WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 920, 29 August 1896, Page 4

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Christianity must be of Divine origin; else it never could survive the work of its preachers. — "Wellington Times.

The fact is, the Government will come back from the constituencies as strong as ever, and the Opposition will be in a much worse condition than now because it will have lost its leader, while Messrs Mitchelson and Duthie will no longer sit in their accustomed places, they having 'funked' the elections already. — Napier News.

New Zealand consolidated her loans at 4 per cent, and, either as part of the bargain or by an oversight, made them unredeemable for 20 years. In the present Btate of the money market the money might be easily obtained at 3 per cent., so New Zealand is a good deal out of pocket on her bargain. — Melbourne Punch.

It is, unfortunately, ODly too true that many of the mis-called Charitable Aid Boards of the colony have become as bad as, or worse than, the Boards of Guardians in the Old Country. Well paid staffs of clerks are permitted to probe every wound in the breasts of the unfortunates who ' &Pply f° r help, and the general treatment to which the poor are subjected is a disgrace and a shame. — Napier News.

Seventeen bishops and an archbishop voted against the marriage with Deceased "Wife's Sister Bill in the House of Lords. The Bill passed. The united voice of eighteen bishops against the world! At one time it would have been enough to stay the world's progress, bnt now it doesn't amount to anything. — North Otago Times.

Why cannot the New Zealand Legisla tore leave banking alone ? It may be compatent to legislate upon such matters as the brand upon butter boxes, bnt it has not given the slightest proof that it understands practical banking problems. KatLer the reverse. — Melbourne Argus.

At present, New Zealand offers to Asiatic immigration the .special attraction of the lowest barriers in Australasia. We must, for our own protection, raise the barriers. We cannot help ourselves. Circumstances beyond our control have forced us to add to our security. The impulse comes from without, and brings its justification with it. —Wellington Times.

It is a statement of the Conservative belief that we ought not to have any manufacturing industries in New Zealand— another way of saying that we ought to have freetrade that would make us wear boots and clothing made in Germany or Japan.— Canterbury Times.

The dark-skinned hawkers who roam New Zealand, whether gypsies, Hindoos, Sikhs, or Levantines, are called 'Assyrians' for some curious but unknown reason. — Dunedin Democrat.

It is too late in the day to argue that State banking is inimical to the public welfare When the Australian Banks were shutting their doors and paralysing trade and commerce, the State Savings Banks were being deluged with deposits, and not the slightest uneasiness was felt by the depositors as to the safety of their money. — Wanganui Yeoman.

The right of every British subject to carry his case to the highest court in Victoria's dominions is only another name for the wrong of every British subject to be dragged to the farthest ends of the earth in resisting an unjust claim, and to be prosecuted at enormouß lobs and inconvenience by any enemy who has money enough to pay expenses with. And as the great majority of Privy Council appeals are dismissed, it follows that that institution acts much oftener (indirectly) as an engine of opresßion than a means of obtaining justice.—Sydney Bulletin.

Now that the right of woman to let her voice be heard and her vote be felt in political matters is established, it is high time that she should no longer be debarred from exercising her influence in selecting the best men to govern the churches she attends. The remedy, however, for the grievance lies in her ownhands. The church-going women of New Zealand have only to withdraw for one year from all movements initiated for the collection of funds, and the parsons will speedily come to their senses. — Marlborough Express.

The Oamaru Mail makes a good point against Captain Russel and his followers, who allege that the Government has made Civil Service appointments contrary to law. The Mail says :—' If the Government has broken the law, why do not Captain Russell and his friends vindicate the law by taking measures to have the legal points annulled ? They have a good precedent in the course taken by the Liberal Ministry in respect to an illegal appointment made by the Atkinson — Russell Ministry.' — Cbristchutch Star.

Some wealthy men in Westralia were originally ' sent out,' and years ago helped to make the roads they now drive their carriages over. — Melbourne Free Lance.

Competent authorities express the opinion that the reason why there is so much friction over the co-operative worke carried on by the Lands and Survey Department is that the overseers, in certain instances, are not sufficiently competent to be able to estimate the value of the contracts until they are partially completed. The result is, that men who could, if allowed to do so, make good money, take things easy, and slow and indifferent labourers receive more than the fair value of their work. — Masterton Star.

Unlesß we are prepared to forbid the marriage of consumptive persons, it would be futile to prevent the immigration of people afflicted with the disease. The medical apprehension that tuberculosis might lead to the extinction of the human race may be dismissed as absurd. Let us stop the sale of tuberculosis meat and improve the social condition of the people, and we shall do more to counteract this fell malady than by impracticable quarantine laws. — Canterbury Times.