WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 6, 11 October 1919, Page 4

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

THAT the war has given the world a new map is beyond question. That it has given America a new horizon is not equally clear. To President Wilson and most of the thinking men of America the narrowing of the iseas and the broadening of America's destiny are. equally axiomatic facts. They see that what Mr. Daniels calls "the ancient idea that the seas were to separate peoples" has been exploded; that if "the unplumbed, salt, estranging sea" has not yet ceased to estrange nations it can no longer separate them ; and that in the three aerial voyages across the Atlantic which have been made since the Armistice we have evidence that the air may soon provide an even more intimate means of communication than the sea.—Wellington "Post."

We may expect to read shortly in the columns of the "Bosphorus Creek Gazette" or the "Dardanelles. Daily" a paragraph which will run something after this fashion:—"Messrs. Ali Baba Rostrum and Company announce in our advertising columns a continuance of the series of unreserved auction sales in the insolvent estate of Hasan Unspeakable Limited which have attracted so much attention among realty investors and dealers in works of art and artic)es of vertu.—Melbourne "Table Talk."

One of the absurd charges against the President is that he violated constitutional propriety, if not constitutional law, by quitting American soil during his term of office, and these sticklers for the proprieties have been further .scandalised by the manner in which he was afterwards "cavorting around" with kings and princes and potentates. Mr. Wilson is now making amends for these grave offences by attending to his own people and taking them into his confidence. —Wellington "Post."

Turning to the strike news, one. finds no confirmation of any fears on the score of anarchy. The strike is not spreading, and the Government's handling of the work of keeping things going is showing substantial success, though the confusion is considerable. On the one hand, the number of volunteers offering "to help confirms the reports that the mass of public opinion is against the strikers, and angry with them for their resort to industrial war. — Wellington "Times."

Those who are acquainted with the extravagant policy of the Public Works Office would not hear of the main roads being placed under central administration. These must alAvays be under the control of the local contributing authorities. But the powers of these authorities must be increased, and the overlapping that at present exists must be done away with. When this reform is brought about, the road problem may be satisfactorily solved.—Masterton "Age."

There is a chance for various industries to be established here, but while labour is so scarce, machinery so difficult to obtain, and housing accommodation so deficient it is difficult to start new industries. Within the next few years, however, an

immense amount of building must be undertaken, and. the building industry is the best in all progressive towns. —New Plymouth "Herald."

The war has led to many changes and the rise of the pro'btariat to a fuller sense of its influence and rights is one of them. Undoubtedly a big change must come in Britain, arid whether direct action or indirect action happens to be the starting point is a minor consideration. It is not for itself that a strike is decided upon but for a definite object to which the strike stands merely as the means to an end. When the political road to that end stands blocked then the industrial route will be followed.—Greymouth "Argus."

A returned soldier farmer of the district recently put forward the argument that no distinction is being made between the soldier farmer and the stay-at-home civilian ditto in the matter of rates. He instanced a case at the Reynold's Settlement where the valuation has been put up practically one hundred per-cent., and as the rating is. based on the valuation, this means that the soldier settler on the estate will be hit hard. While the soldier was away fighting, the stay-at-home farmer made good profits and increased the value of his land, and when the soldier returned from the campaign he is put on the same level as regards valuation. This is hardly fair. The system should be that a returned soldier should, for say ten years at least, be charged rates on the valuation in force at the time of his embarkation to the front, otherwise he is merely penalised for doing his duty.—Cambridge "Independent."

There are men whom it is an honour to honour. Such an one is the kindly, unobstrucive gentleman who came among us on Friday last, for his genial personality is the embodiment of the spirit which has saved the Empire. It was difficult for those of us who met Admiral Jellicoe to realise that it was he vyho, with unfaltering will and unshaking hand, directed said controlled the mighty Fleet whose grim and unrelenting vigil was the prime factor in the overthrow of the greatest and most ruthless military Power the world ha.s ever known.—Rotorua "Chronicle. ,,

The nationalises assure us that if only we appoint enough officials they wi'A spend our money for us much better than we can spend it ourselves though they gild the pill a little and do not present it in this crude way. The main point to be remembered by electors is that the gifts promised by politicians are simply taken out of the pockets of the electors and by no means always returned to them.— New Plymouth "Herald."