PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10601, 9 March 1895, Page 5

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE GOVERNMENT. No doubt the Government have made mistakes—all governments do*—but they have displayed an amazing amount of energy and a colonising spirit which stands out in bold contrast to the apathy and do-nothing policy of the Administration which preceded them in office.— Auckland Star. MIXED FARMING. To keep his head above water, to .honestly pay his way and have a little in ..hand, it is abundantly evident that the fanner 'must increase the number of his products. The settlers of the other colonies are doing so, and the New Zealander must keep pace with the rest.— Wairarapa-Daily Times. A DRINKING ANOMALY. At present any "traveller” can walk into a publichouse on a Sunday and demand refreshment. If the landlord will not supply it he can be prosecuted. That refreshment may take the form of anything in the house, from a glass o£ lemonade to a bottle of "fiz.” Yet if au ordinary shopkeeper dares to sell a bottle of lemonade or ginger beer to a thirsty traveller on a Sunday, he can be haled before a magistrate and fined. A, "criminal” of this type'was last week fined at Gisborne for selling ginger beer on a Sunday. This anomaly is revoltingly unfair. —Napier Telegraph, THE PROBLEM OP LOW PRICES. Evidently the increased rate of production theory breaks down as an explanation of this last twenty-five years’ fall in prices. And turning to the other factor in prices we are, on the quantity theory, compelled to suppose that the fall in prices is due to the fact that there must be less money in the world with which to bny goods than there was twenty-five years ago. On examining the facta, we find that this is true—that twenty-five years ago about forty millions of people were competing for gold, now there are about three hundred millions, among whom a slightly increased amount of gold has to be divided.— Otago Daily Times. THE PEOPLE AND MINISTERS. While the Conservative Press and Conservative orators are representing the members of the present Ministry as doubledyed scoundrels, the men and women’ amongst whom they have lived for y ears not only have entire political confidence in them, but also esteem them to au extraordinary extent.— Temxtha Leader. THAT PERNICIOUS “ POLITICAL CONTROL." Although the railways have been for only a few weeks under Government control there are not wanting signs of a vigorous, colonising policy, and that tha bulk of the people will be better served, than they have been in the past. It is well known that considerable economies have been effected, and that, a very considerable saving has been made by the retirement of highly-paid officers and the amalgamation of offices. —Taieri Advocate. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. That ecwacthing should be done, in tha interests of Canterbury, to push on with, this line must be patent to all those who have any knowledge of the position in which that province stands to this colony. The other portions of New Zealand are still largely in debt to Canterbury, and if only as a meed of justice this railway should certainly be constructed; bus there ia every reason to believe that on its completion there will be opened up each, avenues of trade as will make it a payable line.—Napier News.