DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 88, 7 January 1933, Page 16

DOMINION TOPICS

The Holies for 1933, Perhaps the greatest ground for hope will be found in the spirit in which Britain and the Empire have faced their difficulties. The times have called for the exercise of British tenacity and pluck, and both have been shown in a marked degree. Also, difficult days have brought to many new standards of life. This has been noted by one commentator on America. He says that prosperity led many Americans to believe in the fallacy that a full and happy life could be built out of “motorcars, expensive devices, and a miscellany of gadgets.” Not only Americans, but men of all other nationalities, have had to dispense with many of these luxuries, and have found that the best joys are to be found elsewhere. The world needed to return to simpler ways, and in this respect the depression has not been without its good side. —Auckland “Star.” . Empire Shipping.

It may become necessary for the British peoples to take steps to protect their merchant service from the crippling assault of State-aided foreign competitors. It is not.a possibility that appeals to anyone with an international outlook, but in the realm of practical trade policy experience has shown that when mutual co-operation is impossible individual self-defence must be invoked. There' does not appear to be any prospect of. foreign countries agreeing to allow their merchant fleets to compete with that of Great Britain on equal terms—they have tried in the past and failed. It is certainly desirable that any action for the protection of British shipping should be taken by the Empire States in co-operation. Any attempt by an individual Dominion to legislate against unfair foreign competition in shipping might create worse troubles than those it was intended to remedy.—“Otago Daily Times.” Need for Confidence.

Two outstanding references to the restrictive legislation passed by the present Parliament and the effect of it in retarding economic recovery were made last week by prominent business men whose remarks should carry weight in the community. Both gentlemen pointed out that the emergency legislation had had the effect of destroying confidence and creating a degree of uncertainty that was virtually stifling business activity. There are many instances which might be quoted to support this argument. The endeavour to assist the farming industry by mortgage legislation is, perhaps, the most striking.; Many producers undoubtedly secured a certain (’’amount of immediate relief, and had the depression been merely a short passing phase the measures adopted might- have proved effective. As it is, however, farmers are now finding that the very Acts which gave them temporary assistance are militating against their securing the finance that is essential for them if they are to carry on their legitimate business.— “Poverty Bay Herald.” Holiday Road Accidents.

Readers of newspapers during the last few days must have been impressed with the fact that if hard times have reduced the amount of motor traffic on the roads they certainly have not reduced the number of motor accidents. As a tragic corollary to holiday week-ends these accidents have assumed as great a prominence as ever, and it is seldom that a universal public holiday passes by without some home in New Zealand suffering the supreme tragedy of an empty space round the family hearth that will never be filled again. Most of such accidents are the result of the personal failure of the drivers, and they can be obviated only by the greater exercise of personal care, and a deeper sense of personal responsibility. 'To some it is merely a ’matter of education ; to others it is a case of a sterner course of action, for there are many people, unfortunately, who know no law but fear of the punishment likely to follow in the wake of their misdoings.—“Taranaki Daily News. Lectures 20 Years Old.

The man in the street, who is also a grievously harassed and enormously overburdened taxpayer, will be joterested to learn (ou the authority of Professor Shelley) that there are in the university colleges in New Zealand today “old professors repeating th? same bld lectures for the last twenty years. The revelations are all the more arresting not only because-Professor bhelley is dean of the faculty of mental and moral sciences at Canterbury University College, but because he has been lecturing on education for twenty-two years! Hence the criticism he felt prompted to pour upon the existing system of professorial instruction is most pointed in view of his long experience and his knowledge of the inner working of the university. So much has been said within recent years on the weaknesses and unreality of certain phases in New Zealand, that much of the criticism is disregarded, but an a.tX>ek launched by a professor of education, who has been associated with the New Zealand University for twelve of the most critical, momentous, and bewildering years in its short but moving history, ought not to be disregarded by. the Government and. the everyday taxpayer.—“Timaru Herald.” Superannuation Bond.

When the Prime Minister reads the London newspapers’ eulogies of New Zealand’s offer to pay its instalment of the funded debt to the British Government he must feel a glow of satisfaction. . The enthusiastic reception of his offer cannot fail to move him. and he would not be human if he did not feel proud of the declaration that New Zealand has made an honourable gesture and that “there is no war debtor more deserving of relief and none readier to make every sacrifice rather than dishonour its bond-” Mr. Forbes, reading this commendation in the “Morning Post,” could be pardoned for some inward pleasure, and he and his colleagues of the Government could be pardoned, too. if this praise led their minds to consider the attitude of the Government to the bond it gave its own employees under the superannuation fund contract, and to wonder how. bonds may vary aud, we 11... to wonder what the “Morning Post” would say about the proposal to vary the conditions governing the superannuation to which I’ublic Servants became contributors by compulsion. —“Southland Times.”

