DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 28, 27 October 1934, Page 20

DOMINION TOPICS

Trade with Australia. Mr. Coates and Mr. Masters,'with a strong secretariat, are to visiti Australia with the object of negotiating a trade agreement The problem of better trade relations between the two countries is old and well understood. Both produce the same kinds of goods, and both are protectionist. For many years the balance has been in Australia’s favour. Last year Australia sent us £2,807,000 worth of goods (sterling), which was 10 per cent, of our imports, but took only £1,393,000 (New Zealand currency)— 3.4 per cent of our exports. It will be an achievement if Mr. Coates and Mr. Masters can negotiate an agreement that will be accepted by both sides and stand up to the test of rough weather as well as smooth.— “Auckland Star.” Out for Business. The Hon. R. Masters certainly appreciates to the full the value of seeking new markets for the sale of our produce and has explored the possibilities of the Far |East and the Pacific Coast. Some critics are disposed to be discouraging, but those who so completely captured the British market need not fear competition If they supply just the article the potential consumers require. We learn hat a trade commissioner is to be appointed for the western coast of America, and we hope that similar action will be taken in regard to Japan. A representative at Kobe could take in both Japan and China, and we have no doubt that in the course of a few years our meat and dairy produce would claim a large share of the increasing business offering.—“ Southland Daily News.” Police Equipment.

The suggestion that a large percentage of offences goes undetected is confirmed by the latest report on the police force of the Dominion, which shows that in 1933 1348 offences were reported and 875 arrests made. In the previous year 1553 offences were reported and 946 arrests made. These figures may have some bearing on the recent announcement by the Minister of Justice that he is contemplating arranging an exchange of officers between the New Zealand police force and Scotland Yard with a view to improving the technique of detection. Mr. Justice Herdman, however, seems to think that the foot cause of the trouble is not lack of ability or training but lack of equipment, and remarks significantly that “to get speedily to a place where a crime has been committed is of vital importance.” In other words, although burglars and housebreakers are beginning to take advantage of modern transport facilities, policemen still trundle along on bicycles. —“The Press,” Christchurch. Immigration. The recently-tabled annual report of the Department of Immigration notes signs of a revival of interest in Empire migration, but emphasis is laid on the official view that none of the schemes suggested could be regarded as more suitable for the Dominion’s needs than the system of nomination. Arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom and Ireland during the year ended March 31 last were 468, but of these 464 were full-fare migrants. The remaining four (a wife and three children) were assisted on the husband’s nomination, this being the only nomination approved during the rear. A significant passage in the report refers to the fact that the activities of the Deparment, apart from attending to inquiries, “were confined to operations in respfect of recovery of passage-money loans and refunds due by migrants on account of non-fulfilment of the five-year residence regulation.”—Christchurch “Sun.”

A Melancholy Fact It is a melancholy fact that in every country the popular opinion is firmly in favour of the removal of barbed-wire entanglements from other countries, but not from the shores of its own. British people will condemn the high tariff policy of the United States, and we will find the Americans using every effort to secure 'recessions in the duties that will allow them to send more goods into New Zealand in competition with British goods. New Zealand objects to restrictions and tariffs on her goods going to Britain, but she maintains her duties on British goods. An observer may range over the whole world and he will find that popular opinion will decline to accept the doctrine'of economic internationalism, because in each case personal interests are involved and individual selfishness exerts a tremendous influence. —“Southland Times.”

Loans for Public Wol’ks. Other countries have borrowed considerably for public works purposes, risking all the time the problem of swollen loan obligations with an undiminished, or even an increased, demand for relief. In this country the way has been left clear for judicious (borrowing when objectives of a desirable kind can be found. It is essential, of course, that work of national value, of a productive kind, should be undertaken in any programme of loan expenditure. To find it is not easy, with railway-building abandoned and hydro-electric power development almost completed. Yet the restoration of public works activities to any extent would unquestionably have a markedly stimulating effect upon employment. The consequences would be widespread, especially if material produced in this country were utilised to any considerable extent. So there is a good deal of argument! in favour of a cautious and judicious resumption of capital expenditure by the State as opportunity offers.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

Future of Air Services. Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, shows wisdom and foresight in emphasising that the Dominion should begin organising a complete aviation weather service. Dr. Kidson visualises a rapid development of civil aviation in the next few years, and he is anxious lest the service he directs should lag behind and be unable to give the assistance to airmen that is certain to be required. Developing and maintaining such a service will, of course, be costly, but Dr. Kidson makes the strong point that it will not be expensive as an insurance in view of the large capital that will be invested in planes and equipment. In addition a Dominion-wide weather and forecasting service, with immediate communication between all the main airports, will prove useful to the public in a general way and' the Information could be made available to travellers and shipping. It is to be hoped that the Government will not disregard Dr. Kidson’s statement and that it will encourage him in the task of organising his department.—“Taranaki Herald.”

