WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 48, 5 August 1916, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

IF six o'clock closing is urged on economic grounds, what of the racecourse, the theatre, smoking, afternoon teas, and a whole host of other more or less luxuries in which the community indulge. In equity too the Government can hardly single out the liquor traffic for such a restriction without providing those interested with adequate compensation for loss of business. —Tauranga •' Times." ■ . • a Modern Germany, like the Prussia of Frederick, loudly protests her innocence. Her alliances were legitimate and were purely defensive. Those of her opponents were meant for aggression, were a conspiracy against Germany. Fredrick the Great was saved from annihilation, as he himself admitted, through the mistakes of his opponents, and especially through their lack of unity. Let the Entente Powers take these lessons to heart and guard against the Kaiser escaping his just fate through any lack of unity on the part of the Allies. — Greymouth " Argus." • • * It is clear to any capacity that before racing can effect its original purpose, much proclaimed of benefiting the army, the institution must be submitted to overhaul and subjected to control, in justification of the huge toll it takes of public money and the danger of demoralisation to which it subjects the splendid sporting instincts of the country.—Wellington "Times." • • • Even when milk vendors were prosecuted, the punishment was so light that it amounted to practically a premium on adulteration. The average percentage of watered Wellington samples was 15J per cent., and yet for all the eight convictions recorded, fines and costs only totalled £67 I9s, say £8 10s each.—Wellington " Post." • • • It is as well to point out that the New Zealand troops actually at the front in France number something like 20,000, and that, even if the men killed averaged 50 a day for every day in the year —an unlikely possibility, this would be at the rate of about 7£ per cent, per month. Our reinforcements are at the rate of about 10 per cent, per month, so that, even adding wounded to the killed (remembering also the large percentage of recoveries), the margin of safety is more than ample.—Wanganui " Chronicle." • . • • Gott strafe! Gas him ! Bash him! Hack Kultur a wide read through the world! That was the Germans' creed while they were forcing retirements and evacuation upon the Allies. But when Britain's kick - back and France's patiently-prepared blow in return give the first of the buffets to send Frit* staggering back and yet back, what a different tune is heard. These brutal and damnable English! They bombard the trenches so horribly. Dormer undt Blitzen ! It is inhuman. And the gas! Ach Gott! Terrible. Was ever such a fiendish thing heard of 1 Bat der teuf«l Englanders have not succeeded. No. They attempted to drive the brave sons of der Vaterland out of France, and the brave sons are still in France, But not so far in.—Melbourne " Table Talk." a » • The Berlin " Tageblatt," says Germany will not look on quietly while doors are being slammed and bolted against them. This, with regard to England's effort to secure all the exports from neutral States to further discommode the Kaiser. We don't expect Germany to look on quietly we expect her to howl like the very deuce, and the " Tageblatt" puts up the first bleat. But if Germany is not satisfied with howling, -what is she going to do about it? The general opinion appears to be that she is already doing her darnedest.—Melbourne " Punch."