WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 144, 10 August 1911, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Cft is disconcerting to loom (bat T!loi-o is a renewal of the old scandalous conditions in relation to overcrowding at the mental hospitals. Same years ago tins evil was deplorin' ji y rife.—l bim-din “Star.” it is becoming more clear in everyone who stops to think about land aggregation that the only real Is* effective wav to put an end to it is hy the simple direct method of taxation. The .aggregation of land is rampant all ovci the country, and it cannotho long before the force of public, opinion compels Parliament to deal with the problem by methods that will not only be preventive, bat will compel division.—Wellington “'1 lines.” Parliament ought to be winking at. something instead o! flittering away days ami nights in futile talk on a purely formal proposal to make a reply to I'i is i ixccli: ncy’.s address.— Southland “Times.” It may be a good thing, probably is, to make (dago a tree pmt, hut tile end by winch it is proposed to he brought about is one mare turn of the screw in putting mare taxation on to the land ami relic* big other forms of wealth from their share of ibis pe.rtioc.lar bunion. 'll is for tim country ratepayers and their representatives on local bodies to consider the position, and he ready to answer with a yea or nay when the time comes.—Chitlin “Leader.” The figures retelling to alcohol apd tobacco may and will ,of comse, be sorely displeasing to our Pi ohibitionist friends and to those who abamin--ale the use of tobacco in any form. Tending;, however, the-advent of the day when “beer and baccy”, shall altogether disappear from the land, the average New Zealander should be pleased to find that after all we are rairly moderate in our use of these articles.—-31a 1 1 borough “Ivcpies.i.”

An increase in the Graduated a and lax would probably meet with the approval of the groat majority of people throughout the Dominion. Air .’.lassey and Ids immediate following would certainly disapprove of any such proposal. We must remember that the Lender of the Opposition, while -constantly denouncing the Maori land-owner for blocking settlement,

has nothing to say against the white land -monopolist, and that Mr Massoy is only too anxious to secure the universal acceptance of that form of tenure which most easily and effectually ensures the■ aggregation of land; but the people of New .Zealand have carried great reforms against the opposition of the Conservatives and the land monopolists before to-day, and we have no doubt that they will do so again.—Auckland “Star.”

Whatever may happen to the Kreciprocity Treaty in the Canadian election, our Dominion producers can rely upon receiving most friendly treatment, and wo confidently anticipate that the Vancouver service will not only carry our Dominion mails swiftly and surely, but will also assist greatly in the developments of a trade which will bo profitable to the entire Dominion.—Auckland “Herald.”

Christianise the nations of the earth with the true Christianity, the Christianity of works, not the Christianity of words, and there will be no delay in establishing that justice which is too object of all those who desire the parliament of man. All the vest is mere Avoids, of use only for the dialectics of academics,, but valuable for no single practical purpose.— Oamaru “Mail.” Toe consistent success of the leasehold system, and the demand of the country that it shall proceed with more, expedition, places Mr Massey in rather a quandary. He has persistently advocated a freehold policy, and must suit in’s arguments to the particular creed ho has adopted for party use. Hence the poor showing which lie makes when dealing with a question in which lie*—as a practical farmer—might reasonably have been expected to appear to some advantage. —Southland “News.”

Tim problem of the Pacific is tremendously difficult, and its solution probably u ill ho long delayed, but when the time-comes to tackle it in earnest, -New Zealand and Australia should bo given a recognised place in the councils- of thenmtmn.—“Lyttelton Times.” it is an easy matter to pass resolutions and, within certain limits, laws for the exclusion of Asiatics, but it is not so easy to keep in mind tlie complications that this protective policy may provoke, both ui the foreign relations of the Empire and in the government of that huge dependency (India), which includes about tliroc-four-tiis of the entire population of the Empire.— Wellington “Post.”