OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16072, 5 April 1924, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

“BACK TO THE FARM.” One of the most disturbing problems confronting Australian and New Zealand to-day is the continued drift of the population to the cities. This condition, which is more marked in the Commonwealth than in the Dominion, is one worthy of grave consideration for it strikes at the root of our national prosperity. At a time when more production—and still more production—is required so that the exports shall assume a volume which will be proportionate to the huge debt which comes to us as a legacy of the Great War, it is particularly disconcerting to know that many young men who are pre-emin-ently adapted for “the ideal life” forsake the country for the town. The occurrence is one not difficult of explanation. The towns offer allurement. The folly of an educational system that makes clerks, shop assistants and public servants out of

sturdy country youths impels the sons and daughters of these folk to leave the farm.” —Southland Times.

THE EDUCATION OF THE ADULT In the nineteenth century the State assumed a new responsibility, the education of the child. In the twentieth century the democratic State is called to face another new responsibility, the educaion of the adult. For a democracy implies an educated democracy, and that implies enlightened public opinion. Where, however, there is general lethargy and lack of interest in public affairs, there is either entire absence of public opinion, or else there is a biased opinion from a particular section who have some special interest to advance. In neither of these cases can there be democratic rule. But for better or worse the people of the Dominion are more likely to retain their aspirations for a true democracy, so that is likely to lie the path of constitutional development in New Zealand. Hence there is need for education for citizenship, not only for the child,' but in these days of complicated social problems for the adult also. —Dunedin Star.

SAVING THE INNOCENTS. Dr. Truby King has reversed the record of King Herod. The monarch miscalled “The Great” slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under. Dr. King has set himself to reducing what, before his time, would have been called the natural death rare of like innocents, and in seventeen years his society and teachings have been a principal cause in reducing it, so far as New Zealand is concerned, by half. As Dr. King's methods are being followed now in an organised manner in Great Britain and Australia, and individually or more than individually in half the countries of the world, it is a reasonable conclusion that if he has not- saved already more children than the tetrarch slew it is only a question of time before his good record will enormously surpass the bad one. —Dunedin Star.