What the Papers Say

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 12, 5 December 1908, Page 3

What the Papers Say

THERE can be no two opinions concerning Mr Massey himself. Whether lie is fighting for emolument and power, or for the good of the country, he stands out conspicuously as a strong and courageous politician. There are ample reasons for conceding to him the credit of being a disinterested one also. — Napier "Telegraph."

Although Sir Joseph Ward commands a good working majority he has opposed to him a body of fighters who may be expected to subject the affairs of the country to a critical examination and act as a , tonic on the political life of the Dominion. — Hawera "Star."

We have advocated drastic reforms in Government administration, but that is not to say that we desire to see the present Government out of office, and in any case a disinterested desire to see the right man in the right place makes us anxious to see some arrangement made whereby Mr McNab may recover his place in Parliament and retain his present office. —Wellington "Post."

As we have repeatedly said, there is only one way to stem the rising tide of prohibition, and that is for « thorough reform in the system of selling alcoholic liquor to be instituted. — Christchurch " Press."

It must be plain to all that ohe reign of autocracy has at last come to an end. — Wellington "Dominion."

It would be strange indeed if the people did not recognise that the prosperity of New Zealand is largely due to the work of the Liberal party. — Paeroa " Gazette."

The movement for the extinction of licenses is marching steadily forward. — Christchurch "Times."

We are amazed at the moderati -v of the Opposition in not charging the Government with the enormity ol not seeing to it that the cjuiitiy rocks of the North Island arc mm t!.\ bluestones, granites, and sch ie>, as in the South. This is a point they have overlooked. — Rotorua "Times." w « •

Wake, with all his faults, never insulted us personally. But Johnson did, and we deliberately now and forever afterwards denounce him as anything. — Kawakawa ' 'Luminary." • • •

During the past ten years Parliament has become little short of being simply machinery to record the will of Ministers. — Hamilton " Argus."

. The rewards of public life are -jei • tainly no compensation for the sacrifices made by the man of ability who engaged therein, but every man 'ired with patriotic zeal for the public welfare does not count the cost to? great, though he personally suffers to an active degree. — Masterfcm "Age."

No fair-minded man of average intelligence, and quite average inagination, can fail to see the almost painful importance of the freehold to our agriculturists. "We are speaking of course of the freehold of limited areas. — Te Aroha " News."

When Seddon did his great act of degeneration, and became a Ijoomster and a frantic borrower and a mere time-server, Maoriland began blowing a bubble. It has loome a very large and shaky bubble nowadays. Joseph Ward paints 't carefully and shores it up anxious,-/ at the weak places, but there is a worried feeling all the same that M isn't quite'^the gorgeous bubble it used to be. — Sydney "Bulletin. 1 "

The time has again arrived when anxiety is felt as to what the harvest will be in connection with the potato crops.— Stiatford " Post."

We are constantly reading of " the North being plundered for the benefit of the- South." Those who make these statements have repeated them so often as to come to imagine that they are really true.— Blenheim " Express*

Imprisonment, without the option of a fine, is the only way to curb thpge who seek the unhealthy and immoral " sport " of reckless motoring. — Hptt •'Chronicle."

The first step to be taken in the direotion of freedom, as it seems to «s, is to separate the licensing poll from the General Election, so that we may look at both with clearer eyes and a sounder judgment. — Christchurch " Press."

What we want i 3 a little more faith in ourselves and less pessimism. — Gore "Standard."

Had the energy which has been devoted to local efforts to abolish licenses been applied to urging the Government to do their duty, aided by a crusade among the people against drunkenness, much greater resnlts would probably have been gained than the No license party can claim to have gained as yet.— Timaru "Herald." » * *

When the public purse is used to keep the electorates sweet, when the expenditure ia appropriated in accordance with the pull of each district as expressed by its voting power, it is impossible to avoid the natural result that candidates should consider that their only duty is to get as big a slice as possible for their district. — Napier "Heiald."

Keen observers know that our present economic and political systems cannot long endure — that, in fact, we are entering into a period of transition where the milder forms of Socialism and co-operation will displace individualism and competition. — Wanganui " Herald "

Wh«n the Opposition claquers raise their voices to speak disrespectfully of the Government's treatment of labour and neglect of the farmer, they betray the impoverishment of their imagination and contempt of the public intelligence; — Wellington " Times."

The Defence Department of New Zealand is costing about a quarter of ■ a-million annually, and for that amount of money the country has a right to expect something better than it is receiving. — Palmerston " Standard."

The diflerence between some of the Government proposals and those suggested by Mr Massey is so infinitesimal as to suggest six of. one and half-a-dozen of the other. Mr Massey will need a stronger programme before be will find general support. — Greymouth "Star."

Sir Joseph Ward's political opponents usually describe him as an optimist, but his cheerful predictions have a way of coming true. — Wairoa " Mail."

The Labour leaders, by their attacks on the Ministry, and especially on Mr Millar, are going the right way to alienate the sympathy of the Liberal party. These Labour leaders are not the best friends of the workers, for without the assistance of the Liberals the Labour party will find ie impossible to obtain further reforms. — Timaru "Post."

Our glorious mountain, with his in* finite repose, his unassailable calm, his " trailing clouds of glory," with the down dropping amber of his tni melodies by day j and the ringing note of the mopoke overflowing the mystic Bilver of his moonlight glens by night, is a presence to be loved and remembered with keen delight.— Te Aroha "News." ■ ! ■••