OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1737, 12 February 1921, Page 4

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

It might easily do more harm than good if New Zealand W’ent as far as Australia in the way of protection. We cannot produce everything w r e want, or nearly everything we want, in New Zealand, and it would be against the wider interests of the Dominion to set up exotic industries here, and shelter them behind a tariff wall. It is possible to produce anything and everything under high protection, but the question is whether it is worth w'hile doing so.—Auckland “Star.”

What would be thought of a municipality if it suspended operations for six months because the Mayor was away on a trip, or of a business firm which closed its shop or warehouse because the senior partner bad gone l to England to buy goods? Why, then, should the same unnecessary procedure be followed in the case of the Government of the w'hole country? Surely Sir Francis Bell —wdio is to be Acting-Premier during the interval —is just as able a man as the Premier, and as fully competent to discharge the Premier’s duties as Mr Massey himself. —Wanganui ‘Herald.’

Freetrade all but lost Britain the war, because when it broke out industrial supremacy in a groat many indispensable things had passed to protectionist Germany which, aided by a tariff, had built up industries that undersold the British manufacturer in his home market, and put him out of business. It w'ould also be true to state that freetrade England would have lost the war but for the help of protectionist America, protectionist Canada, protectionist Australia and New Zealand. To-day when the protection afforded by the embargo on German imports Into England is gone, British industries are suffering severely from German competition, and unless the suicidal policy of freetrade is reversed, British workers will have to accept a starvation wags, and work 12 hours a day, or migrate to some country

which has sufficient fiscal sense to protect its industries from the competition of countries that enjoy a very low standard of living.—Christchurch "Sun.”

Surely the time lias arrived to deal in a comprehensive way with the control of the Manawatu River from the Gorge to the sea by the constitution of a representative Board. The present local methods of dealing with the flooded areas is only tinkering with the problems, and will ultimately lead to litigation and loss Representatives of local bodies throughout the area should get together and agree to one controlling body and one big scheme and see it through. A representative conference should be convened to discuss the subject, and the present parochial tinkering method abandoned.—"Foxton Herald.”

The first question which should engage the attention of whatever Minister may be In charge of the Railway Department during the next few months is the personnel of the future management; Both the General Manager and the Assistant-General Manager are now eligible to retire on superannuation, and may exorcise their option at any time. Under the circumstances it is not too early for the Minister to look round for their successors. If there is in the service an officer of sufficient strength of character, ability energy, and experience to master the vast organisation, into which the department has now grown, he should without delay be brought into close touch witlFhls future responsibilities and be afforded every opportunity to perfect himself in scientific railway management, If necessary by a term of service abroad. It is hardly necessary to say that the selection should have no necessary relation to seniority, but should depend on merit and proficiency alone. A department with a capital of £38,000,000 cannot afford anything less than the best management, and it is fully time the Minister for Railways broke down the Civil Service tradition which lays such heayy emphasis on length of service. In particular, the practice of appointing to the higher direction officers within a year or two of retiring age should be discontinued.—Auckland "Herald.”