The Otago Witness WITHWHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1028.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 47

The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1028.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquam ailed nature, ellud sapientla dixit-’* “Good nature and good seuso ntast ever join.”--* .’9VB.

Irrigation Problems.

There can be little doubt that the Prime

Minister took a wise step when he decided in company with the Minister

of Lands and the Minister of Public Works to visit Central Otago and investigate on the spot the complaints and grievances of the settlers. As presented by the deputation which waited on Mr Coates in Dunedin on Saturday last, these complaints grouped themselves under the head of mismanagement, extravagance, and unsympathetic administration on the part of the departmental officials. The Prime Minister succeeded in showing, however, that there was another side to the matter. The demand of the deputation for a Royal Commission to investigate the whole question was not received encouragingly by Mr CoaPs, who expressec his doubt as to the possibility of a suitable personnel even should the commission seem desirable. Past experience of Royal Commissions tends to -rente serious doubt as to the results of so expensive an operation, the conclusions of which so often prove more or less negligible. Admittedly irrigation in Central Otago is in its experimental stage; mistakes have been made, and even the experts have much to learn concerning the needs of each farm and district, where conditions vary so considerably. On one point, however, the Ministers and the settlers are in entire agreement, viz., as to the almost boundless possibilities of irrigation in Central Otago. The Prime Minister at the same time fully recognises the important point that no settler is able to pay for the irrigation schemes more than his land can produce; equally the Government has to see that the scheme returns interest on the money invested. One outcome of the Ministerial survey of the irrigation field is the possibility of reconciling the two points of view.

Railway Pciicy.

Amid the multifarious matters which en-

gaged his attention while in Dunedin, the Prime Minister found oppor-

tunity to outline the railway policy of the future. Put into a sentence, that policy amounts to a determination to render travel by rail more luxurious and attractive, thus meeting the serious competition of the everincreasing motor traffic. That competition is by no means confined to the Dominion—it is felt in almost every country in the world. It will have been noted that in Great Britain a powerful group of railways is seeking from Parliament additional powers to enable it te compete with its motor-propelled rivals. The Prime Minister rightly eschews all idea of asking Parliament to declare the railways the only means of locomotion, since the people of the Dominion would not view with satisfaction such a complete monopoly; he favours instead a policy of improvement in the comfort and convenience of the services provided. Mr Coates has great faith in the future of the tourist traffic, a confidence based upon the unique attractions in sport and scenery which the Dominion has to offer visitors from other parts of the world. To this end he meditates an all-round improvement in the rolling stock, including such conveniences as dining cars, observation cars, and facilities for afternoon tea. The motor competition has meant a loss to the railway revenue of approximately £1,000,000 annually, and by catering for the needs of a class of people Who do not mind an extra charge for comfort, but who rather demand it, Mr Coates hopes by degrees to n-ake up a good proportion of that loss. It is anticipated that this forward policy will necessitate a heavy outlay for the next five or six years, but Mr Coates is convinced that in the long run it will yield a handsome return. One significant admission must bo noted: “ Our shops,” declared Mr Coates, ‘‘are out of date, and wo will

have and have had to spend a lot of money to bring this part of the whole concern up to a modern standard.” - While it is good news to know that riie Dominion is to have a railway service in accord with modern notions and ideas, the policy outlined is one to be proceeded with in a cautious spirit, so that the financial obligation involved rnay not verge on the side of extravagance.

The Unemployment Impasse.

An advantage was taken of the Prime

Minister’s presence in Dunedin to deputationise him upon a number of matters, and among them

a deputation on behalf of the Mr Sidcy, who nitroduced the deputation, pointed out that despite the considerable amount of activity in the building trade and efforts put forward by the City Council, the Harbour Hoard, and other local bodies to provide work, the unemployment position was still extraordinarily acute. Depression in trade tends to a reduction in staff by many employers, and if unemployment exists to any large extent in the summer, matters are likely to grow worse as the winter draws on. These and other factors in the situation .were advanced by the several speakers as a reason why the Government should endeavour to discover a solution of the difficulty. Mr Coates was sympathetic in his reply, but he was evidently at a loss to suggest a remedy. He drew hope from the fact that there were signs of a return of confidence in the resources of the Dominion, bn* that in the meantime palliatives must be used to relieve the situation. The exact nature of those palliatives he was only able to outline. However, he summed up the situation fairly enough when he remarked, “ If the Government set itself to the task it could find work for every man in New Zealand. It could do it to-morrow. But in the future a crash would inevitably come.”

