VOICE OF THE PRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19768, 16 February 1927, Page 10

VOICE OF THE PRESS

WHAT THE PAPERS ARE SAYING ENSURING PROSPERITY Were justice being done to the country’s natural resources employment could be found for thrice the present population. It is the pressure of economic conditions that is responsible, and their 1 easing is largely in our own hands. As a people we have got into lax and haphazard ways; we have become somewhat thriftless and profligate; we have < defied the economic and industrial laws by setting up an arbitration system j that has created a false system of values and substantially lowered the ( producing capacity of the country. This has been possible in periods of plenty 1 and prosperity and high prices for < produce, but now that we have begun ' to feel the pinch a revision of our ‘ ways and our outlook is necessary. We < can only enjoy more by earning more, J and when this truth is taken to heart * and applied in a practical way, the f Dominion will take another lease of • life and progress as it has never pro- : gressed before, and work will be available for all who fit themselves for it and are prepared to give' of their best. —Taranaki Daily News. MOTOR SPEED RECORDS .Much to be commended is the spirit in which a member of the Otago Motor Club at a meeting of that body entered a strong protest against “road-hog-ging” as practised by individuals who seek to establish motor speed records. It is satisfactory that the meeting endorsed the protest. Such organisations as motor clubs have a duty to discharge, and can do useful service, in exercising their influence steadily m tne direction of the discouragement of the insensate speeding that is resorted to by a certain type of motorist to the discredit of the motoring community as a whole and to the danger of tue public. When a record-breaking trial is known to be in coarcmplation—the object in view being, of course, the advertisement that is to be secured — it is passing strange that the restraining authority of the police is not exercised.—Otago Daily Times. HOMEWORK. I Without wishing to suggest that we j know more about the detrimental effect of homework on children’s health than medical men, we must admit that we experience a difficulty in believing that the average boy or girl is injured by the amount, of homework he or she is made to do'white attending the primary schools. There can be no question that where home lesions are excessive, modification is necessary, but a reasonable amount of study at homo is a valuable self-disciplinary measure, encourages independent thinking and keeps children from getting into mischief. The speaker who urged that with the abolition of homework would come the danger of pictures in the evenings was in the main correct, ano though the pictures possess distinct educational benefits, too frequent attendance by growing children who ought to be in bed would have a much more detrimental effect on their health than an hour’s homework. —Southland Times. THRIFT. The Hon. A. D. McLeod’s homily on thrift is in itself quite sound. If men can, but will not provide for a “rainy day,” it is most unfair that they should call upon the State' torhelp when the day comes. As he ‘says, a single man without dependents who has been at work for a year or two should have' something to fall back on in bad times. It may be remarked, however, that unemployment would not pieft so hardly to-day if the. Government had soma years ago followed Britain's example and introduced a system of insurance. Under such a system a thriftless worker would be compelled to contribute to a fund for ihe alleviation of distress. Nor should Mr. McLeod’s remarks be allowed to divert attention from the seriousness of the situation or to lessen the Government’s responsibility for action. That there may be some unemployed who have only themselves to blame for their present poverty would be no reason for the Government making light of unemployment and evading its responsibilities.—Auckland Star. PULLING TOGETHER The building up of the industrial strength of our country must be the work of all sections, those who manufacture, those who sell and those who buy. If the markets arc to be swamped with imported goods then our own industries must languish and the provision of unemployment for any considerable number of people prove difficult, if, indeed, possible. The adoption of a policy which, will enable our industrial population to grow must in turn enlarge the market for those whose part it is to sell the goods, and preference for articles manufactured in the country will give that confidence necessary for steady e’xtension of our activities. The retailer has a part, and a most important part, to play in the development of his own market. A bare handful of people could farm New Zealand, and all the needs of all the farmers could be supplied by a few distributors. But New Zealand would be a poorer place for the primary producers as well as for the traders if it were not for the industrial population that is being created. By assisting that great section of lhe community, obviously, the traders must be helping themselves.— Lyttelton Times. NEW ZEALAND-MADE GOODS. It is not prejudice in favour of England or America that has enabled the

English and American houses to sell their goods here despite the handicap of high tariffs and freights, but merit and the bringing that merit to the notice of the consumer. If the New Zealand manufacturer could persuade the New Zealand consumer that the' New Zealand article is the best thing he can buy for the money, the consumer will buy it. He will ask the retailer for it. If one retailer does not stock it, he will look about for a retailer who does. Some New Zealand manufacturers have done this, and are deservedly reaping the profit of doing it. But others have entirely neglected to do what these have done, and wh«-t the foreign manufacturers long ago learned they must do. They have in some cases : neglected to study the public’s actual desires, and in more cases they have ; neglected to take the proper steps to • let the public know very much about ; their products. They should take for > their model the foreign rivals who are > troubling their peace, and if they can - do as well as these', they will have no • need to talk of the consumer’s “pre- - judices.’ ’ —Christchurch Press.