PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

It is realised that increased leisure will result from the wider use of modern farm machinery and other laboursaving devices. \A hilst it is desirable that the country population should he induced to remain on the land, it is felt that the tine arts and all the other cultural elements of a liberal education must in some way he made available to the farmer and his family without the consequent necessity ol forsaking the plough and migrating to the towns; in short, the great problem lacing the State to-day is unquestionably the proper provision of rural research and agricultural education.—Timaru "Herald.”

ft is plain enough what will happen should the Court insist that wages shall he on a scale and system which involves production at a loss; production will dwindle, and cease. The Arbitration Act laid down no principle for the guidance of the Court, hut the tests applied hy the Court have been the standard of living, wages of similar groups doing similar work in other industries, what the industry could bear, and tne general economic situation. The- standard of living lias been the most favoured basis, being the easiest to apply. But when the wage lixed on this basis is greater than the value ol the worker’s services the Court is face to face with an insoluable question. Mr Robinson’s letter is a strong plea lor the continuance of the Court and ol the system as it is. But why maintain an institution and at the same time insist that the task belore it shall he an impossible one?—Dunedin “Star.

It can he readily understood how greatly the solution of problems facing the primary producers will lie facilitated when, as the result of systematise 1 collaltoration on the part of all the countries comprised in the Empire, there will he available from a central clearing house, probably in Britain, the full results obtained by each unit. It

may lie taken for granted that the proceedings of the conference will he followed with exceptional interest, if only for the reason that every conclusion reached will tend to the greater prosperity of farmers, and in afT prohailitv the prospect of relief, in the near future, from worries and anxieties consequent oil having to battle against inimical agencies.—“Taranaki News.”

The introduction of so many other activities into school life—physical and military drill, swimming, the caPrnade upon the children for music, for dental attention, and other matters—which interferes with primary odigtition. is doubtless in a measure responsible for teachers resorting to homework. Ihe question is by no menus an easy one to settle. Nevertheless, it is an extremely important one, and should be approached hy the educationist with due regard for the welfare of the children, who are to he the citizens of to-morrow. Their bodily health must tie considered as well as mental development. AA’nnganui “Herald.”

The common experience has been that, when higher Customs duties have been imposed on goods, employees in the local manufacture of similar goods have at once demanded higher wages ns their share of the higher prices their employers are enabled to charge the consumer. Tt became quite a common event for applications by manufacturers for higher duties to he supported hv representatives of the trade unions con-

cerned. Thus “cost of production irrespective of any consideration of the ever-widening gaps between the standard maintained within flic Commonwealth and that in the United Kingdom” soars; the duty dees not fill the gap; and Protection fails to protect.

Tlie results are a huge adverse trade balance in Australia caused by an excess of imports, and considerable unemployment because of .slackness in local industries.—Dunedin "Star.”

There is no possibility of really great manufacturing industries being established until there is a far larger population to serve while our great primary industries are so dependent upon foreign markets that they will very quickly ieel the effect of interference with them such as would arise from further material restriction of imports by means of a high tariff. Australia, with four or five times our population, has a far better chance of establishing industries, but is now finding that under the shelter of high protection the country is not flourishing as it should. New Zealand should take heed of the Tariff Commission’s warning. ‘'Taranaki Herald.”

Admittedly the Britis-h Empire has ■nor to gain by the development of air communication than any oilier nation. and a. foremost plaee among the most skilful in the use of Ibis new invention is compulsory, but to gam that position is not necessary to indulge in sensational air flights, where dangers are wantonly faced to no purpose. There is no need to disparage human daring when employed for a purposeful end. and there will always be those to whom danger will he a powerful .attraction but. there appears to be good ground for the demand that flying should now develop on sane and normal * lines. Lyttelton 'l’imes.”

It is futile for the Government lithe whentgrowers to pretend that the new proposals are based non a s( iont. ifi.fi examination of the cost of production. AYlmt has hapnened is t'ml the Government has yielded as nine I ', to the industry's demands tvs it dilates an inarticulate mass of consumers will suffer, without any guarantee that the domestic production of wheat will be increased by a single bushel. There are reasons for doubling whether the sliding scale of duties can be worked in practice there is, however, no doubt whatever that tlieii purpose is to ini roe e the tasiition of wheat and flour vi ry substantially and to maintain prices at an unreasonably high level as long as the tariff remains in force. If tin? scheme fulfils its purpose. Mr Stewart, says it will stabilise prices of wheat. Hour, and bread ‘'within more or less definite limits.” (husiiniris are surely entitled to know what those limits are. and to be given precise reasons why the limits should not bo very much lower Ilian are now proposed. "New Zealand Gerald." If the di'i : i of the Arbitration system is to make an iiid'n.trv pay mare mom for le-s service, it i - in it.abb' that importation from ennui rice where industry is not similarly i (flirted must continue to make ini on the 10.-ni markets. The nlleim l bang made to induce the Government to block .- uiai inroads by means of higher duties appears to us to he the worst of th e i . s alternative methods to assist for: 1 industry. The preferable way would be

seems in put a premium on e.'fh ic ■ If the Arbitration Amendment Bill which the Minister of la bour is p.eeted to intend',:. ■ e.rt ly got : ;iv distance at a'! in were :;ng i' ir.tnl def'ct in the prt“'e'l! sysl an. ii is j :'- sable that the tariff .• -. lit dales way take i,u quite a lie aspectr we in

A good article is it, nvvn b'Si advei t isement, anil if given a trial D minioii produce (Aimiot tail to win a steadily widening and. at the sew.'" time a permanent mark'd in Great Britain. In a spree h at !'.■:■ f:y the High ('oiiiiiiissioner cmi'llos'Sed 1• ■" need for a full measure cd reeipioiiy with the Dominion, and while that can be fairly claimed as a rigid Hull goes with partnership in the Kmpire it also demands that no great s'lerilice should be made by either side i i having to buy products of inferior quality. Frciin that paint ol view New Zealand can guarantee err produce. and the efforts being made by the High Commissoner to induce a greater linin' r of the people of England to take our butter, honey, and fruit, in preference to that of foreign countries, re .1 on the very solid foundation of coufubiKv in their merits. “Lyttelton Tines.’