WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Evening Star, Issue 14225, 26 November 1909, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

DEATH DUTIES. The Death Duties Bill is an excellent measure, concerning which there will be really no extensive controversy, and, indeed, we shall not be surprised if the only serious criticism it encounters is a complaint that the duties proposed are 100 moderate.— 1 Lyttelton Times.’ • STATE STRIKERS. It will be obvious that nothing would have been easier than for the department to accede to the men’s demands, however unreasonable they might be; This is the great danger of State enterprises under the conditions prevailing in New Zealand ; the public interest can so easily be sacrificed sub rosa in order to avoid trouble between organised labor and the Government of the day. Probably we must thank Mr R. MTvenzie’s obstinacy for the refusal of the department to give way; and if this is the fact, and if the department’s attitude has been fair, then Mr M'Kenzio’s doggedness has at last one result to set against its many undesirable effects.— 1 The Dominion. - THE LAND BILL. If the intention of the Bill is what we suppose it to be, the measure will have two merits in the eyes of a certain section of electors, inasmuch as it will meet the case of those who have purchased these lease from original holders, and offers more inducements than could bo looked for. from the 11 actuarial basis ” we heard so much about not long ago. In the opinion of another section it will have the demerit of postponing collection of the direct and immediate financial interests of the State in the increment, —’New Zealand Times.’ LICENSING LEGISLATION. The party stand convicted cither of a grievous tactical blunder or of a radical defect in an organisation which was supposed to be nearly perfect, or of both. In our opinion the lesson which the less sanguine members of the party have been taught will have been cheaply‘purchased if it teaches them to give their recent legislative demands a long rest. All the agitation for Dominion Prohibition by a bare majority or by any majority merely tends to scare off the Moderate, who still holds the balance of power, and who would have been totally alienated by the abandoned compact.— 1 Evening Post.’ THE WRITING ON THE WALL. At the banquet to Mr Hockly Mr Scott dripped his drip with the noble sentiment that 11 it was difficult to estimate how much New Zealand owed to the Opposition party.” And so say all of us. That is just the pity of it. The estimate would have been less difficult if Now Zealand had owed anything to the Opposition. Mr Anderson was no happier in his declaration that “the Opposition had no chance against the Government because they had nothing to give, whilst the Government had everything to give.” This, again, was the too naked truth. If the Opposition had been able to give any tiling they ought to have succeeded in giving it long since. That the Government have "given everything is due to their desire to bestow that, which is acceptable to the people at the behest of the people.-— 1 Oamaru Mail.’ THE LAND BILL. The telegraphed summary of the Land Laws Amendment Bill, which was introduced by the Premier on Tuesday night, shows that some radical amendments will bo necessary before the measure can satisfy the wishes of the genuine freeholder. If the Government’s conversion to freehold principles were sincere they could have enibodied their views in a Bill of a few simple sections, which would have been intelligible to everyone; but desiring, like many other sinners, to make the best of both worlds—to retain Hie support of the Leaseholders and gain that of the Freeholders—they have invented a hybrid sort of tenure, wrapped about with many complicated provisions, that will please no one.—‘ Press.’ RAILWAY TIME-TABLE. There was much room for improvement in the existing services, with their unnecessary delays at several notable points, but the new service is many degrees worse. Instead of the department offering the speedier and, more convenient service that was desired by the people, they have made long-distance travelling to and from this district by rail hopelessly inconvenient and almost impossible. It is impossible to divine the motives that have prompted these changes, but it would be well that the Government should understand that they are regarded here as destructive to the best interests of Hawke’s Bay, and that they have intensified a feeling of dissatisfaction and want of confidence in the present administration that is quickly assumir% - considerable dimensions. Hawke’s Bay pays a substantial share of the taxation of the Dominion, but as far ns the public services and the expenditure of public money go, Hawke’s Bay is treated with studied contempt and even hostility. —Napier ‘ Telegraph.’