WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

West Coast Times, 19 June 1912, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

“A CHIEL AMANG- IIS.” Mr. Bryce ia spending .a well-earned holiday ou a journey round the world. His interest ia men and cities is evidently as keen as aver. Rumour says that ho pronoses to add a third classic to his list by some general treatise on Democracy. If be is really m Zealand, as ‘a cliiel amang us .akin notes” for such a purpose, wo could ask for no more competent or kindlier critic. He will find that Democracy Ims made many blunders here, hut, ho knows that blunders are not unknown to other forma of Government. The chief objection that we have scon taken to “The American Commonwealth —viz., that it is too optimistic—is to übo one of its chief’s virtues. -Would that all philosophers had tho same fading. Mr. Bryco has mastered the platonic precept that the philosopher should not ho too hard upon tho multitude, and Now Zealand should welcome all tho light that his mellow and kindly wisdom can shed upon tho weakness and tho strength of her public ufo —Wellington “Post.” THESE FORTUNATE ISLES. We see in occasions as this, when tho whole population of tho neighbouring continent becomes excited over a couple of inches of rain being precipitated upon tho soil, how singularly fortunate tho people of this country aie. They have tribulations over the weather, of course, and the farmer is prone to grumble eternally, but in tho conditions hero there is never even a faint resemblance to the devastation caused by drought in Australia. It is the fashion amongst us to insist upon the “great opportunities” for farmers in Australia as compared with Now Zealand. This has caused a not considerable number of men to outer upon the experiment of a change of location, but those men almost invariable come back to confess tho mistake they have made. Over tho greater part of tho Commonwealth, wheat-growing and sheep-raising are virtually forms of gambling, with tho chances of encountering favourable seasons.—Wellington “Times.” SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Wo approved of tho appointment of Sir Joseph Ward to tho Empire Trade Commission because Wo thought that, on tho whole, ho was tho host man available for tho position. Wc trust, however, that the Stop-gap Ministry will not be allowed to make another recommendation, and the use tho appointment for the purpose of getting rid of some member of tho party whoso absence from Now Zealand would facilitate tho party manoeuvres, which they seem to understand a good deal bettor than the proper work of Government or the interests of tho Empire.— Christchurch “ Prossi”

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER SHIP. Wo do not know whether Mr. Mackenzie proposes to take the High Commissionorship or not, hut if ho wore to accept the position, and if it were necessary to again appoint a Loader, it is finite certain that in Sir Joseph Ward’s absence, the party would ho irretrievably shattered. In such circumstances Sir Joseph, Ward’s presence would make a very groat difference, for the rank and file have probably loarend by this time that they were somewhat hasty in coming to the conclusion that they could accept Sir Joseph Ward’s resignation of the leadership with easy minds.—Southland “Times.’,’ EMPIRE COMMISSION.

It seems, as Sir Joseph Ward recognises himself, quite the right proceeding for the Commission to take evidence in tho Mother Country and Canada before coming to this part of tho Empire, and we cannot conceive why any other plan was ever contemplated; hut it ig most unfortunate that the change in tho arrangements should have deprived Now Zealand of a representative who was in every way qualified to do the fullest justice to the interests of the Dominion, and to the even larger interests involved in this, important inquiry.—‘Lyttelton Times.’ THE PROBLEMS OF THE EMPIRE.

1 or a time both the Mother Country and tho Dominions will bo content to go on under a system by which international affairs are left entirely to tho formed, tho latter either giving voluntary subsidies or embarking upon local and independent action; but, unless a change in the international outlook soon takes place, necessity will force a change of policy, and the resources of statesmanship will have to be taxed to devise a new workable system. In tho meantime it is gratifying that in all parts of the Empire the questions involved are attracting attention and serious consideration. Auckland “Star.”

ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION The Education Acts have established State compulsory education on the assumption that tho majority of the people aio too ignorant and uninterested m the self-improvement to make it safe to leave education to private enterprise. Yet tho same Education Acts a so assume that the same majority of the people have' sufficient kno.w- ---£ go and interest in education to elect, in p r i mai7 assemblies of house-’ holders, fit and proper persons to organise and supervise the work of education. Under these circumstances risk of inefficency is groat, as the framers of the recent Defence Acthave tacitly admitted by disallowing •Jr e ® ctlVo astern in the administraTi°mes°” mlhtary eclucaiioa —‘ Tuapeka

Ml MASSEY’S CHANCE Depend upon it, if Mr, Massey comes

into office he will remain there for tho next two years, and-in view' of the necessity for combination against the .extreme labour party, we should not regard such a prospect with anything save feelings of satisfaction. There will be plenty of scope outside Parliament for tho faddists and theorists and revolutionaries to keep thcmslvcs occupied. What tho country wants is political rest for a couple of years at least, and to ensure that it will bo prepared to lot Mr Massey off very easily should he make mistakes. Marlborough “Express.” THE REFORM PARTY; Whatever their faults or its failings, the Reform Party should be judged as consisting of earnest, steady politicians, who desire to promote the interests of this country—that is, the interests and well-being of the people as a whole—by first of all assisting tlxo man on the land to increase its productivity. And one of the fundamental principles insisted upon is that security of tenure which will alone induce a man to put his very best into his work.—Nelson “Mail.” UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS.

The present system of permitting uncertified teachers to instruct boys and girls of tho country is a farce, and is quite opposed to the views which generally find favour amongst politicians in tire' Dominion. When the Minister has had time to go into the matter fully ho will no doubt decide that tho whole of the existing dissatisfaction might ho removed, as an increase of salaries could easily bo ensured by the abolition of scores of small country schools throughout tho ’ Dominion. Were this dono there would be no necessity to consider tho importation of efficient teachers, for tho avenues of employment are already becoming limited.—Southland “ News.”