The Christchurch Star. PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1933. A STALEMATE IN SPAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 925, 21 November 1933, Page 8

The Christchurch Star. PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1933. A STALEMATE IN SPAIN.

LATE CABLEGRAMS from Madrid indicate that the election has ended in a stalemate, but it is clear that the less revolutionary forces have made much headway, and this is largely attributed to the women’s - vote at an election which is notable as the first election in Spain under universal suffrage. To the extent that the election results will encourage the Monarchist movement, it may be predicted that the country is facing a turbulent period. The Socialist leaders have announced from the beginning that they will resort to revolution if the election results go against them, and whatever party assumes office will have an unenviable task before it. On the other hand it may be said that Spain, although torn by factional, class and regional interests, has a fair idea of the goal it is heading for, and has been able to maintain law and order very effectively. Extensive agrarian reforms have been instituted in Spain, and although the result of the election may give a new lease of life to factional interests, notably in opposition to tlie programme of secular education, the constitutional forces must be greatly strengthened by the swing to the right, even if the Socialist elements attempt a revolutionary coup. DANGEROUS LENIENCY. 'T'HAT UNEMPLOYMENT leads to demoralisation is almost a platitude, but the ControllerGeneral of Prisons is seldom platitudinous and his observations are worth studying. Unemployment disorganises the individual, but it does not lead him into crime to the extent that might be supposed. Rather, a period of depression encourages the criminally-minded person to take greater liberties in the hope of obtaining clemency on the plea that he is an honest man driven to wrong-doing by want. In this connection the ControllerGeneral of Prisons dwells sufficiently on the need for protecting society from that form of leniency which is as repugnant to the standards of a healthy community sense of justice as undue severity. As he points out, a departure from firm standards of deterrent punishment gives rise to a clamorous demand for vindictive punishment. That, really, is the stage we have reached in New Zealand to-day. The danger of the drift towards leniency, in fact, is emphasised by file statement that a large number of youthful delinquents previously dealt with in Children’s Courts or placed on probation or sentenced to short terms by higher courts without success, have been straightened up after a term of Borstal or reformative detention. NOTHING SELLS ITSELF.

/\ N EXPERT in breadmaking says that for lack of daily advertisement in the newspapers bread has been neglected in favour of breakfast and other cereal foods. This is true enough, but cereal foods have been popularised only by advertising. In fact, advertising occupies such a vital place in business that bakers can prosper only by advertising, and if they would tell tlie citizens that there is nothing comparable in the way of cooked foods, either in price or nutritive Value, to a pound of well-baked bread, they would have no fear of a successful challenge from any other quarter. RICCARTON AVENUE. COUNCILLOR ANDREWS does not think that the City Council can be blamed for failing to put Riccarton Avenue into proper order, but the citizens will not agree with his contention, seeing that 90 per cent of the responsibility for the reconstruction of this road is the city’s. In fact, it is not putting it a bit too strongly to say that the elected representatives of the people on the City Council are failing in their obvious duty and a duty that lies ready to their hand in neglecting urgent works that would give employment at a time when it is badly needed.