DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 218, 10 June 1933, Page 17

DOMINION TOPICS

New Zealand Fanning and British. Though agriculture in Britain has been neglected, both in actual development and in propaganda, it is still a huge industry. Two years ago the annual output of food products was estimated to be worth £200,01)0,000. New Zealanders arc astonished to learn that there are nearly as many sheep in Britain as in their own country. The quality of British breeding stock is world-famous. It: is the principal source of fresh blood for our herds, and it is noteworthy (hat in his address at the Waikato Winter Show Lord Bh.disloe, an eminent authority on Hie subject, referred to the need for such replenishment, and expressed the opinion, as one with exceptional experience in the administration of antidisease measures, that the embargo on British stock, imposed owing to fear of foot-and-mouth disease, should be removed. —Auckland “Star.”

The Volunteers. The zeal that is shown by many in devoting the chief part of llieir spare time to Territorial work is not fed by material rewards, the most that the men get out of it in what might conceivably be a bargaining sense being a week’s camp once a year for which they are paid. The zeal might make its own cause for concern if a militaristic or a jingoistic spirit were associated with it, but that is not involved. That a defence force will never he required for its prime object of defending New Zealand must be the hope of all, but till a peaceful world can be ensured, and while Hie best support is given to all efforts for ensuring it, the existence of such a force makes a precaution with which it would be folly to dispense. It is satisfactory that, on its new voluntary basis. Hie Territorial system is able to work with a freedom from local friction and opposition that was unkonwn before. —Dunedin "Star.”

The Embargo On Stock. Au important point emphasised by Lord Bledisloe is the necessity for the breeding of types of bacon pig ami beef cattle more suited to the demands of the British consumer. His remarks point iu only one direction —the importation of better-type animals for the foundation of an improved type of beast in New Zealand. Lest that should not lie sufficient!,v clear. Lord Bledisloe has taken a very definite stand concerning the embargo on tbo importation of stock from Britain, and his observations on the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease will command earnest consideration. The question is one which requires early investigation. The Governor-General's assurance regarding the absence of risk to New Zealand in the lifting of the embargo is one which cannot bo ignored. The very fact that approval should be so promptly given in responsible quarters is sufficient evidence of the urgency of action. —"Waikato Times.”

Empire Migration. It would be interesting to know whether the private conference that Mr. VV. J. Jordan, M.P., has had with the Empire Parliamentary Association in London was concerned with any particular scheme of Empire migration or whether the subject was just migration in general. It would be interesting, also, to know what views Mr. Jordan expressed, because the Labour Party in New Zealand has never shown any great anxiety to encourage immigration. The question is a very real one in Hie Mother Country, because for the first time for perhaps a century the number of emigrants returning* to Great Britain is greater than the number leaving to live overseas. There is no doubt that a large-scale scheme of emigration would gladly be financed in the Mother Country, but the question is whether the Dominions would be prepared to participate — "Christchurch Times.”

The Building Subsidy. It is desirable that an effort should be made to assure an adequate supply of cheap but good houses, and under this 50 per cent, subsidy scheme many people should lie encouraged to build as a safe form of investment for their money. As soon as improvement in the financial situation becomes marked and certain, one of the first manifestations of returning confidence will lie building, but not on the advantageous terms now avaihiblc. Those who build can belli themselves by obtaining a large cut in their wages bill, and they can heli) the country as a whole by rescuing men from profitless relief work. The funds of the Unemployment Board have been drained too long by useless schemes, and the board has been freely criticised for allowing this to continue. Now it lias thrown the onus on the people. It has done all that it can do by putting forward this scheme; success"depends upon the response that those who can build are prepared to make. —Christchurch "Suu.”

Protected Industries. We may contend that if our industries are imperilled, many men may be deprived of the opportunity to make a living; but. it is safe to say that shipplug*ami other charges immediately place an additional 15 or 20 per cent, on imported goodsj and that should be a suilieient margin if our local industries arc efficiently managed, and superior quality is made the objective. This fact is demonstrated every day by a dozen or more concerns which compete successfully with outsiders. No country in the future can expect to prosper on ouewav trade. All the nations are keenly seeking business, amt reciprocity will be insisted upon as the first essential principal. Hitherto Great Britain has not insisted on New Zealand increasing her business with her, but hints bare been frequent, ami the time has come when she wants all the commerce she cuu get.—" Southland Daily News.

Mr. Polson and the Quotas. Generally speaking, we think it can be said that uo one will question the assertion of Mr. W. J. Tolson, M-E., that trade is the life blood of cixilisaHon, and Hie world looks forward to the Economic Conference to cut away many of the impediments to freedom. Mr. Polson made these observations as a foundation upon which, to. build his case against quotas. This, in Mr. Polson’s opinion, is the burning topic of the hour. “It Is a question,” declared our visitor, “whether New Zealand is to proceed with her development with a free market or adopt the quota system.” Mr. Polson insists that such a policy would hamstring the farming industry. In making this statement. Mr. Polson drew a long bow, for unhappily the future of the New Zealand producer Is not in his own keeping.—Tunaru “Herald.”

