DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 69, 14 December 1935, Page 30

DOMINION TOPICS

Laying Down the Burden. The National Goverumeut spread the burden of sacrifice as evenly as any Government could hope to do, and converted the disastrous deficit of 1931 into the substantial surplus of 1935. It went on its way regardless of criticism and without permitting its preoccupation with affairs of smaller consequence to obscure its view of the larger national issues. And the result of it all is a very large measure of recovery iu every branch of trade and industry, pensions and wages cuts mainly restored, unemployment decreasing, expenditure on public works and social services expanding, and money passing more freely than for half a decade. This is the condition of “impoverishment” to which the National Government has reduced the country. But it is a fortunate condition indeed for the electorate that voted no-confidence in the National Government, a singularly fortunate one for the Government that, reaping where it has not sown, will enjoy the privilege to-day of taking over the control of a replenished Treasury.—“Otago Daily Times.”

A Good Start. Mr. Savage’s Government will start off with many advantages. It will take office at a time when prices appear to be on the up-grade, and that is a tremendous heln. When the Seddon Liberals began their long reign prices were going up after a period of depression, and prices were buoyant until a few years before the war. The Labour Government is coming into power in similar circumstances. Mr. Savage and his colleagues will have the advantage, too, of taking over with the Public Accounts in good shape. State departments are well supplied with funds, and the Budget drawn by Mr. Coates gives indications of being able to provide a surplus which will be available during the remainder of the financial year. For these advantages Mr. Savage should thank Mr. Coates, arzi the country generally should be pleased that the circumstances are so favourable to the Government.—“ Southland Times.”

The Upper House. There is no limit to the size of the Council beyond that imposed by com-mon-sense considerations. The impression that the numerical strength, of the Council is limited by law apparently rests on the fact that in the Act passed over 20 years ago, at the instance of the Reform Government, under which the Upper House was to become an elective Chamber, provision was made for a membership of 40, that being one half of the strength of the Lower House. That Act, however, has never been brought into operation. There is actually nothing to prevent the Labour Party from proposing to increase the size of the Council to quite unwieldy proportions, if it thought there was anything to gain thereby. But in the absence of any action, such as is not to be apprehended, on the part of the Upper House to delay arbitrarily or unreasonably the passage of legislation which has received the emphatic support of the Lower House, the Government is hardly likely to consider that any need exists for an extensive addition to the membership of the Council at the present time. —“Otago Daily Times.”

Broadcasting and the Public. The output of a broadcasting monopoly must be measured against fluctuating standards of good taste, public expediency, and artistic excellence. An institution must interpret these standards for itself; and it cannot interpret them without a philosophy. The situation seems to call for a variation of the monopoly principle without any weakening of the principle of public control. In broadcasting, cheapness and efficiency are much less important than the liberalising influence of conflicting ideas and methods. The suggestion has an obvious interest for New Zealand, where the development of broadcasting has been much influenced by" British example and where the broadcasting authority has shown many of the same fault? as the British Broadcasting Corporation. Originally, broadcasting developed in New Zealand on a regional basis; the establishment of the Broadcasting Board has led to a high degree of centralisation. It is at least arguable that there will be no real progress until the four main stations are put under local control and allowed to develop in sympathy with local needs.—“ The Press,” Christchurch. Our Home Market.

The prediction made by one of the big London banks that any movement in prices is likely to be upward is, in all probability, based on a study of the statistical position. Consumption has been increasing, and so long as manufacturers can anticipate a steady market this should continue. Fortunately, the Dominion is in a position to benefit at once. The more satisfactory results of the wool sales, compared with last season, are encouraging, and if the woolgrowers can obtain a return comparable with that of 1933-34 it will be a splendid thing for the Dominion. Increased industrial activity at Home must mean greater purchasing power, and this should do something to ensure steady markets for our foodstuffs. The nation that produces raw materials needed by large manufacturing interests and foodstuffs that other countries must import should ho able to regard the outlook with confidence—“Waikato Times.”

Honesty in Business. Everyone will sympathise with the man who, being out of work, tries to make an honest living by selling useful' articles on the “house-to-house” plan, and many people will buy at the door things winch they really do not need, and which they would otherwise not purchase, merely to help and encourage one who is obviously struggling against adverse conditions. Tn these circumstances, it is incumbent on canvassers to show the utmost good faith in all their dealings with householders, and many do so. It is not too much to expect that the police, or the civic authorities, who have the duty of investigating the characters of hawkers, sljpuld use every endeavour to protect the public against frauds of this nature. It must be remembered that the average housewife will not. face the publicity attending a "court case,” and other means of protection should therefore be found by those iu charge of such matters.—" Southland Times,’*

