WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAVING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 6

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAVING.

Unemployment Relief. Unemployment was a subject naturally mentioned early in the proceedings of the House of Representatives last week. It has been too frequently and fully before the public of late to escape mention. The extent of local efforts will have been known in each centre, but the reply the Prime Minister gave to questions reveals the extent to which action has been taken on a Dominionwide basis. From the figures Mr Coates gave it is evident that the concerted effort to deal with the situation has been well launched. The Government has made a real contribution in the number of men engaged by various departments. When the Railway Department and the Public Works Department between them have given work to approximately 1000 men it can justly be claimed that a real disposition to grapple with this season difficulty has been shown. The provision of £IOO.OOO to enable the Main Highways Board to accelerate its activities is another proof that the Government is not standing idifc while men are out of work. With the co-operation of local authorities, made easier by expediting the necessary financial arrangements, a little more time should see a great improvement in the general outlook.— “ Herald,” Auckland.

Appointments to the Upper House. The new appointments to the Upper House will receive the endorsement of most people interested in such a matter. Mr C. J. Carrington, who has “ fathered ” the Prime Minister politically, is an excellent type of man. possessed of a generous measure of shrewd commonsense. His kind is not so numerous in either House as is generally imagined. Hon J. A. Hanan is a political veteran of not brilliant record. An ex-Minister, his Parliamentary and administrative experience ought to prove useful on occasion in the sphere to which he has been called. Mr T. Shailer Weston is a prominent executive officer of the local branch of the Reform Part}’. However, that is not his only qualification for the honour bestowed on him. Fie is in the law and “in business ”as well: an unusual combination of qualities which may be expected to exercise useful influence in the council’s deliberations. Later on Sir Robert Stout also is to be called to the Upper House. That will be the culmination of as remarkable a career as this coutry- knows. For all his length of y’ears Sir Robert will lend both weight and dignity to the revisorychamber. The Prime Minister, in this appointment, will be doing a real service to the Legislature and honour, thoroughly earned, to one of the biggest figures in our history.—“ New Zealand Times.” Can Never be Upheld. Census returns prove that the increase of population in the North Island continues at a greater rate than in the South Island. The North now has 63.39 c.f the population and the South 36.61, a gain of 2* per cent to the North as compared with the last census. Already this has raised questions concerning Parliamentary representation. and southern advocates are seeking reasons why they should not lose a member when the electoral boundaries are adjusted. It would be a mistake to view this as a North v. South issue. Already we have differentiation between rural and urban electorates, with the balance heavily weighted in favour of the rural. Such differentiation is accepted: but the arguments by’ which it is supported do not apply as between the North and South Islands. If the South is to receive special treatment, it must mean that a vote cast in Christchurch will have a greater value than a vote in and an elector in Wallace will exercise more authority than an elector of the Bav of Islands. This can. never be upheld.—“ Post,” Wellington-