WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 15020, 31 October 1912, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

In regard to Dunedin's Sunday trip, we give the shocked ones all due'credit for worthy motives in voicing their protest, but it is our belief that their attitude is unfortunate. Such an incident incites persons who call themselves "sports" to raise the strident and much-abused cry of "Wowser!" We have heartily acknowledged that New Zealand owes much to many so-called " wowsers," but the work or the solid improvement of the people is hindered rather than helped by narrowness regarding the observance of Sunday. It is well not to give opponents of reasonable reform a chance to gird at earnest workers by a clamor about such remonstrances as those reported from Duncdin. We cannot imagine how a healthy breathing of God's air on blue water flanked by verdant hills in the glad inspiring springtime can be a wicked misuse of a part of Sunday. Surely there can be uplifting sermons hi-the bright sun, the shining sea, the green trees, and the flowers.—Wellington ' Post.' * * * We should be glad to believe that the sensible advice tendered bv the executive of the Federation of Labor to the Huntly coal miners, and their refusal to support the strike of the general laborers in Auckland, afford evidence of a return to more moderate aims in the control of that organisation. It is amazing that, with .the collapse of the Brisbane strike last vonr as an object lesson, the New Zealand Federationists should still have been under the delusion that they could dictate to the whole community. Their revolutionary tactics have merely had the effect of injuring legitimate unionism by creating a feeling of bitterness in the community and" causing considerable loss to the workers, to shareholders in mining companies, and to business, while the outcome to the federation has been humiliationAuckland 'Star.' * * * _ Railway management has become an important political question—had the railways not been so entwined with politics they would probably have been better managed—and the 'electors will not be likely to allow the Government to shelter behind a general manager, tor what the general manager does the Government, in the public mind', will be held responsible; and therefore the Minister does not want to bo limited to New Zealand in the selection of the man best qualified to fill this important office. The object of the Government is to make the railways pay, and this can only be accomplished by skilled management.—Dauncvirlsa News.' * *' * The Federation ° r Labor have, failed at Wailn and Keefton. thev h PV e talked at large about "a great'event " that would "stagger the Dominion,'' and more or less openlv thev have threatened to resort to the 'genera! strike. Now that the most direct challenge possible has been thrown down to the federation at Huntlv, it will be interesting to see what kind of answer the federation can make and what form their response will take.—Southland J imes. * * # Most deadly of all causes of consumption must be the strange antipathy which many people still have to open windows and fresh air. For ls abundance of pure and fresh air is the panacea for all curable cases of phthisis so abundance of pure rfnd fresh air bv night as by day, is the ereat preventive.—Auckland 'Herald.'" * * * . ■" Massey's optimism appears tr> bo infectious. In a House where there n really less than a bare majority of Re. formers the second reading of the Land mi was carried by 13 to 17. and ihethird reading by 42 to 13. Perhaps members were impressed bv y, r Mnssey's declaration that he 'believed 'in 10 years not one large estate would be left in j\ew Zealand. The disinte.r;-,-,. tion is to take place automatically' as a result of free trade in land being'permitted, instead of sales being hedged round with restrictions. In other words, land speculation—the scourge o the country—is to be employed in effectively settling the large areas now in occupation by the "sheep kiii"s '' The. idea is a striking one, as starting as is Mr Massey's confession that he has never made a fetish of limitation.— Southland ' News.' * * * Importation cannot endanger the livelihood of the men and women who are already in employment, either by providing new workers to supplant them or by reducing the rate of wages Any scheme of importation adopted" by the Government would have to be hedged round very closely with restrictions Workers should he brought to the Dominion only when there are positions to be filled, and they should be selected with such care that thev would be entirely suitable for the purposes for which they were required. The Auckland employers have emphasised the-e requirements m framing their scheme and it deserves the Government's most earnest consideration.— Timaru 'Post' * * * No responsible person, we think, has attempted to show that the .Midland line will pay. Which, then, is the better lor the country: to bear the loss already incurred, and be thankful that it is no greater, or 10 go on adding to that loss, while at the same time hampering development in other parts of the country where railway construction is needed and will pay 4 We doubt very much whether there are a dozen members in the House who really think this line is necessary or even desirable. It is a huge whito elephant which has cost the country much and will cost it still more vat. J he House and the Government, apparently, are going to allow themselves to be persuaded on partisan evidence that the work should be pressed forward, and the already. heavy' annua] loss arising out of it greatly swelled. lhe least that members should ir.-ist on is that there should be an iuy\sti"a. tion of the position by a competent commission who could be relied up,mi to -new the position from the national standpoint and without re.r rri l r or parochial interests affected.—- Dominion.'