What the Papers Say

Observer, Volume XXVIII, Issue 26, 14 March 1908, Page 3

What the Papers Say

THE drought of 1908 will have provided a severe lesson to many a farmer, bat it will not prove too costly if it haß the effect of making our producers take advantage of every device known to science in conducting their important work. — Gisborne Times.

We have recently heard a great deal about the Socialistic tendencies of the Government, but so long as Ministers concern themselves about the public good in the way they appear determined to do, they will have the country with them. — Blenheim Express.

The casual smoker, who throws down burning matches, is one of the evils to be dreaded. It is an easy thing to extinguish a match. The smokers should do the little exertion necessary. — Hokitika Times.

We do not see why either a teacher or a School Inspector should be prohibited from using his spare time as seems most fitting or profitable to him, and decidedly there ought to be no distinction in this respect between them. — Greytown Standard.

The masses of the Mother Country would consider themselves a fortunate people if they had the same protection and enjoyed the same benefits as the masses out here, and even if they had land laws such as ours, under which big estates could be burst up and the land utilised for closer settlement, they would consider themselves a happy people. — Waihi Telegraph.

The agitation for a separate Labour Party is confined to a very small section of New Zealanders. The danger of that section capturing the Parliament is not a thousand-to-one chance. — Christchurch Spectator.

Parliament ought to place exactly the same prohibition on the publication of " tips " and betting odds in connection with boat racing and other sports as it already has imposed on the publication of of this information in connection with horse races. — Christchurch Times.

There is no room in New Zealand for the Chinese who seek to enter. There are too many well-known reasons why those who seek to come must be denied entry, and why those who are already here must be sent back to their own land again. — Wellington Free Lance.

The man who has the vigour of manhood to uphold his bodily strength, may get as drunk as he likes in any bar in the country, and sleep off bis disgusting sleep for a night in the cells, but the old age pensioner who ventures to try a glass of beer confiscates the annuity granted him by bis country. — Hastings Standard

Ministers are frittering away their time in all kinds of junketing and ceremonial — hard work as that may be — instead of- applying it to the business of their departments. — Napier Herald.

By encouraging the use of different editions of school books poor parents are put to a good deal of expense that there is not the slightest necessity for, and that mighm be easily avoided. — Greymouth Argus.

Ministers ought not to be overworked any more tban other men, but the tendency has been for Ministers to add to their own proper work enormously by taking on the duties of party organisers aud seeking to keep in personal touch with party organisations all over the country. — Hawera, Star.