What the Papers Say

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 37, 1 June 1907, Page 3

What the Papers Say

A TWENTY days' service between London and Auckland is not so remote a dream as an Empire linked by Sscal preference, and, though it may prove to be beyond the range of the immediately practicable, our Premier's sanguine advocacy is providing an invaluable stimulus to a drastic improvement on present arrangements. — Wellington Post.

It is tjbe, workers who are undoubtedly chiefly interested in preventing the land of the colony gravitating into the hands of a comparatively small number of persons, and they are the section of the community most deeply interested in preventing monopoly in land, as well as monopolies in general. — Greymouth Argus.

Football is a splendid sport. But you cannot call a spectator of a match a sport, any more than yqu can call spectators of a bull-fight sports. The funny part is, both the bull-fight spectator and the football " barracker," in their heart of hearts, feel bigger heroes than a matador or an " All Black." — Wellington Free, Lance.

What would the Minister of Lands say if the Secretary of his department were constantly fomenting strife amongst the Crown tenants at the Farmers' Union meetings ; or if the Secretary of the Marine Department habitually attended meetings of the Seamen's Union to show them how badly the shipping companies are treating them ? — Christchurch Spectator, on the Tregear policy.

The Native race enjoy many advantages and immunities which are not extended to the European, and a fatherly Government shields and protects them even from the result of their own excesses by placing restriction on the sale of their lands. — Greytown Standard.

The country had conßdence in its late Premier because he had confidence in himself. Weaken on the land question, and on every side of the question 'weaknesses will appear. — fteefton Times.

We know of cases where suitable men, after trying ballot after ballot, have left the colony in disgust. An immigrant naturally expects that land will be open for selection directly he lands. — Hamilton Argus.

An objection made by educationists to the adoption of uniform school books is that it would suppress all individuality on the part of the teacher, but we can imagine that if the articles in the School Journal were judiciously selected there would be few grounds for complaint on this score. — Grey mouth Argus.

Most jurymen in New Zealand are men that have to earn their living. Every juryman should be paid his day's wages for each day he is summoned, whether he sits or not. The present system actually robs him of his day's wages, and is likely enough to lose him his billet. Employers cannot suspend their operations even for a Supreme Court. — New Plymouth Newa.

It is foolish to adduce the argument that as a settler has done well as leaseholder he should be left alone, for had he been a freeholder how much better would he have done? It would be absolutely nonsensical to say he would not. — Uamaru Times.

We believe, not in the cry "Nevr Zealand for the New Z-alander " alone, but in the cry " New Zealand for the New Zealander and he who will become a New Zealander." You can't shout for a foreign flag while on New Zealand soil and be a good New Zealander. — Foxton Herald.

Advantageous as the 999 years' lease has proved in many cases, moat of the holders would exchange it for the freehold on the basis 01 the original valuation, but whether that is a basis that the freehold party in general would agree to is another matter. — Blenheim Express.

The appearance of a professional team of New Zealand footballers in England cannot but have an adverse effect on the high regard in which the great winter sport of the colony is held in the Mother Country as a reBult of the triumphal tour last year of the "All Black" team. — Hamilton Times.

One of the first matters which needs consideration is that of providing better roads for the country settlers in many parts of the North Island, many of whom are pursuing their labours under the greatest difficulties. — Tauranga Times.

Mr Hall-Jones is fortunate in holding the reins while the State coach is oo a smooth and level road, but if he is wise, he will so handle it that & dangerous turn may be safely negotiated should one be encountered. — Nelson Colonist.

So far as the result of the Taranaki election is concerned, the Government might have just as well taken the bold course — the course that the late Premier would probably have taken, of standing to their Land Bill and putting up a candidate to fight for it in its entirety. — Hawera Star.

The Farmers' Union may at one time have resolved to keep apart from politics, but the trend of events will force it and other bodies into the field as a political organisation. It is necessary to the existence of the Trades and Labour Council that it should have a well defined political existence ; and it is just as necessary that farmers should be as solidly combined as to the men who are to represent them. Our politics are built that way. — Oamaru Times.

We have serious doubts as to thereliability -of the statements of exipenditure and the tale of huge surplus, when we remember that at the end of March the men on the public works had received no pay for an unduly lengthy period. This hardly seemsconsistent with a flourishing condition of things in a Department where everything is paid for in cash and credit is unknown. — fteefton Times.

A twenty.- day- mail service is still "in the clouds, and may remain there for years, whereas we had something like a twenty - eight - day service and allowed it to drift away, to be replaced by one that gives us our letters and papers some six weeks after posting in London. No wonder Sir Joseph says we are "in the backwoods." Is it too late, even now, to rehabilitate the 'Frisco service, if only as a temporary expedient, and pending the realisation of the Vancouver scheme, which must take at least a year, probably more to effect ? — Blenheim Express.