PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS | ARE SAYING. BEYOND-THE PALE, j One views with suspicion any news ' ; that comes out of Russia, particularly ' j through German channels. The report j that two Bolshevistic factions may j come into conflict like huge cosmic* i forces whirling through spate may not ; cause the same impression as it would if the sources were not known to be ! vitiated. Trotsky is said to be opposed i to the Cheka leader, who backs a CenI tral autocratic organisation, out Trotsky was reported a week or two ago to be dying, and one statement is as likely to be correct as tl?e oTuer. No reliance can bo placed either in rumour or in political symptoms while Russia remains a pariah amongst tho nations. —“ Southland Daily News.’’ STATE OWNED T7TILITIES. Australia has not taken to heart, as New Zealand did, the lesson, sharp while it lasted here, that over-importa-tion brings about a certain amount of suffering in it« train. The Commonwealth’s balance of trade has again for some time past been adverse, and D» Earle Page spoke some words of warn ing this week. The Commonwealth ' Government evidently has no desire to increase its responsibilities—and its debt—by creating a vast Public Works 1 Department, even should the States desire it or submit to it. Such would 1 bo a step towards complete centralisa--5 tion, and, according to Dr Earle Page, ' the present system is approaching an ' utter breakdown at such a pace that [ only decentralisation can avert disaster. And not only decentralisation., but taking awav the control of public. 5 utilities from the State Governments * and handing them over to private enterprise. — £ * Evening Star.” Dunedin.

WORLD PEACE PLAN. The United States, it is clear, cannot hut be compelled by the steadily- i globing weight of public, opinion, both ! without and within, to take part in tho other humane and reconstruct!re agencies of the League, including labour organisations and tho T.iorld Court. Ever since the winning essay was written, the American Government, has been prevailed upon to consent to be repre sented upon the Reparations Committee of Experts; which is to investigate and authoritatively report upon Germany's capacity to pay. The commit tee may possibly also report upon some financial arrangement, such as that ar rived at in the case of Austria, for enabling Germanv to get on her feet again industrially and encouraging her to pay ur> and look pleasant-.—k“ New Zealand Times.” JAPANESE PECULIARITIES. The selection of a Cabinet in Japan, all Ministers of which are members of I the House of Peers, draws attention [to a very important difference between the Japanese and British political systems. British people are accustomed to being governed by a Cabinet that represents the stronger or strongest party in the elected section of Parliament. But, though the Government of Japan is nominally a constitutional monarchy, in reality it is a monarchy in which our system of responsible government has been onlv partially developed.—Auckand “ Star.*’ ASSISTING THE POLICE. The ceremony held at the Auckland Police Barracks is of a- very unusual nature, if not unique of its kancT. The action of the three men, who. at some personal risk, came to *-the assistance of a constable in difficulties, was fittingly described from the Bench as “ courageous and meritorious.” The constable in the execution of his duty is entitled to the eo-operation of all good citizens. It has now been shown in an unmistakable wav, that practical assistance is received not- only with approval by the Department, but with enthusiasm by the rank and file. — “ New Zealand Herald.’’

TEN MILLIONS! We have all grown so accustomed to thinking in millions that probably few of us will bo really startled by the statement of the General Manager of Railways that “ten million pounds are required to do all the work needed to bring the New Zealand railways to a propel* state of efficiency.” Yet the estimate is sufficiently startling. It means that to make the railways really efficient the Government should spend on them a sum not much less than one-fourth of the total capital now invested in the service. We hope that the present state of inefficiency does not include a lowered standard of safety. Nine and a half years ago Mr E. H. Hiley, then General Manager, recommended a list of works to he charged to special loan. These works were to cost £3,250.000. they were to be spread over five years, and i only the most urgently needed improvements were included. Up to Mareli last a total of less than a million had been spent on this programme. The position - is briefly this, that a programme designed to be completed .in five years has been carried about a third of the way in between nine and ten. and in the meantime the business of the Department- has gone on expanding. When is the Government going to tackle this question seriously?—“ Auckland Star."* MR MASSEY KICKS BACK. The Manchester Guardian is one of the few papers in Great Britain that hare taken overseas statesmen to task for their wider outlook on Imperial matters than they .themselves hold. It is not, therefore, surprising to find the Guardian, with that superior manner affected by some Liberal journals, sneering at Mr Massey as one of the | ••'petted sons” of the Empire, and that *it should so misinterpret his action as to suggesi that he went straight from [ England’s hospitality to tell another j Dominion that Britain knew not how ! to manage her own affairs. It is j scarcely necessary to point out that there has been nothing in the cabled I reports of Mr Massey’s utterances in } Canada to suggest anything of the ; kind.—“ Manawatu Evening Stan- | dard.” ( A TELE DISEASES !; Just at- present, the rattle owner in | Great Britain is experiencing troublous i times. In several shires foot and j mouth disease, perhaps rhe most- disj lustrous distemper that can attack bis | herds, is rampant. Already thousands iof animals have beer slaughtered in I the effort to stamp our the conTagion i The Agricultural Department y*. doing all possible to stay the onward rush i of the epidemic. bat with doubtful sue- | c-ess. It is not improbable that tb< | epidemic at; present raging in Rniavr |- may have a direct influence on %hi i price of beef in the D*uro-in> *• ions, —Tteiaru- v Poe*