PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10298, 1 November 1911, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) THE PUBLIC DEBT. In all the sinking funds, as shown by the Treasury return, total £3,389,726, and the effect of Sir Joseph Ward's statement that they actually amounted to £1,240,734 was to represent in tho Budget, a document wiiich probably is circulated extensively in financial circles at Home, that the net public debt was £79,837,388, instead of £77,685,398, this boing, it will bo seen, an error of moro than two million against the country. It must he painful to Sir Allen to find Sir Joseph Ward injuring the credit of the dominion in this way, but however much he may regret having to direct attention to such a slanderous statement _ he will probably find it necessary, in the interest of the country and its credit, to put the matter in its true light wherever he speaks in the Bruce electorate.— " Otago Daily Times." MAINE AND PROHIBITION. In America, as in New Zealand, experience has shown that the attempts at statutory control of tho public thirst are a failure. The number of licenses in proportion to the population has been reduced by 100 per cent in this country since "1896, but in the same period the consumption of liquor per head has advanced by about 25 per cent. In tho United States tho per capita consumption of whisky and beor for tho year ended last June was 22J gallons, compared with 16 i gallons in 1893. Prohibition that does not prohibit is a failure, to say the least. When it creates an enormous sly, grog trade it becomes positively mischievous. That, apparently, is the opinion of the people of Maine.—" New Zealand Times. BEGINNING THE FIGHT.

To send a man exhausted by the final rush of tho sessiou direct to the constituencies to endeavour by frantic cxortions to overtake the rival candidate who has, perhaps, had several weeks' start, would, if inflicted as a punishment, be regarded as too eovero for tho conscience of a humanitarian age, yet the ordoal is voluntarily faced every three years by a large majority of tho sitting members, tho proportion of " non-starters" on the present occasion being only about 10 per cent.— " Evening Post." THE NEGLECTED NORTH.

Wo cannot even have for our northern constituents that soat in the Cabinet ol which th 03' have been deprived by the resignation of Mr Fowlds. Instead ol' this being assigned to some 0110 or othor ol the loyal supporters of tho Government to be found in tho north. Sir John Findlay is sont up ironi Wellington to sooure an Auckland seat and to continue in tho Cabinet as an Auckland representative. Tho Opposition would do more lor us than this, although to hoax* some candidates one would imagine that tho only value of an Opposition was to advocate rolorms which the Government could adopt for electioneering purposes and then repudiate for three long years.— Auckland "Herald." THE STRIKE.

The general labourers' slriko in Auokland will liavo cfono permanent good if it only helps to teach everybody tho value of rational and disassionato discussion as a means of settling industrial disputos. In spite of very decided differences of opinion, tlio representatives of both sides found it possible in a short time to arrange a practicable compromise, thus settling a serious difficulty and obviating more serious dangers in the near future. This conclusion is certainly a triumph for tho principle of peaceful conciliation, ana wo trust that tho lesson will not be lost upon either workers or employers.—Auokland " Star."