WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 28 August 1915, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

HELENSVILLE appears to be, one of those cities in the Dominion that is doing little or nothing towards the great philanthropic work in band. Why is this so ? What should be everybody's business here, appears to be nobody's.—Helensville "Echo."

"My gallant son® of Prussia," "My noble warriors from Bavaria," "My excellent Saxons," and all the rest of the Schweinhund soldiery ruled by the Arch Assassin are everlastingly being talked to and lectured in flamboyant vulgar heroics by the War Lord, but that gentleman takes precious good care to k«ep his sacred person well in the rear. — Wellington "Free Lance."

So far as is possible, the labour of the whole community should be employed in actual fighting, or be organised to produce eother munitions of war or the necessaries of life, or exports which may help to pay for the goods which we must import. That, and not "business as usual," should! be our aim.—Wanganui "Chronicle."

Twelve months' ago the Cook Government offered 20,000 troops to the Empire, and thought it bad done a magnanimous action. The war was then to be a picnic of a few months' duration. We would pay a small war tax and bask in the glory of our new achievements.. Now, after twelve months, we have put into the field 100,000 of our picked men, with more to follow. We made the customary blunder of the Briton, of underestimating the enemy.—Melbourne "Age."

This Empire, come the end of the war soon, or late, can never be the same.—Dunedin "Star." * * *

When this war is over, Germany will make short work of the defamers and! slanderers, and will see that the world learns the true character of the great and noble Fatherland. —Hamburg ' 'Najdhini'dhten.''

It happens that neither Mr Poole nor Mr Isitt is a person of much consequence in political affairs, and what they think about the National Cabinet does not much matter.— Welingjxm '^Dominion."

We have been living in a fool's paradise for many years past, and the process of altering all our preconceived notions is a somewhat painful one.—New Plymouth "Herald."

A oostliy defence system should surely be equal to the task of enrolling recruits. In several cases, we believe, men 'have come from long distances^—in one case from as far away as Katikati—but have been compelled to return witho*t having accomplished' anything. — Tauranga "Times."

Germany puts the finishing touch to her revelation of herself, when she celebrates submarine murders by school festivals and references to the Deity ! —Masterton "Age."

The spending power of the general public seems to be as strong as ever. The total isator figures are still above the peace records, and/ the various places of amusement are said to be doing good business.—Wellington "Post."

We employ every ounce of energy and resource that is at our disposal in warning the people that they are faced with the most terrible affliction that could befall a nation. They are faced with the most resourceful, albeit the most unscrupulous foe that ever created carnage on a battlefield.—Masterton "Age."

No provision has been made to encourage the study of agriculture in the North. — Whangarei "Advocate."

The Germani® are, we acknowledge, teaching us many things, and the best and the most lasting of. the lesson® we are so rapidly learning is the value of national organisation in every direction.—Carterton "News." * * *

Every unnecessary penny taken from the people in taxation is a seditious handicap. The main thing is to keep the wheels of productive industry going round. Save judiciously and spend carefully should be the motto for all at the present time.— Gisborne "H«rald."

The chief ground for hoping that the Allies' case will eventually prevail is that Russian diplomacy, which wields great influence with unsurpassed skill, is on the side of the Allies, and it is coupled with British money.—lnvercargill "Times." * * *

We may fail to win; but, as one of our gallant boys at the Dandanelles recently said "We can at least die trying," and there can be no nobler death. We are fighting for peace, not for conquest. — Carterton "News."

In no country in the world is the individual, with his rights', liberties, and franchises, more important than in the United States, and in no country in the world is the State as such less important. — Dunedin "Star."

The thin heroic line which stands between the British people and extermination has supported the Empire's burden through a nightmare of poison, shot and shell, diay and night during twelve weary months. They are calling for help—they implore the nation to put them on equal terms with the Germans. — Oamaru "Times."

To become equal to Germany in actual military force is a mere matter of time and mechanics, and when the British machine is as strong as the German machine, those moral reserves will overwhelm the enemy. —Stratford "Post."

Thede may be more heartbreaking Gethsemanes than have yet been for the women of the nations to pass through, and, if it were possible, more trying Calvaries for thek men, but the resurrection day is assured. Beyond the darkness of the crucifixion night even now can be seen the first gleams of the light of the coming and more glorious day. —Duneddn "Star."

lou Ward's talk about there being no fusion, no coalition, is mere "gagging," in order that the leaders' faces may be saved before the constituencies. Between the Masseyites and the Wardites there was no essential difference. The barnacles of vested interests were about equally distributed 1 , mainly in the form of land and beer.—Sydney "Bulletin^."

Germany now is ruled by industrious little men who have no sense of direction, who understand the working of the machine, but do not know what to do with it. They believe all the current nonsense of their time and country and mistake it for philosophy and religion. But the war will prove that it is neither, and 1 that organization by itself does not give wisdom nor virtue to men. It is a means, not an end; but a means, to great power which the . Germans may learn, through the costly lesson of the war, to use for their own good and the good of the world.—London ''Times."