WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14966, 28 August 1912, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Finance is always a troublesome ques* tion, even to Reform Governments, and there can be little doubt that the possibility of being able to do a great deal of good at a comparatively small cost will not be without its influence in assisting the Ministry to make up its mind as to how far it can afford to go in the direction of meeting the wishes of the University Reformers. The Prime Minister, who received the deputation sympathetically, did not commit himself in any way as to the particular course the- Government were likelv to pursue, blit he made it fairly plain that the question of University Reform is likeh - to receive more active attention from the present Ministry than it did from its predecessors. The proposal to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry certainly appears to be the most satisfactory’ method of dealing with the subject—provided, of course, that the right men are chosen as Commissioners, —' Dominion.’ * * * The interview between the deputation from the Wellington Proportional Liepresentation Society and the Prime Minister came at a very opportune time for the reform which the society exist to promote. Ir public opinion had been in earnest about the matter the Government would doubtless have found time to pay it some attention ; but more exciting subjects absorbed the energies of reformers and politicians, and there was no organisation to keep the claims of this great reiorm before public attention. The failure of the Second Ballot as a remedy for the chances and inequalities of the old system, which is now condemned on all sides, is largely responsible for the prominence which the Proportional idea has recently attained. It is agreed that the Second Ballot must go, and the claims of Proportional Representation to take its place are being actively canvassed and favorably considered.—Wellington ‘ Post.’ * * * The enormous improvement in the railway revenue since the completion of the North Island Trunk line affords very good ground for believing that a similar result would follow from establishing through communication between the two ends of this island.—‘ Lyttelton Times.’ •Sf * ■» If Single Chamber government is considered inadvisable—and we think tho House of Representatives lias hardly reached that state of perfection when it can be entrusted to nass legislation without revision—then the only alternative is election by the people. In affirming this great principle the Massey Government have Provided ■ Proportional Representation, which should afford the countiy an 0pp,,.tuuity of judging the effects of this electoral reform.—Dannevirke ‘ News.’ * « We tlo not quarrel with those who object to the Defence Act. and who seek by' legitimate agitation in this country to get it repealed or amended. AVe object most strongly, however, to any traitorous attempts to gain their ends by assisting in or conniving at a campaign of calumny in England against New Zealand. And we think it ■ a shame and a disgrace that our High Commissioner’s Office in London has been so supine and so inept in the matter of ibis deliberate attempt to blacken the Dominion’s fair name.Christchurch ‘ Press.’ •if ■ To consider the meaning of such violent and reckless attacks upon our university system ns have been imsas by the Reformers during the past two years is to recognise at once the hignl.v unreasonable ami prejudiced character of the whole, crusad.’. We do not propose to enter into any ci. I.u.ed discussion of the Reform Association p <‘- paganda just now, but we can see no reason why a movement which has emanated entirely from one uniyersny college, which has been diicctcd oy one small section of our university teachers without support or sympathy from the others, and which has been market! throughout by the use of grotesque exaggeration and misrepresentation on the part of its promoters, should bo expected to engage the serious attention of Parliament or the country. — Auckland ‘ Star.’ * * * The Railways Statement deals frankly with State affairs long rccognr-ed a ■ far from satisfactory. We are again brought face to lace with the fact that while the North Island main line and branches return £‘f> per cent, interest on the cost, of their construction, the South Island main line and branches return no more than £3 t’s per cent, interest. The meaning of these figures is plain. The main North Island system is being constantly sweated to make good the constant loss incurred upon the main South Island system. Wo do nor doubt that the experienced genera! manager whom it is intended to appoint will speedily find ways of amending the glaring injustice inflicted upon the entire community by the _ habitual neglect of past railway administrations to make the Southern lines pay their own way. When this is done, not only will the department be able to effect sorely-needed improvements on the already profitable North Island lines, but it will be possible to deni fairly with the railway employees without burdening the taxpayers.—Auckland ‘ Herald.’