What the Paper Say.

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 44, 17 July 1909, Page 3

What the Paper Say.

THE half-crown is one of the useless coins that block the way ; and

the Australasian mint, by deciding upon its abolition, may be said to have begun, in a modest way, the work of arithmetical reform. — New Plymouth " News."

Many people complain if the soles of their boots become a little muddy on tbeir way to work, but they do no£ think of the man awayback, who is increasing New Zealand, sinking thighdeep in the mad. Too mach is expected by the city man, and too little done for the 1 country settler. — Nelson " Mail."

It is far more desirable, in tbe eyes of thorough-going Unionists, that any rate fixed by the Arbitration Court should be adhered to in its integrity, than that the necessity of men hungry for work and sustenance should be relieved in any way except according to the lines laid down in the Arbitration Act. — Greymouth " Argus."

There is any amount of scope for profitable public works expenditure in the North Island. The Minister for Public Works and the Minister for Labour ought to know this. We think they do know it, but do not feel inclined to parade their knowledge, lest the arrangements under which the South Island rides on the shoulders of the North Island should ba endangered. — Napier " Telegraph." • • •

There ought to be frequent periodical examinations of children's eyes, and teachers ought to be trained to give, and then compelled to give, at least one lesson a week designed to teach how the acquirement of visual defects may be avoided. — Napier " Telegraph."

There is need for more sympathy, more intelligence and less red tape in the dealings of the Education Department with Boards, and then the latter bodies would be able to take tbeir rightful place in the educational system. — Palmerston " Standard." » • ■

Circumstances alter cases, and where work is created for the special purpose of employing workless men, it becomes a question as to whether these men should not in some way accommodate themselves to circumstances, and accept a temporary reduction in wages, and be only too glad to get such wages. — Greytown " Standard."

It is quite impossible to reconcile Sir Joseph Ward's expressions regarding the present outlook with those of Mr Millar. Either the Premier is unduly optimistic, or Mr Millar is unduly pessimistic. We have certainly had no such admission of bad management from Sir Joseph as his chief lieutenant has just made. — Napier " Herald."

Our rulers cannot with any show of reason contend that a man must pass through a prison before he can avail himself of the benefits to be derived from employment upon a farm colony, where he would receive instruction of a character to fit him for a better sphere of life than that hitherto occupied by him. — Blenheim " Express."

If Mr Millar, wants to make a genuine reform in railway administration, he should insist on the appointment of a really first-class expert as general manager, and give bim a tolerably free hand. — Christchurch " Press."

There is no sound reason for apportioning the right to labour in any spirit of discrimination. The right to labour is not a privilege, but a duty incumbent on citizens. It should be granted freely without question, and Its acceptance by all citizens should, if necessary, be enforced. — Patea " Press."

During the election campaign the Premier and his colleagues repeatedly and emphatically denied that there was extravagance in any of the Government departments, yet within a few months of the polls the most extensive retrenchments known in the history of the Dominion are undertaken. Comment is needless. — Palmerston " Standard."

Opinion may be divided on the question whether prohibition has attained all that was expected of it, or whether prohibition has proved to be synonymous with temperance, bat there are few, if any, who are able to assert that Invercargill to-day is any poorer in pocket or in well-being generally than it would have been had license been* continued. — Invercargill " Times."

The unemployed have a just grievance against the Premier. He knew quite well before he left the colony that the next few months would be a trying time for the large number of those who were not secure of employment. Yet he decided to postpone Parliament for the very period at which the pressure would be worst. — Napier " Herald."

No one would deny Ministers the right to move about as occasion really required, but the extent to which this rushing around has been carried oat is not merely a scandal on account of the neglect of office duties involved, bnt by reason of the fact that it has been done at the expense of the public — a gross waste of public money. — Wellington "Dominion."

If insurance against sickness is a wise and necessary precaution, insurance against unemployment is even of greater importance, because while many workers are fortunate enough to escap j serious illness until they reach old age, periods of slackness and depression, and unemployment as a natural consequence, are bound to occur in all trades.— Timaru " Post."

For the future it would be well for the State to take a more active part in discouraging attempts by foreign showmen to, en tice away large parties of Maoris for purposes of mere private gain. — Wellington " Free Lance."

We firmly believe that there is not a more loyal and patriotic people on this earth than the people of New Zealand. But they must not allow their patriotism to expend itself in lip-service. They must endeavour to breed up a nation made strong by clean living and wholesome thought, strenuous in work, unselfish in performance of du*y, prepared to make sacrifices to maintain unsullied and unimpaired the great heritage which we enjoy. — Christchurch "Press."

Dear money is throttling business and blocking progress. Anyone who can secure a supply of Eng- a lish capital at a reasonable rate of , interest for investment in this ooun- V try will prove himself a very practi- V eai benefactor to New. Zealand. — - v V Blenheim "Express." A