PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9301, 30 July 1908, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

— ♦ FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) THE ARBITRATION BILL. We are still strongly of opinion that the Minister of Labour should stick to his Industrial Councils of last -ear, and that he should do away with the present system of permanent representation on his Conciliation Councils and on the Arbitration Court as well. More, that he should only allow, in addition to the chairman or president, assessors chosen by the immediate parties to the dispute. — Dunedin " Star." THE HIGH COMMISSIONER. We do not overlook the fact that a politician is not necessarily best qualified to fill the position of High Commissioner}- but unless the Government proposes to make a new departure and look for its representative at Home in the ranks of the business men of New Zealand, we do not see that any more suitable choice than that of Mr Hall- Jones pould be made. — " Ota»o Daily Times." [ THE UNEMPLOYED. The State can provide against starvation, but it cannot, with its limited resources, provide work for all. We could preach to the labouring classes the gospel of thrift and point from tiie present crisis a moral of the necessity of providing in the good seasons for inevitable rainy days, but editorial edicts are powerless against human - nature, which invariably emulates the l ant rather than the bee.— " New Zealand Times." THE GOVERNMENT STROKE. Ministers and parliament must be growing weary of the corrupt system which is continually increasing the weight of the shackles upon their liberty, and which originates an in- , cessant stream of unjustifiable requests, demands, grievances and protests that 1 must be attended to if the recipient would avoid a political vendetta. We believe that it would pay the Government and a majority of its supporters ; to rely upon their own excellent merits and to rid themselves of patronage by remitting the control of the Government service to an independent Board. As a preliminary to the establishment of suoh a Board a Royal Commission, should be constituted to inquire how far into each Department the political disease has penetrated and by how much each Department falls short of giving a fair return for its expenditure. — " Evening Post." THE FARMERS' UNION. The Fanners' Conference has been f massing, resolutions in favour of the reehold tenure, in favour of granting the option of the freehold to afi Crown tenants at^ the original valuation, in favour of individualising Native land, and in favour of various other ooints directly affecting the agricultural interests upon which farmers hold practically unanimous views, but " unless they move into; politics as ja strong and united party, there is about as much prospect of their reasonable claims re- I ceiving attention as tTiere is of a ; full moon to-night.— " New Zealand Herald." AN APOSTLE OF PEACE. When .King Edward assured the deputation from the Universal Peace Con- ! ierence two days ago that hie chief aimis to promote harmony and goodwill between the nations, he was not eimply indulging in the conventional formalities that 6uch an occasion mierht seem to demand. No monarch and no statesman of the age has done so much as our King to strengthen the bonds of i friendship between England and the majority of the great Powers, and his work will have an abiding influence that may yet prove to have changed the whole course of modern history, and preclude for ever the terrible possibili- t ties of a great continental war. — Auckland "Star."