Tie Passing Slow.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

Tie Passing Slow.

The right hon. j. h. scullin, Prime Minister of Australia, defies the Australian wine manufacturers to close down 'their businesses. He would have them know that he and his colleagues are the rulers of the Island Continent, and what they decree the makers of Australian wines will have to subscribe to. The manufacturers, however, hold contrary views to the Prime Minister on some points and they have intimated that they will not carry on, that conditions not being as they desire they will close down forthwith, that the growers of from 12,000 to 14,000 tons of grapes must look elsewhere for a market and until this is found those who generally expect a few weeks’ work in the picking season will he amongst the unemployed. It will be a serious outlook for all concerned if an adjustment is not made and made speedily. Mr Scullin is new to office, and he does not apparently understand diplomacy. The wine manufacturers have little desire to govern Australia, but they do demand that 'they shall have a right to manage their own industry, and Mr Scullin has yet to find out that while it is comparatively easy to lead an equine to the trough the job of making the animal drink is above human powers. It is simple maybe to lay down conditions under which an industry shall be carried on; it is much more difficult to compel those directly interested to carry on under those conditions. Sweet reasonableness and co-operation are the road to industrial' peace. Dogmatism and despotism are fraught with disaster. Australia is in a bad way, and if prosperity is to be regained it will be necessary to foster industry not to antagonise those engaged therein.

The reversion to standard time did not cause a very great commotion; it was taken as a matter of course, and the surface of things was not ruffled. The suggestion has been made that the operation of the Act should be extended to include the Easter holidays, and with that proposal "Free Lance” is in accord. Easter would make a good break-off. A farmer the other day declared that the producing community would support a proposal to make the Act apply all the year round, for if the townsman appreciates the half-hour in the summer evening, the farmer woulcl welcome it in the winter morning. He pointed out that it is much more pleasant to work in the dark in the morning than at night, for in the former case it is working towards dawn, whilst in the latter it is getting darker, aye darker. It would be well for the farming community to express itself on the matter. The probability is that it will come up for consideration during the ensuing session, and it is advisable to give our legislators a lead.

The lady from Sydney who was attacked, knocked down and robbed in the Auckland Domain last week must ha\B rcccncd a very hard shock. Such proceedings are happily rare in this Dominion; we generally associate them with the chief centres of the Commonwealth, where the cables, inform us they are of almost daily occurrence, and apparently are regarded as the normal slate of affairs, causing no more surprise than does a murder in Chicago. \> hue, therefore, the lady victim would probably be*reminded of her home t.own by the painful experience through which she passed, the incident gives New Zealanders a nasty jolt and makes them realise that we have some undesirable elements amongst our population whom it would be well 'to eliminate if life and property are to be considered safe. The Auckland Domain has none too savoury a reputation, as it is a

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.”) •

resort for a number of undesirables. A suggestion has been made that it would be a good 'thing to eradicate the undergrowth grass down the land under the trees. The "idea seems a commendable one, and if carried out it would undoubtedly impart an increased sense of security to those whose business requires them to pass through the labyrinth.

Some letters have appeared in The Waikato Times in reference to airplane stunting over the town. One writer indulged in a little sarcasm at the expense of 'the correspondent who drew attention to the matter, and practically accused him of being concerned solely for his own safety. That was ungenerous. There is a very decided danger in low flying, and public interest demands that it should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Plenty of sea 100 m is a great desideratum at sea, and plenty of air room is equally important in aviation. Early this week it was reported that a plane descended on a New South Males township, doing some damage to property and also injuries to a workman. A stalled engine is a very serious madter at a low altitude and to indulge in aerial acrobatics at the height of. the chimneys is foolishness, bordering on criminality. #** * * •

The country racing clubs are learning wisdom. Many of them have been on financial shoals for years, but they have now discovered the cause and are applying the remedy, with the result that the gate receipts, the main avenue of revenue, are showing an upward trend and the clubs’ executives feel that their burden is being lifted. “ Free Lance ” has always wondered how the supporter of the sport of kings became Imbued with the idea that he was conferring an honour upon a racing club by condescending to attend its annual meeting as a “ dead head.” Many have done so. “ Free Lance ” was once associated In business with an official of a racing club and It was amazing to note the number of requests—in some cases '"demands —for complimentary tickets received from local sports. Requests for a dozen “ complimentaries ” in one hit were frequent, and the wonder was that the club did not become bankrupt under tihe strain. The clubs have now decided that patrons must pay for their sport and not be “ harpies ” suclung the blood of others. This is as it should be. * * * • • Camera, the Italian boxing. giant, has made his .fortune in a few' short weeks. He appeared almost like a meteor flash on Tire fistic horizon. His advent was regarded as a joke, and at first he was not 'taken very seriously. However, he has fought his way to fame, and it is credibly stated that as the results of ten contests —all of which ended almost ere they had begun—he has secured a “rake off” of upwards of £20,000. The system which can make such a result possible is surely not very creditable to our much-vaunted civilisation. The aim of all statesmanship should be to bring about equality in the distribution of wealth; the more equitable the distribution the better, for all. When a prize fighter in a few short weeks can secure a fortune, whilst those who are engaged in useful avenues of the world’s work have to be. satisfied with a mere pittance, and in some instances are on the brink of starvation, it surely shows that there is something rotten in the State. We need to revise our sense of values- 'lf a pugilist were remunerated according to the value of his contribution to the community well-being he would be on the poverty line. Service should be the test.