Traffic Accidents. The prevention of avoidable traffic accidents must be approached from two angles, by improving the standard of care on the roads, and by improving the conditions under which traffic is to be operated. The licensing of drivers and the institution of practicable speed regulations are the official steps in the first course. For the rest, it remains with motorists’ organisations, in particular the automobile associations, to see that their members observe a higher degree of prudence and courtesy when using the roads. As for the second aspect of the problem, the Government might with advantage consider the advisability of a nation-wide campaign against dangerous corners and level crossings, in which the assistance of local bodies might be invoked.—“Waikato Times.” i

Australian-New Zealand Trade. While the Government is, through the appointment of overseas Trade Commissioners and otherwise, interesting itself in measures for the development of the export trade of the Dominion. and for the exploitation of fresh commercial avenues, it is important that it should also look near home. The injury that is done to the primary industries ■of New Zealand through the maintenance of a policy of restriction of trade with Australia has been suffered long enough. We should hardly 'suppose that it requires the visit of two members of the Ministry to the Commonwealth tp effect an adjustment ;that will afford satisfaction to the producing interests anf the general public in both countries, but so long as the adjustment is actually made the people of t>he Dominion are not likely to be very critical about the elaborateness of the official machinery that is employed for the purpose.—“Otago Daily Times.”

Message of Labour Day. Labour Day, as a public holiday on which the work of the country ceases, ought to be contemplated not as a mere stoppage of the machinery of the country but in its broadest aspect, because the real significance of labour is not merely the group interest of those who work in factories, or of those who are organised in unions and associations, to assert their rights. The labour problem is more than a question of relations between employers and employed. It includes the problem of finding productive application of human energies, and so takes in the unemployment situation that besets so many countries. It Includes, thoughtful observers insist, the problem of fair compensation for those whose pay is not in wages, but in the prices of agricultural commodities.—“ Timaru Herald.”

A Case for Consideration. The extended powers that it is proposed to confer on the Unemployment Board may result in greater co-opera-tion between the local and other authorities, but it is difficult to understand why, when the system is being made more elastic,- there should be-a provision for what amounts to an automatic judgment against a person sued for recovery of unpaid tax. If,’within thirty days of the' summons being served, no notice to defend is lodged “judgment is to be given for the amount claimed, without costs, without hearing any defence or without it being necessary for any person to appear on behalf of the Crown.” There are occasions, such as accident or illness, that may result in this provision bearing harshly on innocent people, and there appears to be •no reason why the magistrates should not have some optional powers in these matters. —“Christchurch Times.”

A New Zealand Invitation. In a sense New Zealand has a greater interest in long-distance flying than Australia, and it would be a nice compliment to pay to Scott and the Dutch competitors to invite them to New Zealand as the guests of the Government. The trip might make a special, appeal to the imagination of the Dutchmen, for the Tasman Sea bears the name of the great Dutch explorer who discovered New Zealand, and a sentimental journey might readily receive the approval of the Dutch authorities. The airline to New Zealand is not as long as any of the speed race control ’ stages, if we except the last hop from Charleville, and it is not half as long as the Lon-don-Bagdad crossing. For multiple-en-gined machines it represents no difficulties, and although a regul&rservice may avail itself of a floating aerodrome, the .full flights eould be. taken in a stride by almost any of the speed visitors to Melbourne. —Christchurch “Star.” The Housing Problem.

The type of house most in demand, namely, one of modest rental fairly near a worker’s- place of occupation, is almost as scarce as ever in the metropolitan areas. Better and cheaper transport facilities to enable workers’ dwellings-to be erected in the suburbs, and a clearing away of the slum areas in the larger cities are much more likely to solve the housing problem than legislation such as the Rent Restriction Act with its rigid limitations on the owner of house property and the difficulties it creates when the removal of an undesirable tenant is necessary. Social workers who have no personal interest in house property, as well as those people who have, are well aware that the housing problem in some cities is still acute. Some of them will share the hope expressed by the Minister- of Public Works that the« Rent Restriction Act will disappear next year.—“Taranaki Daily News.” Life Saving.

The efforts of the branches of the Royal Life Saving Society in New Zealand have been responsible for a considerable decrease in the number of drowning accidents recorded annually, but the figures are still high—lso in a year, or. in other words, three valuable lives are being lost every week in this way. There is a ready co-ordination between the "swimming clubs, the surf organisations, and the Royal Life Saving Society. On the one hand, the swinjming clubs set out as their primary aim the teaching of children to swiin: the Life Saving Society encourages swimmers to become proficient in methods of rescue and to know something of resuscitation, so that, in times of emergency, they may be able to assist others who may get into difficulties in the water. The surf clubs have developed this work to a high degree on the beaches of Australia and New Zealand. making them, as far as is liumanlv possible, safe for the thousands who flock to the seaside whenever the weather is sufficiently tempting— Dunedin “Star.”