WHAT THE PAPER SAY

Observer, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10, 16 November 1912, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPER SAY

THE reference to town-planning in the Land Bill, and the attempt of Auckland to secure Orakei to form a garden suburb, has drawn attention to the subject, not before it was needed. Few of our New Zealand towns are the result of a wise foresight by their founders. Like Topsy, the majority of them "just growed." And the result is just what one would expect. We have a few towns situated amid scenes of great natural beauty which do not discredit their surroundings. But most of them impress a stranger unfavourably with their want of order and system, while some are just blotches on the landscape.—Whangarei "Mail."

The Hon. James Allen is to visit the Old Country in the recess, to endeavour to rearrange some of the loans falling due and to study the educational problem. The pretext offered for a holiday jaunt by the Minister of Finance will not appeal to the average thinker. New Zealand quite recently selected a High Commisßioner who possesses the qualities requisite to finance. If the Hon... T. Mackenzie cannot arrange the maturing loans, he should be immediately recalled.—Mataura " Age."

Napier, in fact, is to-day in precisely the position in which Oamaru was twenty years ago — a seaport town backed by magnificent limestone country held in huge sheep runs. — Dunedin " Star."

Pursuance of a worthy ideal to bring the Native to a high state of civilisation, the Liberal Government endeavoured to treat him as a child whose path in life is beset with all inconceivable dangers from which he must be protected. The experience of generation after generation of Maoris forced to live under drastic restrictions, and prevented from employing their abilities in a manner akin to their European neighbours, has rendered them lazy, unfit, and altogether incapable of accepting the smallest share of the responsibilities of citizenship.—Rotorua " Chronicle." • • m

In England, it is frequently contended that universal military service must inevitably lead to a revolution, since 'the working classes," being armed and drilled, would seek to secure by force all those things they now struggle to obtain by constitutional means. It is, therefore, a little odd to find anxiety expressed in New Zealand that military training will be followed by consequences exactly the reverse—that we will one day have a Government mad enough to try the experiment of endeavouring to use a force existing by popular sanction to suppress' popular movements.—Wellington " Times."

Our opinion is that, except as a matter of extraordinary urgency, it is not desirable to relegate the State's functions in railway construction to private enterprise, and the proof of urgency in the Taupo-Totara case has yet to be furnished. In the peculiar circumstances, Mr Massey has given the right answer. He has promised to visit the Taupo country in company with experts, and the report of this investigation will be presented to Parliament early next session.—Wellington "Post."

Mr Massey's optimism appears to be infectious. In a House where there is really less than a bare majority of Reformers the second reading of the Land Bill was carried by 43 to 17, and the third reading by 42 to 13. Perhaps members were impressed by Mr Massey's declaration that he believed in ten years not one large estate would be left in New Zealand. The disintegration is to take place automatically as a result of free trade in land being permitted, instead of sales being hedged round with restrictions. In other words, land speculation — the scourge of the country—is to be employed in effectively settling large areas now in occupation by the "sheep king? , " The idea is a striking one, as startling as is Mr Massey's confession that he has never made a fetish of limitation— Invercargill " News.

There is evidently an , anxious desire on the part of the Government that Mr McNab should not give up his editing of the State's historical records, and it is to be hoped that he will now be induced to re-consider his decision. Too much of the detailed history of this country's early days has already been allowed to slip away beyond the possibility of any reliable record, and future generations will hold us responsible. — Palmerston " Times."

The man in the street knows little and cares less, about Imperial conditions and Imperial difficulties. He is more interested in things that closely concern him—in commercial and industrial interests, in the breeding of the New Zealand Cup winner, the latest drama at the picture theatre, the price of butter-fat, or whether Sir Joseph Ward will undertake the leadership of the Old Guard again. He has a hazy idea that there is a British Empire, that New Zealand forms part of it, and that the finest man the world has yet produced is the New Zealander New Plymouth " News." • • •

It gives quite a romantic sort of interest to the barlady to think that presently, as it were, she will be no more. The time will come when the Last Barmaid will be photo'd or kinematographed and interviewed as a person of many curious reminiscences. She may even write a book on "Snobs I have Served, and Beers I have Pumped." Let us be kind to the sisters of the pewter while we may, for they may not be very long with us.— Wellington " Free Lance. "

A strike in New Zealand is, to speak plainly, a wicked proceeding. In a country where there is work in abundance, and where industry, self-sacri-fice, and pluck will get any man along, idleness is a crime. The conditions that legitimately provoke strikes in over-crowded communities are absent here.—Rotorua " Times."

Wanted, as manager for the New Zealand Railways, an amiable young man between thirty and thirty-five years of age. Applicant must enter into recognisances to keep the peace, to behave demurely under any provocation, and to run the service in a spirit of kindness and humility. Plans and specifications to be seen (and deportment carefully inquired into) at the office of the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner. (No New Zealander need apply).—Wellington " Times." » # *

After all, the great object is the settlement of the land, and then follows the development of the country's resources. And it is the freehold, and the freehold alone, which gives the great majority of farmers that security which alone induces them to make their soil their bank.—Nelson " Mail."

The Minister of Justice deserves the heartiest support of all reasonable people. He made it perfectly clear that so long as he is Minister of Justice, law and order will be enforced and that he will make no distinction between Waihi strikers or anybody else. Mr Herdman is charged with a very important duty to the public, and he would have been unworthy of the trust imposed in him Avere he, speaking colloquialy, to " back and fill," in response to the agitation of those who see in the gaoling of the strikers an opportunity for gaining a little cheap notoriety and, perchance, a few extremists , votes. — Hokitika " Times."

For a moment it looks as if the Graduated Taxes were the only remedy the progressive party of the future will have at hand for the evils that must follow upon the legislation that is now being hurried through Parliament ; and when the time for its application comes it will be no halfmeasures that will be required to effect a cure.—Lyttelton "Times/- ,

The outstanding feature of the session was the slap in the eye the Lower House received from the Lords , aged but determined fist when the reform of the Legislative Council came up for discussion. The Lords have got their back against the rock of Our Dignity, and have distinctly refused to be reformed. Still, they can't keep their senile backs there for ever. The public voice is dead against them, and next session will without a doubt see the last of the convenient but bad old system of nomination of the Upper Howse.—Wellington "Free Lance.-"