that is to be continued while th® others are not. The aim of the board should be to place as many men as possible on farms, for in that way they would be benefiting themselves, th® producers, and the country, at a cost bf only nominal wages to the board.— “Poverty Bay Herald.” A Chance For Young Men.

Labour camps, which bring young men together in work and play, and give them, in many respects a. new terest in life, chtefly through the organisation of entertainment after work, could be made attractive enough to empty the cities of much of their surplus unemployed. One has only to look at communities of workers lik® those at the Waitakl Dam, or Along the course of the South Island Main Trunk line, to realise how desirabl® it is to draft men out of idleness in th® city into some form of occupation in the country. It is not surprising, therefore, to hear that large number® of young men are applying for work in labour camps, and the Government"® only embarrassment will be to find reading or land development work to meet the case.—Christchurch “Star.”

The Country in the Crisis. If, as Mr. Pember Reeves, stated recently when reviewing the position of the Dominion, the national leaders have followed the course laid down in 1879 and 1891, there is much to be said in favour of returning to old and proved paths, rather than Incur any risk that might damage the national credit and hinder the return to more prosperous times. In these days the demand is for quiet endurance and constructive effort, and, judged by these standards, no New Zealander need be one whit ashamed of his country. It has been customary to claim for th® Dominion marked recuperative powers, but to-day it is displaying latent strength and a complete lack of anything bordering on panic. The people have confidence in their country, and in its productive capacity, and no one, viewing the position generally, can doubt that whatever may come th® Dominion will weather the storm—- " Christchurch Times.”

A Tour For.a Tonic. It might have a good tonic effect on Mr. Acland to come to Taranaki and see how the farmers here are facing their difficulties. We are quite in accord with his concluding sentence that “if ever freedom from restrictions imposed by the Arbitration Act and awards was required by farmers it 1b at the present time, and there would appear to be every justification for the suspension of all awards of the Court affecting the primary industries.” Also we agree that a reduction of taxation la necessary and that the cost of government must be reduced in every possible direction. But New Zealand Is still a wealthy country and its recuperative powers will pull it through its present difficulties, which after all are no greater than have been experienced and overcome in the past. Courago and cheerfulness are needed, despair and dolefulness should be banished.— “Taranaki Herald.”

Unemployed Women. Since unemployment among women is growing to be a social problem relatively as serious as that of unemployment among men, the Unemployment Board has taken prompt action in appointing, as it was instructed to do, an advisory committee to consider questions relating to the relief of unemployed women. Obviously the task is one that would be beyond the board, which has to devote its full attention to the broad issues associated with ths whole problem of unemployment. Women now are paying Into the Unemployment Fund, and it would have been unjust if an effort on their behalf wer® not made speedily. This point has been appreciated by the Unemployment ’ oard, and the advisory committee which has been chosen should be able to make many useful recommendations to the board. —Christchurch “Sun.”

A Sound Committee. The men who constitute the Special Parliamentary Commmittee have through their lives been accustomed to approach subjects from a practical point of view; none of them can be described as a theorist, and nothing more, and it may be questioned whether they will receive any material assistance from the witnesses who will appear before them, except, perhaps, on technical points in connection with finance. Ten hard-headed men who have seen much of public life, who have dealt with many intricate problems, should, if they approach the matter without bias or preconceived ideas, be able to arrive at decisions that must make appeal to a practical people, We have sufficient confidence in the personnel of the committee to believe that they are able to eschew party issues, and approach the problems as men prepared to put country first—“Timaru Post”