WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 13144, 28 December 1908, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERS. Those willing to take a part in our defence woTk should be treated with every assistance, and their enthusiasm should be. encouraged rather than quenched by unsympathetic officialdom. Perhaps all the blame should not be laid at the door of the Defence Department, since it is well known that the members of the Government themselves have quite failed to grasp intelligently the needs „of the Dominion in the matter of defence. The Ministerial weakness in this respect was painfully evident during the recent election campaign, when the Minister of LV fence omitted, despite pointed references thereto by the Opposition, to formulate a definite policy. We suppose that in the absence of any bold"lead.from the Government, subordinate officers of the Defence Department are not altogether responsible for'the conspicuous absence of zealous endeavor in the conduct of its affairs, but the people certainly expect ah effort to be made to understand' the motives of those offering to serve in the ranks of the volunteers. —Manawatu 'Standard.' .:' ■ . • post and telegraph; -•Taking thei-PdstaliTelegraph--Department as'a criterion of his work asf ah administrator, any settler-not absolutely blinded by party prejudice must give Sir Joseph credit for being most painstaking, farseeing, and practical in his methods, and for being.remarkably successful in working them out. The revenue of £900,000 per annum is really a.measure not only of his successful business management, but of the splendid facilities enjoyed by the people, in postal and' telegraph matters. If these advantages did not exist, the revenue could hot .be earned.. That it is earned is a proof that the public are being well served, and are taking full advantage of this branch of the Minister's work.— Wairarapa ' News.' '— » ' THE LAW OF LD3EL. * By reason of the restrictions now imposed on the Press, particularly in relation to the publication of bona fide reports, though there are many other anomalies which want removing, much that the public ought to know is withheld from them. Frequently reports have to be chopped about or suppressed, for fear lest they may contain something which an aggrieved individual may seize upon as a reflection on him, and at times reports and other matters of moment are published witli fear and trembling that something which may be termed, defamatory or libellous will be discovered in them. For years the New Zealand Press have asked for an amendment of the Act, but all to no purpose. It is strange that in this democratic young colony—one of the most democratic countries in the whole wide world —the Press should be thus muzzled.— 'Wanganui Herald.' CLOSE THE DOORS. Why'should our taxpayers be compelled to support in gaol those'who ought to be made to earn their living in their own country? It is undeniable that, many of the sponging and loaSng fraternity " nowinfesting the Dominion come from what is known as the "other side." We ought surely to shut our doors against such an influx. We might, further, very reasonably ship back to the country whence they came all immigrants showing criminal tendencies. This would be far better than maintaining them in gaol. It would save the country much unnecessary expense, and it would prove such a salutary lesson to all of the same kidney that they would refrain from seeking to enter the Dominion. Let us keep the door closely shut against undesirables of any class, alien or British. —Marlborough 'Express.' NORTH ISLAND TRUNK. The enthusiasts who travel bv the present all-night ..train from Wellington or Auckland have no legitimate ground of ccrnplaint if they are weary unto death of their journey.' Such a trip would be repellent to anyone, but a holiday-maker, for who but he would remain seated in a railway car for twenty-two hours? When the service is in proper running order will be the time to pass judgment upon it. The trials of the present temporary, and are;willingly met'by people who nave counted the' cost of such inconveniences. Private enterprise has not risen to the occasion at Ohakune. That is all there is about it.—Wellington 'Times.' * THE LONDON MAILS. The Australian connection for the Suez route, the Fiji connection for the Vancouver route, and the Tahiti connection for the San Francisco route all cost us far more than they are worth. They are all slow_ mail services, and discourage travel. A direct 'Frisco connection would encourage travel ias nothing else could do, would get our mails to London many days faster than at present, and would encourage a profitable trade with the' United States. These advantages ought to outweigh with Sir Joseph Ward that barren sentiment for an All-Red route for which" only New Zealand seems prepared to make any sacrifice, and which has only left us sidetracked, far away from every oceanic mail service worthy the. name.—Auckland ''Herald.'