PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1928, Page 3

PRESS COMMENT

in point of character, the Parliament of this country stands unquestionably high among the Parliaments of tlie Dominions. The intellectual calibre of its members may not he remarkable for its' brilliance, but, except for their political weakness of making indiscreet promises for votecatching purposes, the members are honest individuals and there is, on the whole, a “cleanness” about the politics of New Zealand such as, the public does not need to ho reminded, is not found in other countries that are not so very far away.—“ Otago Daily Times.”

AVhctlicr or not Parliament is in a working mood, there are great national questions to he grappled with. First we would put land settlement and finance. The Government has never had a land policy, and one hopes something may be produced this session. Finanec never receives due attention, for the most part because there arc so few members with any real grasp of it. •Economy, however, becomes increasingly important, and every section of the community looks forward to some reduction in taxation.—Auckland “Star.”

Though there is, quite properly, a strong sentiment against attaching to public office an income that would make the money an attraction in Itself, here should be an equal feeling against demanding that those who fill such positions shall impoverish themselves in tlie service of the nation. A salary allowing a public man to live and meet the special expenses of his position should be the absolute minimum. The labourer is worthy of bis hire, so is a Speaker or a. Cabinet Al blister.—“ Now Zealand Herald.”

If we were to accept Air Holland’s fulminntions against the mortgage system ns entirely sincere and not a-s merely artful and windy, we should conclude that, if lie were iu office, one of tlie first tilings be would do would be to propose the abolition of tlio system of advances to settlers under which scores of thousands of mortgages have boon registered. It is impossible to entertain any doubt that lie would be tlio first person to disclaim any such design.

Good government is often the government of the commonplace. It is often better to face the ills you know than those you kno>v nothing of. Politics as a game is both noisy and treacherous. Sound government is quiet and undemonstrative. Candidly we mistrust all promises of good things in the future if we will only entrust the Government of the Dominion to the Labour Party, when that party allows the shadow of Moscow to linger even on the horizon. The term “politics” applied' to any form of socialistic Communism, be tlie pill ever so thinly coated with sugar, is an anomaly. “Politics” w wholly an unexplored science in Soviet Russia.—“ Poverty Herald.”

If it would pay- the country to build up through a volunteer system a reserve of leaders, perhaps never to he called an, it would pay the country to find a way of building up its half fit youths to fitness—through a scientifically devised course of training. The unhappy event of war would find us the better prepared for it, ive should fail tlie just and stern demands of peace ..'less grieiSomsly. Clearly, tlie problom is difficult and many-sided; but in so far as we cast off hundreds of men as not worth training, often to drift and become human wreckage, we are shirking it.—Auckland “Sun.”

No Government could have persuaded Parliament nine years ago, or porsauded any Parliament tho Dominion has ever had, to pass legislation empowering it to say to a farmer that he must not sell, or to another- farmer that he must not buy, except with its expression permission. Mr Holland is alwavs obvious, but it is a little surprising that lie should have been SO olumsv He ought to know, ant i he does not the fact that he was talkiifc to farmers should have reninide him that it is "in vain (that) the net is spread in the sight of any bird. Christchurch “Press.”

The only' plausible explanation, of the Samoan situation that has yet been advanced is that the breach between the Admiuistraor and the agitators was due to some personal issue not made public. The fact that the j agitation developed so seriously was diie doubtless, to Samoan discontent, the causes of which are quite we known, hut it was undoubtedly tanne by certain of tho whites. No dollbt ' it could have been checked if GeTlcl ‘ Richardson had realised its extent oi even if he had had any early indications of its character. AVe are no now concerned with the vis 01 > affair, however, so much as with the efforts that the present Adniimstiat is making to restore law and ordei No one imagined that the task would be easv or that the restoration of good feeling would lie rapid, but there ai many indications' that excellent piog ess has been made. The Admin stv.,tor is exercising great patience as d L »■' **• —*r“S to .uccedl.— “Lyttelton TnW.