WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Evening Star, Issue 14513, 3 November 1910, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Tho landlordisih of the Mother Country is a product of the Freehold, and is one of the worst developments of tho aggregation and monopoly from which Mr Lauienson and his friends are striving to save New Zealand The land reformers do not wish to deprive the farmer of his freehold, or oven the great owner of his vast territory, except on the payment of fair compensation, but they are determined that the abuses which' have blighted the lives of millions of people in the older countries shall not be perpetuated here.—‘ Lyttelton limes.’

• The Exports of 1908-09 provided enough to pay for our excess of imports in the previous year, and left a surplus sufficient to meet the outride interest obligations of the Dominion. The year 1909-10, in spite of an increase of over a million in imports, beats last year's record by over two millions. The banking returns of the Dominion, which wo reviewed in a recent issue, showed that the deposits of the community in the hands of the banks were sufficient to provide for all the advances made by those institutions, with a surplus of five millions lying in their kinds unemployed. This, it must be admitted, is a very remarkable jxjsition. Wellington ' Times.’

Sir Joseph Ward's figures had little to say on the subject of expenditure, though that little was of a fairly satisfactory character. Tho departmental expenditure tor the September quarter was £33,182 loss than during the corresponding quarter of 1909. If this reduction is genuine and permanent the result is something to be thankful for. Tho saving in the annua! expenditure would ainoflnt at this rat© to a little moro than £132,000, but why, if the rate was equally good for the preceding quarter, were not tiro figures given, especially as that quarter was included in the seven months for which tho revenue was given?— Wellington ‘Post.’

As long as magistrates are dependent on the pleasure, of the Government for the retention of their positions, and arc paid the very moderate salaries otfered to them on appointment, so long will they be liable- to attempts to influence and interfere with them.—Christchurch * Press.’

It is a matter of common knowledge that a great many men vote for No-license with the ,idea of closing the open bar who would not for one moment contemplate voting for the total prohibition of liquor. If the Hill were, passed in its present form it is almost certain lliat No-licenre would' lose far more votes than the reduction of the necessary majority from 60 to 55 per cent, would make compensation for. Wairarajia ’ Times.’

Tuo tendency in other countries, Ivuro]K‘an and Eastern, is in the direction of higher wages and better conditions of labor, and if labor in New Zealand lias patience it will find the pressure of cheap foreign competition growing less severe. The fight for higher wages should be worldwide, for a small section to push too far ahead may end in defeat and disaster.— Taranaki ‘ Herald.’

How many, or rather how few, of our M.P.s earn their £3OO a year in actual legislative work?— Grey town ‘ Standard.’

If the electors thoroughly desire a reform in regard to parliamentary manners and methods, the reform will not Ire long in coming.—Gisborne ‘Times.’