WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 15065, 23 December 1912, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

■ i ;v';! ,o ugli the Dominion is severely handicapped in the competition for p'opulatron by reason of" its remoteness from Great Britain, it possesses unique advantages of climate and soil, which if sufficiently known would, we believe, speedily make it the most favorite country m the eyes of those seeking now homes and new avenues of occupation.' It ought to be the dutv of the Government to see that these great advantages are brought under the notice, of-the people at Home; and there is, we are pleased to say, everv reason, for believing that it is" a duty which the Government are earnestly applying themselves to. Auckland ' Herald,' * * * If we are to throw ourselves on the protection of any part of the Empire, let it be the Mother Country rather than Australia. But if a genuine scheme of Imperial defence is organised, then there i"s every reason why we should join hands with Australia and escape from our position of isolation. The' present discussion" of naval policy in Canada will probably lead to new developments before long—developments m which Australia must ,take a part. It would seem desirable to have this matter settled before we committed ourselves to any arrangement such as the Australian politicians are proposing. —Napier ' Herald.' * * * Already the Westiand section of the railway system, made up of 141 miles pi scattered and isolated lines, is pav'"S better than any section in the North Island, and better than any section in the Dominion'with the single exception of the Wcstport section. If these scattered linos were linked up with the South Island Trunk system there would be an enormous increase in their earnings, and in a few years the growth, of trade and settlement would justify the enterprise a hundred times over. The Government can hardly resist the claim for a forward policy that is established bv tho new conditions.—' Lyttelton Times.' « * * The examination of the mouths of children in certain Invercargill schools v£. closcd tluv fact tllat deplorable indifference amongst parents exists. The indifference of parents is proverbial—as proverbial as the indifference of Governments on some matters—and it is only when the facts are' frauklv disclosed that any anxiety is felt, 'if an Act were passed directing that the education boards shall have systematic inspection of the pupils at reasonable periods, and education boards had the Act put into operation, we should be certain of beneficial results; but we have little faith in a Government which has its eye continually on the financial barometer, and until the system is made mandatory it is liable 'to bo so persistently disregarded as to make it worthless.—Southland ' News.' * * # _ Consideration of the waste and loss inflicted upon the communitv by the strike at "Waihi should effectually "check future tendency to introduce the meihovls of syndicalism into .the jJommion. The fruits of direct action are the same m all countries, and this latest proof of the futility of strikes in the settlement of labor disputes and their injurious effect on the general well-being should -act as a lesson to those who are anxious to reject the arbitration system that is provided by the law of the Dominion.—Palmerston Aorth 'Standard.' * * * To tie up an endowment for a particular purpose, as for a local bodv or institution, may be sound policv,'but to set aside a particular area of land to. provide revenue for any particular State purpose is unnecessary-. The State has undertaken.to pay for education, and if rents received" from lands are insufficient the Consolidated Fund must furnish the balance.—New Plymouth ' Herald.' *■ * * -The ideal Governor may exercise a farreaching and beneficent, 'influence, particularly m social activities, without inInngnig on any forbidden ground, and in this respect N ew Zealand has been fortunate. Primarily, of course, a Governor is the representative of the Throne and a channel of communication between an overseas community and the Imperial authorities. The duties of the office seem ilceiy to grow rather than diminish a « the Imperial tie is strengthened, and we have no doubt that Lord Liverpool, who has come_ to the Dominion with a record of administrative ability, will keep pace with all the developments of the next fewyears. He can rely upon receiving. M },j s predecessors have done, the sympathetic support of the community.—Lvttelton -Limes.