The Meat Markets. Potential world production of meat is as great as ever, aud if the quality of New Zealand produce stands still It will be only a matter of time before it is equalled by her rivals, in which case consumption will be maintained only by a reduction of prices. Already the people of England have lost their reputation as beef-eaters, and latterly their taste has been diverted from mutton to lamb. In 1924 exports of mutton and lamb from all countries were approximately equal, but last year lamb formed about three-quar-ters of an appreciably greater volume of trade, and the tendency is for a still further increase in the demand for lamb. These are developments that require careful watching, but there is nothing to suggest that New Zealand has any occasion to view the future other than with optimism. Despite the regulation of supplies—possibly because of them—last year's results were highly encouraging. There was an increase in the quantities absorbed and mutton prices were about 25 per cent, higher than two years earlier and lamb prices 15 per cent, higher, these two items creating a record that has not been shared by any other food products.—“ Poverty Bay Herald.” Diesel Rail Cars.

The news that comes from England of the purchase by the Railways Department of seven Dlcscl-driven vehicles is a welcome indication that the board is proceeding with its plans to increase the speed and convenience of its passenger services. Six of 'these new units will be passenger cars to be tried out on the Wellingtou-Masterton-Palmerston and Wellington-New Plymouth routes, obviously in competition with the road services. As the running cost of the Diesel car is only a fraction of that of a steam-driven train, the saving will be appreciable aud at the same time a much speedier and more convenient service will be made possible. The adoption of similar units on other routes is only a; question of time. The Diesel car has proved itself beyond question in Europe and America and it seems to be peculiarly suitable for New Zealand runs. It may easily revolutionise the railway passenger services of the whole Dominion. —Christchurch “Star-Sun.”

The Blizzard and the Rebound. After years of difficult times In which the economic blizzard had wrought dire havoc with the fortunes of all classes of the community, the people were seeking the return of normal times. Uncertainty and losses had persuaded thousands of voters of both sexes and of all classes that a sweeping change was needed to rehabilitate the fortunes of town aud country, and that the only course open was to reject the Government of the day and give another group of parliamentary representatives an opportunity to try out their plans. As a matter of fact, the habit of blaming the Government seems inherent in the make-up of all democratic communities. • The result in many countries has been the defeat of Governments regardless ‘Of their political associations and principles. It is not surprising then that such a large section of the community should have made up their minds to change their parliamentary leaders, particularly in view of the enticing and alluring prospects that were suggested.—“Timarii Herald.”

Women in the Home. It is not quite sufficient that a young woman in service should have a “good home” or a “roof over her head.” Given congenial surroundings and the chance to learn the secrets of the culinary art from a wise tutor, the average girl will engage herself in the task with some enthusiasm. After all, it is only natural that she should; the kitchen is the oldest known setting for at least part of the life work of her sex, and there is every reason to suppose that the domestic instinct of the majority has not altogether been suppressed by the distractions peculiar to the modern postwar age. Support for these opinions comes from the evident pride that home science students take iu the activities pursued by them at the excellent north end institution. Clearly they sense the value of the work they are doing—work that must be additionally attractive because it is essentially creative. The face that healthy appetites soon demolish the creations should be no discouragement. Appreciation lingers, and there are always more good things to come. —Dunedin “Star."

Stimulus of Lower Taxes. It is to the reduction of taxation that the country must look for the bringing in of the new era. The Labour Government lias made a good beginning In the promised abolition of the sales tax, a decision that conforms to the tax maxim of Adam Smith that every tax ought to be so contrived as both to take out and keep out of the pockets of the people as little as possible over and above what it brings into the public treasury of the State. The Minister of Employment misses an important point when he says that there was no demand for a reduction of the unemployment tax. The rate was reduced, yet in the last recorded year the income of New Zealand increased by ten millions, and the t ax produced more at the lower rate than it had produced previously at the higher. The Government should take its courage iu both hands in a clear realisation that tax reduction is not only sound politics but sound economics.—Christchurch “StarSun.”

Handing on the Torch. Mr Savage will take up the task laid down by the National Government and work for the attainment of the position at which that Government aimed, but which was denied the opportunity of carrying (heir work of national regeneration to the goal aimed at. Emphatically it can be said-that the gods have been more kind to the new Government than they were to the National Administration The latter was under the necessity of travelling by a difficult road; the Savage Government is more fortunate; largely, in comparison, its path has been made smooth by. the achievements of the National Administration, as most of the difficulties with which the Government was faced four years ago have been surmounted to a large degree. The road to-day is not entirely clear, but the task ahead of the Labour Government has been made easier by taking office with a balanced budget and all the necessary machinery for bringing the country back. to equilibrium.—“Timaru Post."