WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6, 16 October 1915, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

LIKE the hardened gambler, Germany still hopes against hope. Her people certainly do not yet realise that complete victory can never be hers. But ber leading men know, though they have to keep up the illusion as long as possible. That is why our big financial people think it unlikely that the German Finance Minister has so completely given himself away.—London "Chronicle."

It is possible—for nothing is impossible to human credulity—that there are yet those among us who believe that the world, and this part of it in especial, would: continue in the even tenor of its wonted way— the experimental ground for political quackeries—Whether the Empire lost or won. Men and women of this calibre are beyond' the pale of hope. —Dunedin "Star."

Mr Herdman, who is the Minister in charge of the police, says they are required to remain behind to protect property. Surely this is a farfetched excuse. The best way to protect property is to face the enemy in the trenches.—Wellington "times."

The formation of the National Ministry was a declaration to the world that New Zealand had determined! to know nothing of parties until the war was over and the terms of peace finally settled. Nothing will therefore hinder our representatives at the Conference from approaching the Empire problems which will come up for consideration iii the true Imperial spirit.—Wellington "Dominion."

U is hours and hours of rain, long delicious hours full of whispering like the talk of long-parted friends, that are needed 1 after a drought such as the ooe that Aye hope has now broken, and the drought is almost worth enduring lor the pleasure of the rain when it comes. —Oamaru "Times."

What a wonderful position the United States is in to-day! There she sits on the other side of the Atlantic, calmly and peacefully hauli»g in money, sacksfull and! shiploads, sending out her goods in return, lending the money back to the nations that are paying it to her, and making still more money out of it in interest. There was never such a position in the whole of history before.—Greymouth ''Argus.''

If there are men belonging to the Legion of Frontiersmen, or Scotsmen, who desire to serve, the means are offered in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, where all are Britishers first. These attempts to make little, egoistic subdivisions are born of vanity, and are a greajt futility in the face of serious things.— Christchurch "Sun."

The ex-Austrian officer who passed from his daily haunting© of Viennese beer gardens to become first Prince, and then King, of Bulgaria, because he happened to represent in his person the "blue" blood of Orleans and of Hohenzollem, is aiming high. He thinks he sees a Bulgarian kingdom reaching from the Dardanelles northerly to Varna and westerly from Ardianople—or why not Constantinople ?—to Monastir, within easy distance of the Adriatic.—Napier "Telegraph."

The world longs for peace, but this same world is also unalterably determined that it shall not be a German peace.—Dunedin "Star."

The working classes, while they might submit to compulsory service if Lord Kitchener declared it to be necessary, are certain to .resent any attempt by irresponsible parties' to force it. upon them. It is'" flaying with fire at a most inopportune time.—New Plymouth "News."

The real resources of the two Central European emujres are very nearly exhausted .already. Germany looks imposing now because she made vast preparations that are not yet quite exhausted, and because her people are wonderfully patriotic and are fighting well. But the day of reckoning is rapidly approaching.— London "Statist."

The requisites for national greatness besides probity, industry, and courage—are "ideas" and "leadership," and' both these rest on a foundation of intellectual effort, without which a nation can neither be alive to intelligent ideas, nor responsive to intelligent leadership.— London, ' 'Chronicle.''

On the one hand our politicians are impressing upon the people the need for private economy, while they are using their positions as members of Parliament in attempts to persuade the Minister of Public Works to- expend still larger sums of the ■money cf the State upon works in their ■own particular electorates. Such are the lofty ideals of some of our isV>-called Pairliaimentarianjs.— Oamaru "Times."

We want peace, we yearn for it, with all our hearts, but we do not want it yet. There can be no such thing as an honourable peace between the Allies and Germany. She must be beaten to her knees. — Wanganui "Chronicle."

Those who have only their bodies to offer must offer them; those who have only wealth must offer it; and those who have both must offer both.. It is for every man, young and old alike, to be sure that he at least is setting an example to his fellow citizens by doing all that lies in his power for his country's cause. —Wellington "Dominion."

But since we cannot believe that Mr Hornsby is the victim of a conspiracy in which members of Parliament and Press Gallery are joined, we must believe that he did embody a blundering implication in a question, inspired by street-corner rumours, regarding the character of some of the returned soldiers, and was naturally castigated by practically the entire Press of the country for his folly.—Ohristohurch "Sun."

In Parliament A. Plug-Less Wordspout, Esq., M.P., is a personage. He can order about the messengers, can 101 l back in his well-padlded seat in the Chamber, and assume the air of a second edition of Pitt or Burke. At Mudville Flat he is plain Bill Brown, Tom Jones, or Jack Robinson,' and Mudville Flat as a whole has precious little reverence for him. —Wellington "Free Lance."

Healthy sport is a good thing, and there is no A-alid reason why it should cease during war time. Exercise helps men to keep their minds and bodies sound, and there is little good to be gained by asking men who are accustomed to taking healthy bodily exercise o i a Saturday afternoon to stay at home and indulge in sad reflections about the war, or walk the streets pulling long faces.—Wanganui "Chronicle "

There is no more certain method of discouraging public patronage of well-meant efforts to raisfe money for patriotic purposes than the squandering of the fundis in extravagant mismanagement.— Wellington "Dominion."

No German, even of the third or fourth generation, should be allowed to remain one day in the British Civil Service—or, for that matter, in the public service of any British Dominion! — Wellington "Free Lance."