The Christchurch Star. PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1934. LIBERAL PRINCIPLES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20330, 13 June 1934, Page 6

The Christchurch Star. PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1934. LIBERAL PRINCIPLES.

An increasing number of observers at Home are placing Mr MacDonald among the Conservatives of the House of Commons, and for that reason Viscount Snowden’s attack comes as no surprise. Indeed, the Liberals under S'ir Herbert Samuel have long since pointed the way to a re-grouping in Parliament and a re-statement of policies. And the Liberal Party, though still with no popular following inside or outside-the House, has drawn up a programme whieji must remove from it the reproach of being merely a half-way house between Conservatism and Labour. True, it shares certain humanitarian ideals like disarmament with both parties, but its platform contains also other principles peculiar to itself. Necessarily modifying its former Free Trade policy- with the changed conditions, it continues to aim at the general freedom of trade, advocating low tariffs and opposing subsidies. Proportional representation, reform of the Upper House, and national development through public works are other features. "Where Labour advocates the nsftionalisation of industry Liberalism would compel reorganisation, particularly in iron, steel and coal, and co-operation in the cotton industry for production and marketing. The Conservatives are too much in the hands of the magnates to fight foreign comnpflion by co-opera-tion, and it will take,a strong sane policy to lead the country away from the alternative Labour offers. This, however, reouires also strong leaders, and it still remains to be seen whether the re-formed f.iberal Party can produce them. BOWLERS TN THE ASCENDANT. A USTRALIA’S DECISIVE WIN ■T*- in the first Test is attributable to supremely intelligent bowling, blit the whole Test will lie notable H"or the ascendancy- of the bowlers. That is the exception rather than the rule nowadays, when four day-s are quite inadequate in which to complete a Test match. This is amply- proved, indeed, bv the narrovf- margin of nine minutes by which Woodfull barely managed to win the laurels that the marked superiority- of liis team deserved. The match provides many- interesting sidelights on cricket trends. We have England developing fast bowlers more suited to Australian wickets, and Australia turning out spinners, who can do most damage on English wickets. The match lias been notable for bad English fielding. Placing this at its proper value in relation to batting and bowling, the fact emerges that Australia are much superior all round to the Englishmen. THE ARAB AND THE CAMEL. ' | 'HE Railway- Department’s entry into 'road competition, by- the purchase of a transport service operating between Wellington and Wanganui, suggests the fable of the Arab and the camel. The State has a way- of first getting its foot inside the tent, and finally- squeezing the poor old Arab out. In regard to road transport there is one thing alone that ought to put the public on their guard. It need not be imagined that the State will long consent to the payment of petrol tax when it has entrenched itself in so many other directions against Hie payment of local rates of every description, and has disembarrassed itself, even, of the obligation to pay adequately- for fire protection. No wonder Mr Shaw found we were Communistic. TAXING AMUSEMENTS. HP'HE HEAVY RADIO license fee in New Zealand, the heaviest in the world, is in itself the biggest impediment to that satisfaction among radio listeners upon which the manager of the Broadcasting Hoard very- unjustifiably flatters himself. In England the fee is 10s, the sets cost infinitely less, and the hill of fare is incomparably- better. New Zealand ought to have twice 100.000 licenses, and if it had, the cost to the Board would not be increased by- a penny.