WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Evening Star, Issue 15308, 7 October 1913, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

The Chief Health Officer, in his report presented to Parliament a day or two ago i u , 3 )'^‘ cal inspection of schools, states that the number of children found to be suffering from some ailment or defect will come as a surprise to the public.” To the fate Government belongs the credit of having inaugurated tho medical inspection of schools. In following this up bv introducing a ■scientific method of training calculated to remove these defects and to build up the health of the children, Mr Allen has inaugurated a great practical reform which, we believe, will cause, his name to be remembered with gratitude and affection long after he has passed away.—Christchurch ‘ Press.’ * * * Mr Massey has never hold the confidence of anything like a majority of the men and women of New Zealand, ami therefore to say that there is “satisfaction throughout New Zealand” because he is 1 rime Munster is simply to advance- a statement that is disproved the moment it is tested, and if tho people did not want the Tones a couple of years ago, with their profuse promises of .reform and -before they had been tried in tho light ot actual experience, we arc absolutely sure that tho exhibition that- lias been given during the. last fifteen months has served only to confirm the popular judgment of 1911, which was that the most suitable position for Mr 'Massev is that of Leader of tho Opposition.—Wellington ‘ Times.’ ». * * * ~ Zealand has no more confidence than Australia in Japan, yet what are her battle cruiser and her naval subsidy doing tor the Pacific or even for the Empire in comparison with Australia’s contributions’ The sea is one, wc are told, and therefore .'{| 6 . U T should be one. IVe are anxious that the Navy should remain one. nor do we believe that New Zealand will ever desire to break it up, but her present policj of drift, varied by an occasional spasm, is not going to solve the Imperial problem or even to police these seas. This is a. good day for considering how far we can profit by Australia’s great object lesson.—Wellington ‘Post.’ * * * Mr Massey's position in regard to his proposed industrial law is the same as in the case, of his land law amendments. He is doing very little, with a great flourish of trumpets. Ho is improving in no real essentials the legislation which ho so severely criticised. This is rather a pity tor so many people got to believe hun.aud his supporting organs when they said it was bad.—Manawatii ‘Times.’ * * * At the best, the leasehold is an unsatisfactory tenure of rural undeveloped land, but tho. State will never give up the endowments which were set aside in tho early days- for tho benefit of education, pouthlaiid has a, very large area of these lands, and will hold them without a doubt, but in tho case of the leases in perpetuity and renewable leases of settlement lands the sooner the freeholds arc parted with and the values obtained by (ho State the better.—Mntaura ' Elision.’ * * * The Reform Government arc doing excellent work in many directions, but'their best friends must realise that the very grayest of national problems is yet to be dealt with. The very existence of the nation has been threatened by the unpardonable negligence, of tho Continuous Government to settle, rail, and road the back .blocks of the North Island, oven to settle and road the districts through which railuajs have been made at groat public expense-.—Auckland ‘ Herald.’ # * * Mr Massey cannot claim the approval of tho country for his policy, for the simple and sufficient reason that ho lias never submitted a policy to the constituencies, and it would be more in keeping with the fitness of things if be. were to keep his legislative ambitions- within modest bounds for tho time being. If, however, ho attempts to carry through a. heavy and important programme in the last few weeks of the session it will bo the obvious' duty of tho Opposition to apply the brake. ‘Lyttelton Times.’ ■x * * A Revising Chamber we must have; but yyo can see many good reasons for believing that, an Upper House, elected bv largo constituencies on a, carefully-drafted system of Proportional Representation, would express the will of the eloctoVs adequately, and would at tho same time exercise all the moderating and restrictive influence necessary under our constitutional system to preserve political equilibrium on terms most advantageous to the country and its 'people.—Auckland ‘ filar.’