TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

There is always a danger that electors, disappointed in their unwarranted expectations, may turn &om the Grovornment to accept anything that is offered in its stead, without careful examination of the policy otf the opposing party. This is: a dangerous course to take whatever the party in power. The fable of King Log and King Stork has its application even to present-day democratic government. The tendency to seek a change in the vain belief that any change must be for the better can be checked,'however, by directing attention to the possible and probable consequences of change, as the Ministor of Finance did last night. Labour cannot deny that it has modified its policy in several respects. Its nationalisation schemes are not so prominentlydisplayed, ' Mr. Holland states that they are still in the programme, but emphasis is not laid upon them. The. antidefence attitude of tho party is not so aggressive as it once was. Labour now agrees to make such provision as the time and circumstances may warrant, but as Labour is to decide what is warranted we have no guarantee that anything more is assured than would have been given under the outright anti-de-fence plank. Similarly, land nationalisation has been dropped from the programme of measures for immediate operation. In its placo we have leasehold, with vague reference to the principles of occupancy and use. There are two objections to this policy-trim-ming: it is not sufficiently definite, and it is not carried far enough to convince us of its sincerity. The objective of the Party is still the old socialisation of the ■means of production, distribution, and exchange. That has been retained to satisfy the Loft Wing, and the Left Wing, thus placated; has agreed to take some of tlm flaming.red out of tho front > window. We cannoit believe that the electors will be deceived, however, into accepting as a change of heart what is obviously only a change of tactics. ■# / ■ • ■'■■ ..#. Recently a correspondent protested in' tho columns of "The Post" against "cutting and ,chopping about of tho Botanical Gardens and adjacent areas, which, unless checked, will in time re-, suit in their losing much of their natural exuberant beauty." Specific reference was made to patches of native bush having been cut down, apart from the clearing made to permit Glenmoro road to be widened. Another correspondent to-day supports this protest. We aro not award how far this process has really affected tho native growth and how far it has been amongst exotics; but we join with tho correspondents in urging that tho native flora should be spared as far as possible, The Botanical Gardens have a double attraction for Wellingtonians and visitors. To some the ornamental flower-plots appeal most strongly. Others, and wo bolieve thes© aro in tho majority, find more beauty in the shaded, moss-grown paths, the native trees and shrubbery, and the ferns. Manuka covers a large area, but ©yen manuka is not without its beauty and usefulness. It provides shelter in which other less hardy native plants may grow. The- regeneration is slow, but it is proceeding, and it would be a pity to check it by carrying "improvements" further than is necessary. There are many reserves in Wellington where flowers and exotic plants can begrown; but tho Gardens should be preserved for native vegetation • and the natural beauty of wild growth. If .New Zealand's London loan had been- left with ;the underwriters and afterwards quoted at a discount, we may be sure that the Leader of the Opposition would have drawn pointed attention to the fact. He wouM probably have said that this proved his argument that our financial administration was not aoundj and that the Government had brought New Zealand into a bad position. As it is, the loan waa over-subscribed, and was quickly quoted at a premium. Its terms wero bettor, from tho borrower's point of viow, than those of previous flotations in tho same class. The over-subscription and the premium, therefore, were proof of this Dominion's good financial repute. Yet Mr. Holland seizes upon this as a ground for criticism of the Government. Tho subsequent events may or

may not provo that New Zealand could have made a better bargain. Had better terms been insisted upon, there would probably. have been more difficulty in underwriting the loan, and more expense. Possibly a big percentage of tho loan would have been left with the underwriters. Most people, jwe think, will hold that Mr. • Holland's criticism is very weak. New Zealand obtained good terms, judged by earlier and later flotations, and an attempt to obtain better might have .produced a result damaging to the Dominion's standing. ♦ • ■ • ' Unless awards were obeyed and. there i was freedom, from strikes,- declared Mr. Bruce at Perth, the whole system of arbitration would have to go. This may be regarded as, an empty threat of Government retaliation upon the militant unionists. It is really not so. Rather it is a statement of fact, as that fact • must appear to any Government charged with the administration of industrial laws. Arbitration is a twosided bargain. If one side persists in disregarding its obligations, the other side will sooner or later seek release from the bargain. Employers in the past have loyally accepted decisions of , arbitration tribunals, both here and in Australia. Now they are beginning to ask what they gain by this. They surrender some freedom of action, but somo . unions will make no equivalent surrender. They will obey the tribunal when,it pleases them and when they have been beaten in a fight. This is no more than they would do were there no arbitration. Why, then, maintain arbitration? It is the answer to this question that was given by employers at the New Zealand Industrial Conference when their spokesmen said it had proved impossible to make arbitration compulsory, and therefore it should be optional. The partial failure of compulsion has been brought about by the unreasonable conduct of a few bodies, but if these bodies cannot be persuaded to reason the objections of tho employers will become stronger and so well based that maintenance'of the system will bo impossible.