WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Evening Star, Issue 14497, 24 February 1911, Page 7

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

The cult of preference lius largely degenerated into a cant. To talk of the-de-sire for preference us ''the chief aspiration of tlio Dominions," or one of their chief aspirations, is the veriest buncombe. New Zealand has been infinitely more exorcised during the hut two years by the thought of the inadequacy of her contribution to tlio common defence than by the. determination of the British people "to run no risks with their food supply. She mates no pretence to superlative virtue, but her patriotism is really something purer than tho sordid cupboard-love with which it is strangely identified by some of hor eulogist* in' tho Old Lu:d. Save us from our Friends '.—Wellington ' Post.' * * * If the country is sound at heart—as we are sure it is—and extraordinarily prosperous, and if nt tho same time- enormous taxation and enormous borrowing are necessary, it surely follows that it ifi being grofsly mismanaged. Tho Prime Minister knows that this is true, and he seeks to delude a section of the people by diverting their attention from the fact that moderate taxation and moderate borrowing would be compatible with great and real progress if the axe were laid at the root of the extravagance and vicious methods that have grown up under the "Liberal" administration.—The 'Dominion.' * # * Although we are not hopeful of seeing tho establishment of an Imperial Council really worthy of the name, it is possible that some sort of compromiiio may be adopted which would enable the opinions of tho Oversea Dominions to be taken more promptly and accepted more readily in matters affecting our internal relations, leaving the broader questions of foreign policy still in the hands of tho British Parliament.—Christchurch ' Press.' _ * * * The portions of the Public Health Act dealing with vaccination should ho repealed altogether and two or three plain clauses should bo put in their place, empowering the authorities to take the "prompt measures" which Mr Buddovory properly says have been proved sufficient for effectually dealing with the disease.— 'Lyttelton Times.' * # # This year the Prime Minister will take his departure for the Old Country fortified with the pleasing knowledge that all is well with the people whom ho represents, and this, let us hope, may prove to' be a happy augury for a highly successful and epoch-making Imperial Conference.— Southland 'Times.' * * * The finest policy for New Zealand is to aim at producing as much raw material as die can grow, to make a feature of agricultural education, so that the flow of folk shall be to the field and not to the factory, and to induce the belief that no profession is so worthy of a man as the one in which he uses brains and brawn for the production of the only real essentials to existence.—Taranaki 'News.' * * * A vigorous and judicious policy of immigration ie the pressing need of the moment, and we believe that the time is ripe to bring this question prominently before the country and the politicians.— Eltham 'Argus.'