"WHAT THE PAPERS SAY"

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 4, 11 October 1902, Page 3

"WHAT THE PAPERS SAY"

PRACTICALLY, we cannot come to any other conclusion than that Ministers, at any rate of late years, are little better than a sort of double-barrelled local representative, with a vastly extended range of duties, the importance of which they, for the most part, fail to grasp. — Tauranga Times.

• • • Of course, it is a difficult matter for Ministers to resist some of the persistent demands made for employment, but nevertheless the system that is now in vogue of appointing men without any previous experience or special qualifications is a rotten one, and cannot be too strongly condemned. — Palmerston Standard. • • •

Have you noticed the remarkable number of candidates who have been attracted to the forthcoming contest ? There is no doubt that the increase of honorarium is responsible in some degree for the increase of candidates. It's a sad reflection that a place in Parliament should be looked upon as a "billet." — Wellington Free Lance. • • •

We are afraid that it can belaid of New Zealand as truthfully as Mr Shiels said of Victoria, that it is apt to do even small things on a grand scale. — Grey mouth Argus.

We have been extensive exporters of products we cannot consume, and have hitherto been large importers of goods which can be produced or manufactured cheaper elsewhere. For our exported products we can only secure the world's average prices, whilst here our markets are protected from the world's average, and we need high prices for our products. — Gisborne Herald.

• • • How long, we would like to know, could New Zealand maintain her national solvency, what would be the state of our private and public revenue were we deprived of the protection afforded to our over sea commerce by means of the British navy ? — Blenheim Express.

• > • The Opposition have been arming for the fray for months past. They have great hope of regaining that power and position they once possessed. They say that out of the old Conserratism wreck is springing into existence a new party — a more vigorous combination than the Liberals. — Dannevirke Press.

• *■ • There are few advocates of socialism who have sixpences to take out of their own pockets. It is the spirit of most socialists that they want to share the contents of other people's pockets. — Wellington Times. • • •

Maoriland papers, without exception, were blood-drunk during the war. Now, having regained normal sanity, they are busy recanting Jingoism and damning all the works of the sanguin-

ary monster. — Hobart Chpper.

• • • Free secular education is compulsory on every child of school age, be he or she Christian, Jew, Turk, Infidel, or Heretic, and therefore it is an outrage to force any particular creed into the teachings of the public schools. — St»atf ord Settler. • • •

The New Zealand Statute Book of the last decade bears witness to a boldness and an enterprise on the part of our Legislature that have had a noble and beneficent as well as a less worthy side ; and no amount of obeap sarcasm can get rid of the fact that the intelligent activity of the New Zealand Parliament since 1800 has deserved the interest and, in some measure, the admiration of the outside world. — Dunedin Star.

, The Premier has often been accused of spoon-feeding certain favourite electorates and particular sections of the community, but were he to provide pure milk for the babies he might with justice be called the " great wet nurse." — Thames Star. • • •

We sincerely hope that whatever retrenchment is made in the defence department, that the naval contribution will be forthcoming. — Kawakawa Luminary.

• • • The complexity of our labour laws and the general " cussedness " of industrial disputes do not in the least alter the fact that the Unionists' working day is parcelled out equitably, and that if he isn't paid as much as he thinks he is worth he is paid more than the employers of most countries think their employees are worth. — Wellington Free Lance.

• • • Seddon, it is said, claims that the Australian drought was the special dispensation of Heaven to provide a market for mutton and assist loyal Maoriland to pay for its Jingo whistle, including the Juke o' York jamberoo. — Hobart Clipper.

• • • It is high time the Government ceased to claim to be a non-borrowing Government. They are quite as great borrowers as Sir Julius Yogel, with this difference — Sir Julious borrowed wholesale not by dribs and drabs. It comes to much the same thing in the end, though, as the country will eventually find out. — Cromwell Argus.

• • • There is, in our opinion, no logical or equitable via media between an absolutely secular State scheme of education and a scheme which would provide for each sect the particular form of religious instruction which it desired. — Wellington Post.

• • • What are the Land Purchase -Board doing? Have they abrogated their functions, or is the Lands for Settlement policy to be allowed to become obsolete — to become a failure through the supineness or incompetency of those appointed to administer the Act. — Hokitika Leader.

• • • We are in the midst of a saturnalia of squandering, and the House has given itself up body and soul to the orgy. — Oamaru Times. • • •

The Government, it is quite evident, cannot hope to please its opponents, who are hungering for place, pay and patronage. — W&nganui Yeoman. • • •

It is evident that if reform is to be made in the Imperial system, it will have to come from the colonies. — Carterton Leader. t • •

Under the freehold the danger is that land may be aggregated into large estates, and it is a danger which we all dread, but with a democratic Government, iand with universal suffrage exercising the right to impose progressive taxation, the danger less real than apparent. — Hawera Star.

• • • We believe that few people in this colony have any antipathy to the religious bodies such as exists in other countries. But we are certain that there are still fewer who are not determined that nothing shall be done which may in any way interfere with the working of our education system. — Napier Herald.

• • • There are constant complaints that the best stamp of man does not come forward to serve on the various municipal corporations, county councils, and road boards. Truly there is not very much encouragement, the pay is the proverbial wage of the itinerant fiddler, "more kicks than halfpence." — Whangarei Advocate.

• • • The practice which has grown up of Ministers making themselves personally acquainted with the requirements of the various districts may have something to commend it, but it appears to us that it is also the cause of much unimportant work being promised — but not always performed — with the result that the really important works have to be curtailed.— New Plymouth Htrald.