Arapuni's Last Problem. The vibration in No. 1 generator at Arapuni has been proved to have been set us by a mechanical cause—l he inaccurate weighting of Hie runner :o counterbalance an accidental increase in weight on Hie oilier side. Thus, the defect had its origin iu the engineering works overseas, and now perhaps New Zealand will no longer Hie afflicted by theorists, many of them purely laymen, who have asserted with the confidence of their kind that Hie trouble lay in Hie found;:Hons of the power-house. The vibration problem, which could not be investigated as promptly as needs demanded through Hie stoppage of the plant: because of headrace leakage, was seized upon by the critics of the whole scheme as further proof of their pissimistic contentions which started when Hie contractors, during the excavation of the powerhouse foundations, relinquished the contract. The country may now expect the critics to bold their peace. They have been proved to be false prophets.—" New Zealand Herald.” Local Government Reform.

It is urgently necessary to re-allocate functions between local authorities and .State departments. In order to make the complex and obsolete machinery of local administration work witli a semblance of efficiency and elaborate and expensive superstructure of central supervision lias ism devised witli the curious,result that, although New Zealand has more local bodies in proportion to her population than almost any other country in the world, there is little scope for local initiative. This state of affairs is the natural and inevitable consequence of haphazard growth. The framework of local government iu New Zealand was erected in 1874, and despite a live-fold increase in population in the ensiling half-cen-tury, accompanied by rapid social and economic changes, it has never been overhauled. As new needs have arisen, new sets of authorities have been created without regard for existing boundaries, so that Hie system as a whole has lost all coherence or symetry.— "The Press,” Christchurch.

The Machinery of Government. There is still hope that when the people realise that the Upper House stands as a protector to the individual against the tyranny of a temporary majority in the democracy, Proportional Representation will be regarded more favourably as a means of setting up a Legislative Council which can function freely as an instrument of conservation in the political arena. Ono of the most, distressing characteristics of the present period in New Zealand is the apathy of the people to questions connected witli the governmental machinery of the country. There is in connection with this matter an excellent suggestion for the New Zealand Legion. Here is a problem touching no party, affecting no political programme more than another, and yet offering opportunity for reform on national lines. The Legion is severely critical of the evils of the party system, and it can do a useful work by presenting to the public those constitutional changes which can remove many, if not all, of the worst evils of that system.—“ Southland Times." Quality in Production.

It is matter for satisfaction that emphasis has been strongly laid at the various conferences of the producing interests during this week on the need for the maintenance of quality in the products of Hie Dominion. Mr. H. J. Middleton. however, speaking at the annual conference of the South Island Dairy Association expressed regret that there had uot been an earlier realisation of the fact that quality of output is more essential to the welfare of the' dairying industry than-quantity .of output is. But it i..; of even greater importance that quality should be maintained, and uniformly maintained, in the production of butter because the exportation of blitter is on a much larger scale than that of cheese. Mr. Middleton estimates that the neglect on the part of producers to. make quality their first consideration in manufacture has entailed a loss of many millions of pounds to the Dominion. —"Otago Daily Times.”

Over-regulated Business. It is not an altogether impossible suggestion that the cost of. regulation should be evaluated-as au element in the cost of production, and the toss be set against the gain. The evil of overregulation rims through a scale from mere stupidity to downright extravagance and injustice and extortion ; but for every degree of it a price has to be paid, and the cumulative price is enormous. The tendency that has .carried bad to worse is partly explained by the independence of departments, which, each from its own ground it authority, react) out to tell the industrialist or the trader what he must do and how be must do it and exact their tribute. Another contributory cause is the weakness of Parliament, which too easily and freely delegates powers of regulation to bureaucrats, who busily employ them. A third cause has been Hie ceaseless pursuit, by the labour unions, of privileges and concessions which have all had to become the subject of regulation and inspection, and which have, not uncommonly, militated one against another and delayed more advantageous, reforms and advances. —"The Press.” Christchurch.

Making Aviation Safe. The rapid growth of civil aviation in New Zealand and the inauguration shortly of an extensive mail and passenger service linking up the main centres has made a review of the New Zealand flying regulations imperative. The need for a modernisation of the regulations has long been apparent and pilots and aero clubs alike will welcome the cicariug-up of many vexed problems. The regulations previously in force were made in 1921 with the authority of the 191 S Act. New Zealanders have become quite "air-mind-etl.” clubs and aerodromes have sprung up with niushgroom growth, and scores of planes have been imported. The need for revising the regulations became apparent when the teaching of air pupils was begun, and also when it was found that the regulations prevented a satisfactory inquiry into accidents being made. Any vagueness in and misunderstanding of Hie regulations should end with the gazetting of the Dominion's new regulations. which have been based on those of Great Britain and. conform to those adopted by countries which signed the International Air Navigation Convention. —"Taranaki Herald.