WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17346, 10 May 1924, Page 8

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

LIBERALS IN A QUANDARY. The Liberal Party in the British Par. 1 lament has a difficult, not to say. deli cato role to play. This is well illustrated by the .situation which is do velopmg from the rejection of a Bill to institute at least modified proportional representation. Support of it, fike opposition to it, was mixed in character. The Government, however, was responsible for the death-blow, and the Liberal Party, the only one uncompromisingly in favour of the system. Is very angry. Tt will probably become more angry when it finds itself helpless, which is the certain result from further consideration of the position. Before Parliament met, a leading Liberal wrote: “Holding the balance as if does, the Liberal Party is in a position to insist that electoral reform ehouli be among the measures of the present Parliament/’—“New Zealand Herald.” Auckland. A SUCCESSFUL LOAN. It is gratifying to record the success ot the latest New Zealand Government loan in London. The amount required was £5.000,00)0. the rate 4$ per cent, the issue being £95, and the currency twenty years. The loan is reported to have been over-subscribed. which, apart from its attractions for the in vector, is a great- compliment to the borrowing Dominion. The money is required for distinctly developmental purposes. Its application in the Dominion will bo in the nature of an investment. for. according to the Prime Minister, it will be utilised for State advances and public, works. The vances will he made for settlers’ an i workers' homes. Providing this branch of the State's activities is conduete'cT on strictly conservative lines, it shoul i not. in the long run. bo regarded as a large addition to the public cfeht. “ Evening Post,” Wellington. LABOUR’S FIGHTING FUND. The official reports of the recent Labour Conference, held in Dunedin under the auspices of the New land Labour Party, point to a new and more determined move being made, during the next twelve months, to raise a fighting fund, which in the words of the report will enable Labour to obtain a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives. Mr Holland and liis friends have no intention of remaining the minority party in Parliament, and they have great hopes that, as a result of the splitting of the non-Laboui* votes amongst the Reformers and the Liberals, they may become either the direct Opposition party or find themselves in a position to take over the government ot the country. They are aiming high ; but they are optimistic enough to believe that they can raise the £25.000 they have set themselves upon obtaining inside of twelve mouths. —“Manawatu Evening Standard.” CITY ARCHITECTURE.

Throughout her 1500 years of history London, the great metropolis of the Empire, has never ceased building and rebuilding. The demands incidental to the city’s growth and the preservation of the health of the swelling millions of inhabitants have made the process necessary. And. as befits the mother city of a great commonwealth, all reconstructions that have taken place have been marked by the evidence of laudable strivings after greater beauty. This worthy example has not been disregarded by the younger and smaller cities. The men and women who pioneered in these younger lands had, perforce, to be content with the crudest of architecture. The passing ,of the years has witnessed a striking improvement, especially in the growing cities and towns, so that to-day the depressing!y utilitarian has ceased to be the dominant characteristic of civic architecture. — ££ Wanganui Chronicle.” PORT OF GREYMOUTH. Vested interests in other ports would strive to prevent direct passenger and mail traffic between Greymouth and the Commonwealth, but if this port were equipped u> cater for such trade, it would not be permanently deprived of its just rights. It is admitted by those with any knowledge of the subject that, whatever may have been the case in years gone by. Grey mouth is now a very ‘ £ safe” port tor ships. The once-dreaded bar has lost its terrors, and rarely nowadays are ships kept outside, waiting a. crossing. Coast trade, possibilities give ample scope for both harbour and railway traffic, and if board and Department work in cordial co-operation, the revenue returns must l|*> beneficial to both. ' It is not enough, however, that the hoard should keep the. harbour requirements up to date, if the Department adheres to methods and organisation long obsolete.—“ Greymoutli Star.” HARBOURS FOR AIRMEN. If the plans of the French engineer M. de Frasse prove practicable, flying the .Atlantic will be made easy. The idea is to construct several ferroconcrete islands en route, and to provide not only safe harbourage for airmen in difficulties, but luxurious hotel accommodation. Presumably the author of this theory has had it thoroughly tested and is satisfied that such huge islands can be anchored and safeguarded against the influences of the tides and the assaults of stormy seas. This appears to be the chief difficulty, and it it can be surmounted the proposal to afford stopping places with all the luxuries of modern civilisation may prove feasible. The idea is launched on the* world with plenty of circumstance, and there is no reservation about anything. However, it may prove difficult to convince those who will he asked to invest money in such an enterprise’, for it means millions, and most careful people would prefer to build expensive refuge islands on more secure iounclatioins “ Southland News.**