WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 22, 10 February 1912, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

AS to the duration of Mr Massey's term of office that will depend on Mr Massey's inclination to remain there ; but we agree with Mr McNab that there will be no general election inside the usual three years.—North Otago "Tin-.* 9 " • • » The financiers of the wot Id Jo rot; seem to be actuated by any higher morality than the gun ruuuere and others who are always ready to supply powder and shot to the enemies of their country —for a proper consideration, of course. Money ought in certain cases to be as much contraband as any other prohibited commodity in war time.—Grey River "Argue. ,, • • • In New Zealand, in spite of a Pure Foods and Drugs Act, a great an/d growing quality of adulterated stuff is being palmed off on to the public as the real thing. The Act in question was passed for the express purpose of checking it, but, like so many other Acts and regulations, it is to a large extent a dead letter.—Taranaki "Herald." • ' • • How can we escape a nation of gamblers when we legislate the totalisaor, and put the stamp of respectability — the covering over the parasite—upon what is inherently a dishonest act ; when we provide a set of correspondence by which the gambling instincts of our young men and women are developed and misdirected into parasitism, degeneracy and ruin.—Wairoa "Bell." • • ■ The average New Zealander is more than ordinary law-abiding. The policy of this country shows this very clearly, for no other country has so few police per thousand of population. The inference by the "an-ti-defenders" that the New Zealand striker in the future is.liable to need suppression by armed force is uncomplimentary and undeserved. — Taranaki "News." • • ■ • We do not think that any legislation or any Royal Commission is going to solve the problem of wages and the, cost of living. Increase of one seems to necessarily imply an advance in the other, and how to make wages high and the cost of living low is a puzzle which appears to befog both legislators and labour agitators.—Wairarapa "News." • • • What earthly use is the Arbitration Court other than to impose legal restrictions upon the employer which harass trade and force up the cost of living to the whole community?—Wairarapa "Age." We see no reason why the age of qualification for the extended franchise in Great Britain ehould not be raised in the. case of future voters to twenty-five. In fact many excellent reasons may be given why such a reform should be brought about.—Manawatu "Times. ,, • • ■ The bucolic youth may be more fitted for military service than the dweller in the town, but it is surely wrong that lads should be taken from farm work when those in the towns are more readily available.—Wairarapa "Age." • m - One would have thought that, if the validity of Dr Pomare's election were open to question, the iniative would have been taken by the Returning Officer. The movement of the Northern Natives would appear to have been instigated by Henare Kaihau and his friends, who are naturally disappointed. But the result is almost a foregone conclusion.—Wairarapa "Age."