PRESS OPINION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

PRESS OPINION

THE PRIME MINISTER. The question raised by the “Auckland Star” whether the absence of the Primo Minister from Wellington had an influence on the course of the Parnell election, is not one that can be easily answered, but it is difficult to avoid the broad conclusion that, from a purely party point of view, an organisation must suffer through the partial incapacity of its leader. The very fact that Sir Joseph Ward was not able to take part in the election campaign was bound to have an effect on the attitude of waverers, and the figures of the polling indicate pretty clearly that while the Reformers and the Labour Party polled approximately their lull strength, a very large section of the electors allowed the issue to be settled without recording their opinions. Either the organisation of the United Party in the constituency was inadequate or else many Liberals were indifferent, and the parly organisers will have to discover the explanation of the indifference. As a matter of fact, there is nothing in the history, of New Zealand elections to suggest that the actual presence of a leader in a campaign is sufficient to determine an issue, but it is at least arguable that if the Prime Minister had been in vigorous health the party adherents in Parnell, and in the rest of the country for that matter, would have shown and would be showing greater enthusiasm. Wc prefer, however, to look at this matter from the national standpoint, and we have only to turn to the result of the recent loan flotation in London to realise that Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Minister is an asset of the highest value, and that his temporary physical disability has in no way impaired his handling of the finances of the country. Whether he will be able to carry on during the coming session depends, of course, on the state of his health, but the country is fortunate to have had the benefit of his experience and knowledge during the last difficult year. Apart from any other consideration, he has re-estab-lished parliamentary control of the finances, which had got out of hand during the long Reform regime, and it is greatly to be hoped that he will be able to complete the reorganisation that he has in hand. This, it seems to us, is the outstanding fact of the political situation. —“Christchurch Times.”

CHINESE SENSIBILITIES. There are, of course, many treaty ports which remain open for carryingon trade. It is at these ports that the quarrel exists respecting the right of foreigners to have any legal disputes that may arise at their own courts. The Chinese resent this strongly, but the fact is that justice cannot be relied on in any court where Chinese have to decide between foreigners and their own countrymen. At the same time we must recollect that the Chinese probably hold the same opinion about our courts. The trade of China is a great prize, and many countries are striving to secure a share of it. The greater part is likely to go to whatever establishes the best charactr for upright dealing. When buyer and seller speak different languages and live by different codes, suspicion easily arises, but is not so easily allayed. The Chinaman as a trader has a high character; as a diplomat or ruler he has not. In Japan it is exactly opposite, for their character as traders is bad, but as diplomatists or rulers is good. It may be that the suspicion engendered by a few instances of deceit has led to giving the whole country a bad name. We need not feel any regret at the surrender of Wai-Hai-Wei. its possession did nut strengthen us, aud it was taken as an indication to the European nations that we were not abandoning our interest in China. As nations never act from pure altruism wo may hope that our action in the eyes of China will be hailed as just and will “smell sweet and blossom in the dust. ’ ’—‘ ‘ Waikato Times. ’ ’

OIL AND THE EMPIRE. As Senator Millon remarked last week, although the Empire controls about 70 per cent, of the world’s known oilfields only a very small percentage of these arc actually within the Empire. The search for oil on New Zealand soil is therefore an Imperial mission and is entitled to the fullest support and sympathy. Should success crown the efforts of the present venture —the promoters have no doubts about it—a tremendous impetus will be given to further prospecting, for it will give confidence' in the methods—especially the geophysical investigations—adopted. Not only for the sake of New Plymouth and those who are finding the money for this venture, but also for the sake of the Empire we hope the most sanguine expectations will bo realised. —“Taranaki Herald.” AN UNPROMISING SUGGESTION. In. an almost passionate telegram to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Minister who seems to be regarded as the head of the Cabinet while the Prime Minister is laid aside with illness, Mr Al. J. Savage, the Labour member for Auckland West, urges that Parliament should be called Together at once to deal with the problem of unemployment.. Unfortunately Mr Savage’s telegram docs not convey the impression that he is ready to offer a remedy for unemployment. He declares that men and women want work and are “ready to face anything.” and asks what the Government will do to give relief. “If,” he continues, “Cabinet will do nothing else, it should at least call Parliament together and place the responsibility with members, who are helpless to do anything worth while until the House meets. Wq will do any thing under the sun that will help to relieve the position.” Surely Mr Savage would have done far more useful service if he had suggested something that the Government or Parliament might do. There is not the slightest necessity to call Parliament together if it is to do no more than urge the Government to proceed with a scheme of relief works similar to

