PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 8

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. 1 ~ _ I SUBSIDIES TO GERMAN SHIPBUILDING. Some time ago the House of Commons debated a serious industrial problem. A British shipping firm called for tenders tor several motor-driven •ships of large capacity. The tenders from Germany were so verv much lower than the lowest received from British builders as to be out cf .all reasonable comparison, and this large erder went to Germany. The Government, challenged, said the difference was due to the incidence of labour troubles in' Britain. Ship-building firms supported this view. The Parliamnetary Labour Party declared that Germany subsidised private ship-building firms, an.J that this brought about what was complained of. Thc Government averred—no doubt in good faith, but if so in ignorance—that the German Government did not subsidise the construction of ships built to foreign order. This was a really remarkable error. Dating back to the days of Bismarck the ship-building industry in Germany had its material carried on the State railways at 50 per cent below ordinary rates, and shortly before the tendering incident occurred the State railways again reduced their treiglit rates on ship-building material by 30 per cent.—“ Daily Telegraph,” Napier. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Tho history of the. Bank of New Zealand is practically the history of tho Dobinion, for it was established about 1861. In its earliest days it experienced many vicissitudes, and that :s merely saying that it shared in tbo ups and downs of the new settlement.. In 1891-91, when Banks the world collapsed under n_ severe financial crisis, thc Bank of Now Zealand suffered and the Stat* came to its assistance. That crisis did a wonderful amount of good, for it focussed attention on banking, and there has followed snee a scientific system of banking best adapted to tho needs of the country, even if after the crisis of 1894 it was some years before the I lank got on to its feet, as shareholders were again in receipt of dividends. In later years the management and direction have been excellent and the Bank cf New Zcahvui can be classed to-day as one of the sound banking institutions in the British Empire. 80 far the State connection has not been noticeable in control. The State lias been well repaid for the assistance rendered 31 years ago. foi the State us now receiving handsome dividends from its holding of shares.— “ Wanganui Herald.” RAILWAY PROMOTION. One announcement made by the Prime Minister at Pukckohc last night "ill be received with groat satisfaction by a large section of the railway servants. He. indicated that there would b© increased chances for members o: tho Second Division to enter the Frst Division, and thus find tho way clear to the highest possible appointments in the scrvjco if they can prove their worth. This will meet a grievance which has long been felt and voiced by the Second Division. For many years its members have complained at the paucity of opportunity which came j their way. In so far as thc development tends to make this numerous section of the department’s employees more contented, it is a commendable move. It has another advantage Ability such as is needed at Hie head of any railway transport system is not very common. If the man who started a.; a junior porter proves to posses.** it, the department should offer him a chance to develop it. so that ultimately he may bo employed in the position where his talents benefit the rr.il l --ays ami himself most. —“ Auckland Herald.” FRANKLIN FOR REFORM. “Franklin for Labour” was the Socialist slogan in the contest which has resulted, as was to be expected, m the return of thc Ministerialist candidate. It would have., been strange indeed if Mr Massey’s seat had passed tu a representative of the interests to which thc late Prime Minister was inevitably opposed. While some rcdi-.etim in thc majority might almost have been expected in the . circumstances, the measure of its actual increase attests the strong survival cf the mana of the departed Chief. The Labour Party showed considerable astuteness in its conduct cf thc electoral campaign. Shrewdly, with disregard for consistonev, it chose a well-to-do farmer as its candidate: and Mr Montgomerie, we aic told by the sectional Press, ‘‘proclaimed the gospel of Labour s Land Policy as the hope of the working farmer. and filled many groping for the nght with expectant hopeful astor.L.k ment, while it has left the more prejudiced with a perturbed sense of deepening gloom.” Brave words! but the perturbed sense of gloom is transferred to-day. Standing in the duplicated interests of thc prosperous farmer and the envious worker, Mr Montgomerie was naturally at a disadvantage. Labour propagandism and agriworth while, to contrast recent Labour with earlier pronouncements.— '* Otago Daily Times.”