What the Paper Say.

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 35, 15 May 1909, Page 22

What the Paper Say.

THE new legislation foreshadowed by Sir Joseph Ward contains no revolutionary proposals, and suggests a desire to give the country f)olitical rest and perfect the present aws rather than add to their number. — Napier "' Telegraph."

What the Prime Minister has to do is, not to try and balance the fall in Customs duties, but to purge the whole system of government of the rank abuses cultivated to kef- "Liberalism "in power. Frankly, we do not think he has the constancy and patriotism necessary to do it. — Wellington " Dominion."

In the interests of the colony everything that can possibly be done to encourage an influx of capital from external sources ought to be done, and if the mortgage tax can be shown to be a serious obstacle it should be done away with.— lnvercargill "Times."

It was little things like promising the Dreadnought gifts without Parliamentary authority which led to the cutting off of King Charles's head, and the unauthorised giving of two and-half millions may cut short our Sir Joseph's term of office.—Carterton " News."

We are told repeatedly that in time of danger every man in the country oould be called into the militia, which means that we should raise, to aid our volunteers against a trained enemy, an unarmed mob for which there are neither arms, equipment, nor officers. — Masterton " Age."

"What we want are labour colonies such as the Germans have, where the loafer is simply made to work, or gets nothing to eat. "He that will not work, neither shall he eat," is an adage which sorely wants putting into practice in New Zealand.—Blenheim " Express."

There is, we must confess, come inconsistency between the increase of Ministers and the decrease of departs ments ; between the idea of retrenchment and the statements that our finances are in a perfectly satisfactory position.— Napier Herald.

New Zealand is fortunate m its possession of liberal baidung institutions, but the increasing business needs of the community are such that enterprise is certainly hampered and more bank capital is a matter of pressing urgency.— New Plymouth " News."

The fact that a serious effort is beincr made by the State and by the individual to 'reduce extravagance will, more than anything else, tend to reestablish confidence and set m circiilation a liberal supply of liquid capital for the various enterprises and necessities of the Dominion. — Gisborne " Herald."

We say emphatically that a careful, dispassionate study of those portions of the Invercargill speech which bear on public finance and cognate subjects cannot fail to strengthen general confidence in the state and prospects of the Dominion, as well as in the sagacity and efficiency ot the custodian of the Exchequer.— Dunedin "Star."

''Back to the land !" is a cry which might well be raised in NewZealand and echoed throughout the length acnd breadth of the Dominion. The present distress cannot be assuaged by putting the present town unemployed on the land in large numbers, but many of them may profitably be occupied on the soil. — New Plymouth X " Herald."

We want more men, notwithstanding th© outcry in certain quarters against immigration. But the class of men needed in the first instance is suoh as will people the unoccupied territory, and make it yield up its riches . — Blenheim ' ' Express . ' '

There would appear to be a strong feeling abroad that the majority of immigrants arriving in the Dominion are morally, mentally and physically unfitted for the colonisation of New Zealand.— Hokitika "Times."

The Government of a country is not ahvays to be blamed for trade depression and fall in prioes, but it is to be blamed for indulging in extravagance in expenditure to such a degree ac has- the present Government by its own confessions. — Hamilton " Argus."

The vigorous prosecution of land settlement is the most obvious method of — oviding permanent employment for the workers, and in spite of the high prices ruling for land close to the railways, there is no reason why the Government should call a halt in this direction. — Christchurch " Times."

The man who goes out with his gun after a "record bag " is the worst enemy of sportsmen, and some means should be found to suppress him with great suddenness and completeness.- — Invercargill " Times."

Our Government have ventured into one commercial undertaking in the State coal mine, and they could very well enter into another by growing and holding wheat in sufficient quantities to control the market within their sphere. It is a matter which deserves the fullest consideration of Parliament during the next session. Hastings " Standard."

The irreconcilables and the irresponsible embarrass Labour and they handicap industry, .for they help to foment war when the sane leaders of the party may be striving for the establishment of peace. — Wellington "Post."

When skinned your nose, and sore your eyes, And choked your heart and cheat likewise. Don't stop co vainly Iheorise On cause obscure : When pain and anguish wring the brow, "Tis time to jump, you will allow ; Take my advice and get it now — Woods' Peppermint Cure.