WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14962, 23 August 1912, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

The judgment of historians upon the remarkable man whose death was recorded on, Wednesday need not concern the present generation. It, may possibly happen ■that in the course of the world's progress General Booth's name and fame may bo forgotten, and his work fall into oblivion. It is not impossible that two or three centuries hence he will stand as the gieatest figijre of our time, yet whatever the verdict of posterity may be, contemporary opinion long ago conceded him a foremost place amongst living men. Bewildering theology and melodramatic methods, which seemed to be the outstanding features of General Booth's activities, are nowadays accepted as matters of mere detail, ii, indeed, they are noticed. It is the great charitable and socially ameliorative efforts of the Army which attract the notice of the world, and establish in the eyes of the multitude at least one connecting link between professed religion and practical morality. A great figure has passed from the world's stage by the death of Geneval Booth. He succeeded with his life's work in a manner that has been given to few men in modem times. — Wellington 'Times.' * * # The most serious defect in the Bill-for the reform of the Legislative Council is the absence of any provision to regulate the relations between the two Chambers in the event of a conflict. On money Bilfe and the like the superior rights of tho Bouse of Representatives are definitely asserted but as to oilier matters a Legislative Council drawing its authority directly from, the people, and by a far Silpeno* method of election, will not always, be content with a position of inferiority. A dissolution will under the Bill be the only escape from the deadlock which may thus arise, and a dissolution will possess fewer terrors for the Council than for the House, since only half of the Councillors will have to face the people at each General Election. Something better than this clumsy, costly, and not always effective expedient must be provided, but the Bill is silent on the subject, and Mr Bell, though fully alive to the difficulty, had no suggestion to make.—Wellington'Post.' * * * Even as a remuneration of out-of-pocket expenses the present payment is not more than adequate, and everyone who knows Wellington and Wellington ways during the session understands that £6 a week is less than a living wage. Indeed, if membors could not supplement the honorarium by their earnings out of some of them would have to give up politics -pexj manently. The objection to an increase in the honorarium is that the lower scale of payment keeps men out of politics until they have acquired some experience in busine"ss and have made enough money to keep themselves, but in practice this theory breaks down badly.—Chnstchurch 'Star!* * * * The industries which require fostering in this countrv are the primary industries. And so that .those engaged in these industries may be able to compete with other countries, the cost'of living should be reduced as far as possible. It is absurd to keep up the price of such common articles of use "as boots and shoes for the • sake oi finding work for a few hundred people w,ho might be .more profitably employed 'ln other industries.—Wairarapa 'Age.' * * # The announcement of the Minister of 1 Customs that he has issued instructions that applicants for positions- in departments under his control are to be submitted, to ballot, introduces an entirely rew principle, and an entirely -unbusinesslike one. No business man in his sound senses would think of leaving. even the selection of an office boy to the chance of the dire, and a public service which | acquires its recruits in this haphazard manner will have little claim to either confidence or respect.—• Lyttelton Times.' * * * Personallv, we should like to see the honorarium" raised and the .number of members reduced, for a- House of 80 members is quite out of proportion to the necessities of a country with a population of a mere million. . . We pay our Judges and our magistrates and our heads of departments liberal salaries, and it seems a little bit anomalous that the men who have to frame tho laws that they are called upon to administer should be paid the pittance of a chief clerk.—Taranaki ' News.' * * * The result of the division [on Mr Craigie's amendment] is no indication of members' feelings on the question. Twelve leaseholders voted with the majority, pre'sumably because they objected to such an amendment emanating from any but the official -Leader of the Opposition, as is demanded bv immemorial custom. We give Mr Craigie credit for sincerity in the matter, and we admire his courage ; but to take the step lie did at such an inopportune moment and in such an irregular manner was the height of indiscretion. It is useless to ignore the fact that the freehold sentiment predominates in I the House, and that while such is the ! case there is little hope .of obtaining a J test vote on the question, particularly if those responsible for the movement play into the hands of their opponents by making their proposals too drastic, as was obviously the case in this irstance. The best that can be accomplished is to ensure that the greatest possible measure of settlement is achieved, and that an effective check is- placed upon aggregation.— Southland 'News.'