that undertaken last year, for the Government has ample authority to act. But if members generally have no more idea than Air Savage seems to have of how to set about the solution of the problem of unemployment the summoning of Parliament would be a mere waste or time, besides being a costly business. In the event of the Cabinet adopting Mr Savage’s advice to “place the responsibility” with members what would be the result? Probably relief works would be started on a grand scale, expenditure would run riot, and in a little while the Government would bo left with an empty Treasury and a worse unemployment problem. If there are “thousands” of unemployed iw Auckland the need for finding means ol relieving their difficulties is urgent* The Cabinet is amply equipped with reports and recommendations to guide its deliberations on the subject and should be quite capable of reaching satisfactory decisions. Happily a lull meeting

of the Cabinet is to be held next week at Rotorua—the first since Sir Joseph Ward visited Wellington in the first week of March. Parliament, of course, should open within six weeks, so that Ministers have little enough time to prepare for the session. As Mr Stallworthy said at Auckland the other day, every part of the country has been brought into touch with Ministers dur- . ing the past six months. It is high time for them to settle down to their desks and get,some constructive work done.— “Taranaki Daily News.” RAILWAY INVESTIGATIONS. It is good news that the Government is keeping the Pacroa-Pokena railway—to use a well-worn phrase—steadily in view. The trouble is that one may keep something steadily in view and not get very close to it, but the Minister of Public Works assures Auckland*that he has asked for “lull and complete information” about this lino before Parliament meets The Government is having a careful survey made, “because he, as Minister of Public Works, wished to make no such mistakes regarding railway construction as had been made in the past.” A survey is only one aspect of a railway problem in these days of competition, and it would be interesting to know just what Air Ransom means by “full and complete information.” Of late little has been heard of this line, which to the layman, at any rate, seems an absolutely necessary addition to the Auckland railway system. If, ho reasons, we are going to maintain and develop our railways, why not cut off such an obvious angle, to say nothing of the local developmental value of the proposed line? But another and even more important question is raised by Air Ransom ’s statement. If he is making a thorough investigation of th© prospects, as well as the route of this line, why has not a similar report been called for on the South Island Main Trunk completion?—“Star” Auckland. A CHANGED OPINION. It is not easy to escape from the view that there is some connection between the defeat of the Labour Party in the West Fulham by-election and the somersault by Air Brownlie on the question of the Safeguarding Duties. Labour’s victory at West Fulham in th© General Election was hailed as a triumph and the figures were certainly unexpected, but the rcccpt contest, fought on tariff issues, showed a remarkable reversal and served to emphasize the change in, British public opinion on this question. When Mr Snowden brought down his Budget, he was extremely mild in his references to the Safeguarding Duties, and it was patent that he did not wish to abolish the McKenna Duties, apart from all question of the revenue they would give to the Consolidated Fund. He an-

nounced that the Safeguarding Duties would not be renewed, aud the first occasion offered Ihe electors for an expression of opinion on this declaration has seen a sink ng Government defeat. A further opportunity to gauge public opinion on this matter will be offered shortly at the by-election in Nottingham, whose lace industry will be affected by the removal of the Safeguarding Duties under which the city has been working for some time. Mr Snowden disappointed the fire-eaters of his party by the mildness of his tone in referring to these matters, in marked, contrast with the pre-election declarations, and now we are told that Mr Brownlie staggered the National Committee of the Amalgamated F.gineering Union by saying:— Notwithstanding the fact that it may bo deemed by the high priests of the Labour Party to be committing heresy, I say you cannot get a further reduction of hours in this country apart from safeguarding. Th.s is a tentative step, taken in full view of the fact that a charge of heresy may follow, but it is not difficult to carry Air Brownlie’s line of reasoning further. It means, at best, that without safeguarding the industries are at the brink of retrogression, but th© general implication of his statement, and the one that the “high priests of the Labour Party” will see in it, is that safeguarding is in the interests of the British workers. With that view West Fulham seems to agree, and it will bo surprising if there is not further evidence of a strong endorsement of the Conservative Party’s policy in keeping these duties in force to protect the important British industries which have been assailed by competition in foreign countries where longer hours, lower wages and depreciated currencies make possible lower production costs.—• “Southland Times.”