In Defence of the Government.

It was a shrewd idea when Mr Downie

Stewart decided to pave the way for the coming of the Prime Minister to

Dunedin by delivering a political address last week. The Minister of Finance is a dexterous and accomplished speaker, and in the course of a clever address he contrived to clothe the dry bones of finance with sinews and flesh. It was a difficult task which Mr Downie Stewart undertook, and if he was not on all points entirely convincing, he at least made out a good ease for the Government against its critics. On one important point he scored heavily: he emphasised the fact that while on c.ery hand loud complaints are heard of the way in which the Government had administered affairs, there was no suggestion of a better Government to put in its place. And so long as there is no definite suggestion of a change, criticism will do no harm, a fact which Mr Downie Stewart was quick to recognise. It is inevitable that there should have been an increase of the burden of taxation, and any such increase entails a loss of popularity on the part of the Administration which imposes it. A dispassionate view is that the Government on the whole has conducted the affairs of the Dominion creditably, all things considered, and Mr Stewart’s statement went far to bear out that conclusion.

The Passing of Mark Cohen,

The death of Mr Mark Cohen' removes from the sphere of

action a man who in journalistic circles as well as in the larger

sphere of public life made his mark during a long and active career. Mr Cohen represented the typo of citizen who was not content with serving the newspaper which he edited with so great credit for a lengthy period: he gave himself without stint to the public weal. Especially in the matter of education did he take an intelligent interest, and future generations will have reason to rise up ..nd call him blessed. Possessed of a vivid personality he endeavoured both in writing and speaking to lead public opinion along the most enlightened lines, aud his influence remains now that he has gone. He was a born journalist, with a keen flair for news; but he was more than a mere journalist—he was a public-spirited man. Llis passing leaves the Dominion poorer, for he was a type that is slowly but surely lessening in our midst.

A prominent member of the Reform Party organisation denies the reported statement by one of the sponsors of the United New Zealand Political Party that the members of the Reform Party’s Executive in the Waitomo electorate had thrown in their lot with the new movement. He also said that the Country Party in the Waikato district mado the statement openly that it had no working agreement with the ui'-tcd party. The 40-foot fishing launch Ika, which was abandoned when the three members of the crew were picked up by R.M.S. Niagara while on tho voyage from Auckland to Sydney, has been recovered. Captain W. R.‘ Patterson, acting under instructions from Auckland, began a search in his launch Rakanui on Thursday evening, and at noon on Friday discovered the launch adrift 041o 41 The Poor Knights Island. The launch was dragging a grappling iron at the end Of fully 300 fathoms of line, which took over an hour to raise. The little vessel was in good condition, and is now lying at Whangarei wharf. Several blocks of ice and a number of fish wero aboard tho launch. Evidence of tho haste in which itwas abandoned was given by the presence on a hatch, of a handbag containing clean clothing-.

Many citizens can speak in glowing terms of tho good work carried out by tho late Mr C. Speight in more than ono .direction, The deceased, for instance- took a keen interest in the St. John Ambulance Association, and in this connection tho superintendent of tho Dunedin Fire Bri•gade (Mr A. G. Napier) informed a reporter that no person outside the actual ambulance service had anv idea what Mr Speight had done for service. It was with every confidence that tho controlling officer of the ambulances would communicate with Mr Speight and state that certain ambulance accessories were needed. The answer was always: Certainly. Procure them and charge them up to me.” Only a day or two before Mr Speight’s death the brigade received a very generous donation in the form of a new stretcher and mattresses for the latest ambulance motor, in which Mr Speight was very keenly interested. This was only ono of tho deceased’s gifts. Superintendent Napier said tho city was in very urgent need of a new ambulance, or even two such conveyances, when it came to bald facts. It had been suggested that it would bo a fitting tribute to Mr Speight if a motor conveyance to bo known as tho Charles Speight Memorial Ambulance” could be procured and placed on the road for the benefit of tho sick and injured. If this .were done, said Superintendent Napier, it would bo worthy of Mr Speight's goo ( ] work, which was always carried out without a flare of trumpets.

