WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 8

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Forestry and a Forest Population. We have in New Zealand a very fine Department of Forestry. And we ought to have a forest population, without which much of the benefit is lost. This salutary truth Sir Frank Ileath has realised in his report to the Government, and made prominent even to the right point of urgency. At the same time, we venture, we hope without disrespect, to say that he has not realised the excellence of the Forestry Department. Had he realised that excellence, he would have seen that the Department of Forestry has cleared the way for the starting and maintenance of a great forestry population, living comfortably on a new department of industrial production. The trail, so to speak, has been blazed. No guidance is required now for reports of specially-imported forestry authorities, or the reports of commissions appointed for the study of such reports for recommendations now not required by our forestry authorities. By the forestry law, and the practice of forestry under its provisions, the way is clear for the further organised development of a body of expert workers whose work is the systematic conservation and renewal of the forests. Sir Frank has referred to the success of forestry in European countries. What he has not stressed is the fact that this success is due. to the large population of forest conservators. The Cabinet can formulate a scheme with a stroke of the pen, and Parliament can give life to that scheme with a liberal vote. No further information than we possess is required to push such a scheme into the practical working for which other countries are remarkable. Preliminaries are now over. Let us get to work.—-“ New Zealand Times,” Wellington. Power to Tax. Once again an attempt by the Commonwealth Government and the State Governments to demarcate their taxing powers by mutual agreement appears to have failed. At present the power of Customs taxation is in the hands of the Commonwealth Government, but the State Governments receive out of Customs revenue an annual payment equal to 25s per head of their populations. The Commonwealth Government and the State Governments all levy income tax. In order to remove this duplication of income taxes, the Commonwealth Government offered ter retire from the income tax field (so far as individuals are concerned) if the State 'Governments would give up the 255. But the State Governments appreciate the fact that indirect taxation raises less protest than direct, and wish to retain their interest in Customs. It now remains to be seen whether the Commonwealth Government will force the issue instead of seeking a settlement-by-consent.— “Post,” Wellington.

Work for Unemployed. Several points of policy deserving emphasis were laid down by the Prime Minister yesterday when he promised that the Government would act promptly in finding work for the unemployed. Those in earnest about being placed will be offered the chance of work in the. country, but will not be found positions in the city. This is quite sound, especially when it will be arranged that those with family responsibilities will be catered for nearest, while the single men without dependants must go further afield * to their work. Also he has definitely undertaken to investigate, with a view to action, cited cases of women and children being forced to live under undesirable conditions. With those safeguarding assurances, there is no hardship in the fixed decision that it must be country work for those who apply to the Government for relief. Anything done in the city by the State would be no more than artificiallycreated employment, or a dole under a thin disguise. In the country positive good can be done by utilising the services of those who have failed to find work for themselves. The Prime Minister’s decision that the ordinary public works programme must not be disturbed is sound also. —"Herald,” Auckland.