The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 47

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Central Otago.

"Nunqusni allud nature, allud saplentla dlxH. 0 -JOVXKAU "flood nature and good aenso must ovor Join.*** rW*. The decision of the Prime Minister to set lilt <1 ("Vimm itt-nn T ■»»

up a Committee of Investigation—the personnel of which will be shortly

' announced—to deal with the complaints and grievances of the settlers in .Central Otago in relation to irrigation is a tacit admission that grievances exist and that complaints have at least a meed of foundation. The conclusion reached by the Prime Minister and his two Ministerial colleagues—the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Public Works—is that there was no call for the pessimistic statements put into circulation; and that given the adjustment of some smaller' difficulties and grievances inseparable from a large development scheme the prosperity of Central Otago is assured. Viewed broadly and without prejudice, the situation would seem to be somewhat as follows: The season has been exceptionally dry. and the absence of rain has brought about a shortage of water. This shortage has quickened and aggravated grievances which in a normal season would probably have been forgotten or made light of; and in some instances the complaints have been treated cavalierly by the officials to whom they were made. Thus friction has been engendered between settlers and officials, -with the result that in many instances mountains have been made out of molehills. At the same time, grievances undoubtedly do exist, and given a suitable personnel the committee about to be set up should be able to deal effectually with the aggrieved settlers and restore the harmony ■which is essential to success. . The bright feature in the whole business is that irrigation in Central Otago is going to prove a tremendous triumph; as to this there is a consensus af favourable opinion. Transposing a familiar "criptural quotation it c;?n be affirmed of Central Otago under irrigation : “ The wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.” Inasmuch as Mr Coates's visit has helped to realise so pleasing a picture, the Prime Minister is entitled to the thanks of all parties concerned.

A Satisfactory Adjustment.

Thanks largely to the pertinacity of Mr A. E. Ansell, president of

the South Island Motor Union, the Prime ister has promised to see

that there shall be an equable allocation of the proceeds of the petrol tax as between the North and South Islands. When the tax was imposed it was cheerfully accepted by motorists generally as the fairest possible way of raising the necessary revenue, but on the assumption that the motorists of the South Island should reap a commensurate benefit in the matter of improved roads and consequent reduced running costs. The refusal of any such assurance on the part of the Government led to protests and complaints that the South Island was not receiving fair treatment in the matter; happily since he has been in Dunedin Mr .Coates has been induced to listen to reason, and this thanks to the persuasive powers of Mr Ansell. As a result of a conference between Mr Coates and Mr Ansell the basis of an agreement has been reached of a most satisfactory character. The original proposal put forward was that the allocation of the proceeds of the petrol tax should be based upon the number of motor vehicles using the roads. To this Mr Coates objected on the ground that the North Island roads carried a larger proportion of heavy vehicles than was the case in the South. As a solution of the problem the Prime Minister has undertaken to see that as soon as the recommendations of the Highways Board, regarding secondary roads, are formulated an estimate shall be made of the average maintenance cost per mile per road, when prior to the gazetting of the roads the Government will endeavour to see that the allocation of the petrol tax ultimately conforms to the number of motor vehicles in either

island. In this way it is hoped that any semblance of injustice in the matter of the allocation of the tax will be removed. All’s well that ends well, and the Prime Minister together with Mr Anse.d have earned the thanks of the entire body of motorists in the South Island.

Political Kite Flying.

The tour in the south of the Prime

Minister and his colleagues lias done much to lessen an element of un-

popularity which the ReForm Government has during the past few months experienced. Mr Coates has shown himself willing to redress all real grievances, especially those founded on the allegation, of undue favouritism for North Island interests as against rhe welfare and progress of Otago and Southland. While absent from Wellington however, if Dame Rumom be credited* matters political have been moving apace, until the possibility has been published of an election in August next, forced upon the Prime Minister by an alleged split in the Reform ranks. The particular bone of contention is said to be the Licensing Bill, concerning which so much difference of opinion exists. It is stated that rather than yield to the pressure of the Prohibition members of his own party. Mr Coates may decide to go to the country. It is also stated that the Prohibition members of Parliament are prepared to precipitate a general election failing any prospect of licensing reform during next session. The Prime Minister is well within the mark when he designates this sort if thing as so much political kite flying, and he disowns a knowledge of any such dissatisfaction or agitation. Mr Coates holds a strong position politically in rhe fact that there is absolutely no alternative to his leadership. Moderate men of all shades of political belief cannot regard with equanimity the exchange of Mr Coates for Mr Holland; whilst Mr G. W. Forbes and his United Political Party makes little appeal to the imagination. If the Prime Minister will pursue the policy adopted while in the south and continue to win popular approval his political future may be regarded as practically assured;

The Future of Broadcasting.

The removal by the British Government of the ban previously im-

posed upon all T.fssages involving controversy of

a political, religions, or industrial character widens considerably the influence of this important method of popular education. There can he little doubt that the formation of public opinion in the future will be affected potently by the radio and the film, and of these the radio will probably take the lead. In the past, caution psobunly suggested the ban upon controversy, but in Britain, at least, controversy supplies the spice of life, and providing a i». lieious use is made by the British Broadcasting Corporation of their newly-granted liberty nothing but good can come of the change. The immense field operated upon is illustrated in the statement that in England alone there are two and ahalf million licensed wireless sets, representing audiences of some ten million people; the possibilities of impressing so vast an audience is striking in the extreme. In the Dominion a leading cleric has been forecasting the possibilities of the radio in the matter of the religious education of the peopue. He forecasts the evangelisation of New Zealand through the agency of the loud speaker; and not only so, but he has visions of the supersession of denominationalism by the same powerful influence. What conferences and conventions on the subject of the union of the churches have been unable to accomplish is in this cleric’s opinion .to be brought about by the operation of the loud speaker, which will more than atone for the havoc in church attendance created by the motor car.

Britain and Egypt.

Universal regret is expressed by those in authority over the rejec-

tion by the Egyptian Cabinet of the draft of the treaty negotiated by Sarwat Pasha and Sir Austen Chamber-

lain, and this at the dictation of the extreme Egyptian Nationalists. The Nationalists, however, have made a serious mistake in rejecting a treaty which offered them far more in the way of concessions than they would have dreamed possible a few years back. Not so long ago a leading authority, discussing the British dominance in Egypt, wrote of the Egyptians:—“ Without a sense of corporate need, without a common and collective purpose, without civic virtues, without social energy, and with little recognition of their low standard of public morality and courage, there can be no real progress rJade by her citizens in the work of regenerating Egypt.” To which the same writer added: “ The part which can be most usefully taken by the more enlightened sons of Egypt, at present and for years to come, is to endeavour to assimilate new ideas, to reconcile if possible the conditions which regulate their social life with the new order which has arisen among them, and to graft afresh their national existence on the stock which foreign hands have supplied them.” This the Egyptian Nationalists of the present day have entirely failed to do.