“In rogatd to timber, we think of tho wonderful forests on the West Coast and their extraordinary wealth,” remarked the Primo Minister in an address at Greymouth. “ f am afraid some of us Jo not realise it. We should try to keep these forests up to the area. Afforestation is in progress and will, and should continue, in order that we may preserve the natural wealth. Tho storehouse c c timber in New Zealand should be preserved. Tho timber industry has gone through a difficult period. Never mind about the reasons for it; but tho indications are already decidedly better. There was a decided fall in the imports’ and a slight increase in production last year, as compared with the previous year. I am speaking of the calendar year. It is a matter of making the best use of the material that has been placed here for our use. We have now sufficient timber in this country to continue for al] time, providing we make the best use of the product, and mill it i’j a manner that can be called satisfactory to to-day’s requirements. I say that quite a 'lot of work has been done within the last 1Z months, and a new scheme of grading has been initiated. All we want now is that the expert committee which has been set up in New Zealand should bo able to evolve a system which, if adopted, will mean that New Zealand timber, upon its ovyn quality, will be preferred as compared with anything we can import from other countries.”

“ I have issued warnings until I am tired of it. Two men I roped in and handed over to the police for a good scare, because I hate prosecuting any man; but I believe tho general public should be warned to use great caution before they give money to unknown and unrecognised persons.” This remark was made the other morning by the Rev. Jasper Calder (says the Auckland Star) *in regard to “ Charity Collectors.” He said that from time to time during the last few months his attention had been drawn to the fact that numerous persons were going round the city and suburban areas collecting money for the poor and unemployed. It was necessary that genuine social workers should bo-protected from the wiles of unscrupulous collectors, who would readily use the name of any recognised body. In one instance a man obtained money by stating that he was collecting for tho Auckland City Mission.

Some 20 seamen from the crew of the Port Hunter were entertained at tea and supper on Sunday in the Sailors’ Rest, Rattray street. Most of them had come from Scotland and were made to feel at home in this Scottish city. At tho service held for their benefit, brief addresses were delivered by Mr W. Buchan, the hon. missionary, Messrs 11. 11. Driver (secretary of the Sailors’ Society), A. W. Mitchell., Chandler, and Mrs Inglis. The men sang a number of sacred songs very heartily, and appreciated the welcome they had received and the hospitality extended to them.

English pilots are the greatest nirme® in the world They have plenty of pluck, wonderful endurance powers, and remarkable foresight when it comes to air navigation.” Captain L. M. Isitt made this statement when asked by a Lyttelton Tinies reporter as to the capabilities of the airmen of the respective nations. “ 1 was able to study the ‘ aces ’ of many countries during my trip, but I did not see a great number of Americans. Of course, they wero unable to compete in the Schneider Cup owing to the fact that their machine was not ready.”

No fewer than 70 applications were received by the Harbour Board last week for the position of apprentice to the engineering department. A report was submitted by Mr Wilkie (the engineer), in which he divided up the qualifications of five of the most suitable applicants Under tho heading of “general education” ne **

selected two as most suitable; another two who bad had technical training wero also included. - The third classification under which a fifth applicant was that of “ sons of the board’s employees.” After some discussion regarding tho relative value of the qualification mentioned Mr Gow said he personally favoured a lad who had general education, and on Mr Wilkie being asked his opinion, he said that that was tho main point which he considered should be taken into account. He then recommended the appointment of one of tho two classified under the heading of “general edueas tion.” The board acted accordingly.