An Eye For the Future. j In the midst of its efforts to deal with present difficulties the Government must keep a vigilant eye on the future. It is not too early to begin now devis-j ing and applying economies that will! relieve the accounts of every item! which can be removed in order that' their strength may be built up to carry, the debt charges that will be created by relief measures financed as suggested. When the decision to pledge securities for the assistance of this year’s Budget was announced it was also stated that the remaining taxable capacity of the country would be conserved for possible future calls. It was' an important official admission that this capacity was near its end, though' unofficial opinion is emphatic that the limit has been passed. On either view,' it is vital that no extra burden should' be cast on the revenue. The conclusion' then is that further pruning of expenditure is as important as help for the farmer. —“N.Z. Herald.” Intermediate Schools.

New regulations that have been issued for the setting up of “intermediate schools and departments” direct attention to a new development of the education system of which less has been heard than formerly in the last three; or four years. Sir James Parr, when he was Minister of Education, was a great enthusiast for “junior high' schools,” as the new institutions were' first called. He established, eight of them,. and there are only ten to-day. Depression has made difficulties for this new departure, as for others; and, to the extent that new intermediate schools, attached or not to existing institutions, require new buildings, ’ extension of it is likely to be slow in the immediate future. The new- regulations imply, however, that extensions are expected, and for this sign of faith in our rulers and governors that hard times will not last for ever thanks can be felt.”—Dunedin “Star.”

Can Education Help? It is the progress of education that provides grounds for thinking that 1933 will be better than 1932.- More and more attention is drawn to the paradox that never before was the world so well stocked with all we want, yet never were there so many who cannot obtain access to the good things. Such attention is a part of the education we all need. Some of our troubles are due to moral shortcomings, for although men are more ready than they were to give materially, they are by no means ready to act with justice, and generosity is a poor substitute for justice. Nationalism, my country, right or wrong, is at the root of much of our troubles. It would be good to think it could be modified without disappearing. In the meantime we may be glad that London is optimistic, and quote again the younger Pitt’s immortal dictum, “England, having saved herself by her exertions, will save Europe by her example.”—“Waikato Times.-’

Encouraging Signs. There have been some encouraging signs during the past few weeks. For one thing, the Customs figures have indicated that receipts.may be above the estimate for the figures for the calendar year showed an increase, and the latest returns issued by the Railways Board gave grounds for hoping that this important service will be able to meet' a larger proportion of the interest charges than was the case last year. Mr. Forbes estimated that there would be a falling-off in national revenue of £1,089,733, but that was after drawing on reserves for the sum of £2,500,000. He then was “reasonably certain” that the deficit would be kept within £l,000,000. It is to be hoped that the Government will take the country into its confidence as soon as the approximate figures have been made available, if only that the people may be able to form some idea of the task that Government and Parliament must soon face.—Christchurch “Times.” The Road to Recovery.

Prices are pitifully low, but we can sell all we can produce at a price, and what more could we expect than that? Great Britain could not successfully apply these methods, because her business depends on an external demand which complicated trade relationships render impossible. We are not as desperately situated as Europe, but the chief trouble is that we’ have not the faith in our country’s recuperative powers that we should have, and are too much concerned with listening to the appeals of those who are eternally discoursing 'on their own immediate trubbles. Whatever the measures adopted may be, they probably will not operate as painlessly as one would wish; but, at least we would be somewhere on the road to recovery, instead of continuing the bootless course' of running round in circles. —“Southland Daily News.”

Problems Ahead. Early in the year the Government will have to provide for nearly £3,500,000 of maturing loans bearing interest at 5* per cent. A circular has been sent to holders inviting them to convert at 5 per cent., but in view of the Prime Minister’s statement that interest rates must come down there is an obvious reluctance to accept a conversion which, might be reviewed by subsequent legislation, aud uncertainty in such matters is dangerous. Finality should also be reached regarding the assistance that is to be given to farmers, and in this and all related matters the Government should make its proposals known at the earliest moment in the coming session. Above all, the Government should avoid the error of occupying the time of the House with trivial proposals such as obstructed the legislation of the session just past.—Christchurch “Star.” Bathers and Beaches.

At this period of the year when bathing is one of the most popular pastimes of the people, it is necessary that those indulging in it should be guided by a few common-sense rules for their own protection, and especially in fairness to the life-savers whose work is liable at any time to be extremely difficult One complaint made by them is that people will bathe outside safety areas when these are plainly marked. If attention has to be concentrated on bathers outside the safety area, there is always the possibility that those inside cannot be watched as well as they would otherwise be. The most serious danger, however, is that life-saving teams have to run along the beach if their services are required, and entering the water perhaps in an exhausted state, they are less fit to make a rescua —Christchurch “Sun.”