PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17536, 13 May 1925, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. | OLYMPIADS ANI> MORALE. For the first time, we believe, a Parliament has condemned the Olympic Games. Tile Dutch decision has naturally caused a stir in Holland and abroad, lor these games are international affairs in which much public interest is taken. The reasons advanced in the Dutch Parliament are novel and unconvincing. The games, it is contended, promote loose living and immorality and conduce to Sabbath desecration. So far as the athletes themargument has no point, for to succeed an athlete must live more carefully than an ordinary man. It is argued that the games encourage the world to deify the athlete; that they cause a number of young men to give a disproportionate amount of time to sport and produce veiled professionalism ; ami that instead of furthering international friendship they embitter relations between peoples. These critics might describe them as one of those touches of ill-nature that set the world by the cars. Despite these criticisms, however. ,no nation has vet—at least before this Dutch action definitely frowned upon the games, and, indeed, participation has become almost a question of national honour. Probably public opinion in Holland will force Parliament to reverse its action. -■'Auckland Star.” BIRDS AND ENEMIES. The Native Birds Protection Society has. in a short period, achieved much. It lias been mainly responsible for arousing the. public to a sense of the value of bird life and the danger of hs disappearance from New Zealand forests. There can be no doubt that native birds arc now to be found in everlessening numbers even in the bush which is regarded as untouched, and where settlement has proceeded apace the birds have vanished almost completely. One subject to which the society and its sympathisers may profitably devote attention is that of the destruction wrought by ground animals, rats, stoats and weaseis. For the rat there is no one who will offer a plea, but stoats and weasels have their advocates, because they are the enemies of the rabbit. If it were proposed that stoats and weasels should be exterminated, there would certainly be a determined protest from many farmers. But is it not possible to protect the birds, nevertheless? Rabbits arc found in open pastoral country, birds chiefly in the bush lands. Is it not possible to make war upon the stoats and weasels where they have left the open country, at the same time continuing the protection in the rabbitinfested areas ?—“Post," Wellington. THE DOMINION S TRADE. The record of New Zealand s overseas trade for the financial year is highly impressive. The value of exports, £54,7/1,000, is the highest ever , reached in a period of twelve months, exceeding the total of the calendar years 1924, which was £52,613.000. and 1919. against which stands the record <>t £53.970.000. Imports reached a total valuation of £49.720,000. which is also higher than the last calendar year's return, but fortunately falls short, of the boom year record of over £61.000.000 in 1920. The visible balance of i trade is consequently more favourable for the financial year than for the calendar year, being £5,051,000, as against 1 £4.085.000 shown by the return for the twelve months ended last December. This improvement is due to the re- 1 markable volume of export trade in the .Tanuarv-March quarter. The favourable balance for the full period, just over ; nvc millions, gives further warning against the risks of over-importation, for it is substantially less than in any of the three preceding financial years, their balances giving an average of £7,832,000.-—“ Herald. Auckland. UNIVERSITV REFORM. The order of reference for the commission which is shortly to investigate University education is sufficient-

ly comprehensive to permit the introduction of all. relevant evidence and opinions. The constitution of the Senate and its functions, and the system of separate colleges affiliated but with a measure of independence, are subjects directly referred to the commission. 'file reference to special schools is not so direct, but this issue may be raised, and it certainly wili be. It is highly satisfactory to note, a bo, that the commission is asked to consider the method of preparation for University education. .\t present Xcw Zealand has a system which to the lav observer, must pppear somewhat tangled. Technical, commercial and classical education all have their part m the Schools which prepare students for the University, and it is complained, not without justification, that the University entrance examination influences unduly the courses of study arranged ror the post-primarv schools. "Post ” Wellington. WOOL DOWN'. Ihe heavy hill in wool on the English market comes to New Zealand as a cold anti-climax after the. sensational rise of the past season. The whole position is difficult to determine. The wool supply of the world has be n decreasing of recent years, and the purchasing power of the world has been increasing. bright prospects for the wool grower acre tie ivfore confidcnltv expected. Mail could not do without wool. Vet wool, after showing a rbo. has fallen considerably. It is possible that this fall is due in part to temporary causes. One of the Australian sales has been postponed, and the Loudon '■ >r>aily Telegraph seems to think that sellers would gain I>\ holding on to Their stocks, which indicate:, a belief that prices may improve before long There are however. several other factors in the ease. Clothing is dear, and consumers are economising in woollen goods. The, price of wool is not the main cause ot this dearness, but it is the cost of the finished article that counts with the public. Besides, as was stated in a cable message, change in social habits in America is affecting the demand lor clothes, and probably this applies, to a lesser extent to other countries. '‘Auckland Star.”