What the Papers Say.

Observer, Volume XXVI, Issue 44, 21 July 1906, Page 3

What the Papers Say.

WE have had plenty of legislation of late years to last us for some time to come. What is desirable is a more, efficient and businesslike administration.— Napier Herald

The dark days of the Bank of New Zealand have long passed, and now its position is fully established. That it is so proves conclusively the wealth and the capabilities of the colony, while it also affords evidence of the skill and care which have been exercised by those who have safely piloted the institution into the sea of prosperity. — Nelson Colonist.

The workers have been eager to defend Mr Tregear ; the Government have upheld him, and altogether Socialism is getting a big innings. Mr Tregear is such an earnest, wellmeaning man that most people will be glad that he has not suffered severely for his indiscretion ; but there will be much cause for reflection in his pronounced Socialistic views being practically endorsed by the Government. — Gisborne Herald.

The proposal to reduce the term of service prior to granting a mine manager's certificate to one year is simply ludicrous. How is it possible for any man to get a grasp of such intricate and diversified work in so short d.time? — Coromandel News.

If Reeves and Ward both reach out for the crown of Jones, things will happen. Meanwhile the new Premier, futile as he is, has filled a huge void. He has supplied Australasia for the first time with a Premier named Jones. There was once a Premier Smith in Tasmania, also a Dobson. There was Jenkins and there is Price in S.A. There was a Dawson in Queensland, and if a good man hadn't died too soon there would have been a Premier Browne. There has been no Kobinson. But there is now a Premier Jones. — Sydney Bulletin.

We are in want of another McKenzie working with his ardour to reform this system, and another task that he would have to do would be to set himself against the speculation in lands of the State, which is so common a fault to-day. Better in many cases that the lands should be sold outright, so that the State might benefit by their full value rather than that they should be leased at a low rental and the unearned increment go into the pockets of wealthy financiers and speculators.— ; Reef ton Times.'

Three months should be an ample period for Parliament to do — and do thoroughly — all that is necessary. What would be thought of a big company the directors of which sat every day for five or six months, and more often than not carried on their discussions when sensible people were abed? — New Plymouth Herald.

Sir Joseph Ward was diplomatic enough to recognise that there was pride of place for only one strong man at a time in our colony, and consequently during the past decadehesubordinated himself, leaving MrSeddona bold figure in the public eye. Bub there is strength behind the member for Awarua, and tint strength will make itself apparent before Sir .'ospph has been any length of time in cunt rol of the affairs of New Zealand. — Palmerston Standard.

There is no doubt that some day there must be an Australasian navy, colonially built, colonially manned, and colonial owned, and the question 1 is : " Is it time to set about acquiring such a navy in the day of peace, or shall we wait for war to get the thing on the stocks?" — Wellington Free Lance.

• • • ■ Even if the Premier had lived it is doubtful whether he would have succeeded in preserving the appearance of peace and concord [with the trade unions] much longer. It was an open secret that the labour organisations in the large towns had made it plain > to their representatives in Parliament that they would not tolerate a policy of inaction any longer. — Invercargilt Times.

What are the Employers' Federation afraid of? Are they expecting the mild and gentle Tregear to go fiyiDg round the country waving a red flag and throwing infernal bombs at the employers? Mr Tregear is, like many more of us, " declining into the sere and yellow leaf," and is no more likely to do anything to injure employers by stirring up feeling against them, than he is to injure employee's by inducing them to quarrel with their bread and butter. — Carterton News.

The Cabinet, if rumour be true, is at variance on the land question, and nothing but a downright vote of the House on the matter — a vote which has never yet been properly taken — will prove who is on the side of the freehold out and out, and who is on the side of the leasehold as it stands. — Reefton Times.

It would be better for New Zealand to have a Parliament composed of native born or bred men, than for* it to have a Parliament of equal brain power, but from other lands. An intense patriotism cannot be felt by the person who hasn't been born or bred in the country he is patriotic to, and that patriotism cannot be transplanted id very obvious, where every big city has Hibernian, Scottish, St. George, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and many other kinds of societies.— New Plymouth News.