The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1926.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 47

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1926.) THE WEEK.

“Xnnqnam allud natura, allud sapientia dixit." -Juvenal. “Good nature and good eunse trust ever join.”-* Pop*. There arc evidences all over the Dominion of the existence of unThe Unemployed employment on a scale in and lmmigration. excess of what is usual during the winter. And at the same time there is cabled advice of the sailing of two steamers from the Homeland bringing between them to New Zealand over 700 assisted immigrants. Consequently, the Government is being subjected to a degree of criticism by the man in the street for following a course of action which at first blush seems likely to aggravate the unemployment already existing. The criticism, however, has not a great deal of logical foundation, as a little careful consideration will speedily show. In the first place, conditions in the Homeland are infinitely worse than in the Dominion; and it is surely the duty of the New Zealand Government to endeavour to absorb as much of the surplus population of the United Kingdom as is possible under the circumstances; providing, of course, that the immigrants are of the right stamp. More especially is this the case since one of the outstanding needs of the Dominion is an increased population, No one will dare to deny that New Zealand can easily support another million men and women with comparative ease. Moreover, the task of deciding how much of the unemployment reported is genuine is a difficult one. In every community there is always a section of people who look for work with a prayer on their lips that they may not find it; and another section prepared to quit work with extreme alacrity and on the slightest provocation. And a marked tendency on the part of the great majority of the workers is to pi"k and chooee in regard to the nature of the work and its hours and remuneration. Thus, from Auckland comes news that among the women and girls on tho unemployed list there is a general distaste for domestic service, situations in industries being desired, and which, however, ore not available. Among the men is noticeable a demand for town jobs; work in the country not being desired. Private employers, also, could find a good deal of employment for men if the rate of wages demanded was not so prohibitive. This analysis, which might easily be extended, excites a suspicion in the mind of the public as to the genuineness of the unemployment agitation. Without doubt there are cases of real distress; to relieve these is the aim of tho liberal subscriptions being made and tho efforts to raise funds on tho part of the charitably minded. So far as Dunedin is concerned, it was anticipated that the Exhibition would leave its aftermath; therefore the existence of a degree of un-

employment need cre:.te no surprise. The winter is (illicitly passing, and with the coming of spring matters should speedily right themselves. If the Budget presented to Parliament

The Debate an the Budget.

was a commonplace document and devoid of any special feature of interest, the Financial debate was

still more so. The discussion was fortunately confined to a couple of sittings of Parliament, a cheerful contrast to the customary deluge of talk upon Ivery conceivable subject under the sun. At least, the debate seemed to emphasise the impregnable position occupied by Mr Coates and the Reform Government and party. As a matter of fact, the attempt at a criticism of Mr Downie Stewart’s Budget, made by Mr Holland and Mr M'Combs on behalf of the Labour Opposition, was merely a rehash of their electioneering outbursts. The opinion of the electors as voiced at the polling booths in November last registered a decided disinclination on the part of the taxpayers to tread the mazy steps and waltz to the tune of socialistic finance. The Budget criticisms revealed no new points and presented no new aspects; little wonder, therefore, that the Labour members virtually threw up the sponge and allowed the Financial debate virtually to collapse. That veteran in parliamentary usage, Sir Joseph Ward, has recently declared that debates on the Budget serve little useful purpose; this is probably true when members sieze upon them as opportunity to air ill-considered opinions on all manner of topics. At the same time, it has to be remembered that any or every Government must, in the long run, stand or fall by its financial policy; length of office is contingent upon sound finance. The Budget debate, therefore, should be the occasion to detect weak spots in financial policy with the view of applying a corrective. Unfortunately, Parliament includes few members able to criticise financial questions competently, and still fewer able to suggest the remedy needed. The value of Sir Joseph Ward’s presence in Parliament is being

Some Practical Suggestions.

demonstrated quite early in the session in the shape of some practical sugges-

tions. In the course of a somewhat chequered political career, Sir Joseph has played many parts, and he has some permanent public improvements to his credit. Among other things, he was the originator of the Tourist Department, and, to a large extent, the benefits which the Dominion has received as the result of an expanding tourist traffic are due to his organisation and enthusiasm. When the report of the Tourist Department was under discussion in tlie House of Representatives last week, Sir Joseph took advantage of the opportunity *-o advocate the expenditure of a far larger amount than is provided in the Estimates in order further to popularise the scenic beauties of New Zealand. He emphasised the fact that in no other country in the world is there such a variety of attractions as the North and South Islands can show. He pointed to the recent visit of a party of wealthy American tourists to these shores and to the announced coming of other similar parties; this as the result of private American enterprise. And he urged the Government to embark upon an extensive scheme to increase the tourist traffic. To this end two things are essential—first, improved transit to and accommodation at the resorts themselves; and, secondly, a ccmprehensive publicity scheme to advertise the resorts in all parts of the world. Another valuable suggestion made by Sir Joseph Ward had reference to the much-needed improvement of the shipping facilities to and from the South Island. He alluded to the fact that merchants and others in the North Island benefited directly by the subsidies paid to the mail steamers plying between the Dominion' and San Francisco and Vancouver to the amount of over £20,000 in the one instance and over £24,000 in the other; whereas not a single steamer coming directly to a-South Island port shared in a like benefit. He suggest d that if a subsidy was needed to improve the shipping services in the south, such a subsidy should, in common fairness, be granted, thus removing thb handicap to which traders in the south are at present subjected. Sir Joseph knows what he is talking about, and it is to be hoped that his suggestions will be listened to and not allowed to fall upon deaf ears. Residents in the country districts, as well

The Art Gallery.

as dwellers in the city, are interested in the controversy in regard to the site of the Art Gallery. In-

deed, there is a sense in which a country resident stands in even greater need of ho culture which art can supply; broadcasting and the gramophone have brought music and singing well w ithin his reach; books supply his need in literature; but it is only by actual vision that the treasures and delight of paintings may be made his own. The situation in regard to the existing dispute arc well known, and scarcely need recapitulation. The present Art Gallery is badly situated; it is insufficient for its purpose, and the cost of repair and enlargement is out of ull proportion to the result. On the ether hand, the specially erected building on Logan Park has been offered to the city owing to the generosity of Mr and Mrs P. R. Sargood; a gift equivalent to £4OOO. This building is in every way suitable for housing the pictures, now added to considerably, at present in the possession of the Art Gallery trustees, and the renovations required and the cost of upkeep ore not excessive. A thinly attended meeting of the City Council, held last week, decided by a majority of one vote to decline Mr

Sargood’s offer; but notice of motion hag already been given which, it is hoped, will lead to that motion being rescinded. It would strengthen the hands of the councillors who desire to see the Art Gallery established in Logan Park if public bodies in the country would in the interval pass resolutions in favour of the acceptance of the public-spirited offer made by Mr and Mrs Sargood. The coal strike in Britain has now

The Coal Crisis.

entered upon its twelfth week, and notwithstanding the intervention of the

Anglican bishops and the Free Church leaders, there is no settlement yet in sight. The proposal made by these ecclesiastics, after conferring with the miners’ executive, involved a continuation of the subsidy for another four months pending negotiations for a settlement of wages and hours. This elicited a definite refusal from Mr T Aidwin on the ground that the terms on which work could be resumed was not for the Government to determine; these could only be settled by an agreement between the owners and miners. The miners* executive has also informed the Trade Union Council that it will not allow the conduct of the dispute to be taken out of its hands, and there is bitterness between the two bodies as a consequence. The only gleam of hope in a gloomy situation comes from the Morning Post, which states that, notwithstanding appearances, things are moving towards a settlement.