TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Roots of Things “The modern fashion is not to consider whether an idea is true it is to show why men came to think it true,” writes Mr C. E. M. Joad in the Aryan Path. “ The results of this method, valuable to the historian and the anthropologist, are destructive to morals and religion. For men insensibly come to believe that in exposing the origin of a view that have somehow invalidated it. “But we are no more entitled to infer that the discovery that religion began as Totemism and exogamy discredits the revelations of the'mystic, than to argue that the fact that the savage can only count upon the fingers of one hand invalidates the multiplication table. To lay bare the roots of things is, no doubt, valuable; but we must not make the mistake of supposing that they are their roots. “ To do them justice we must seek to interpret them not only in terms of what they began as, but also in terms of what they are trying to become; we must judge them, in fact, by their fruits as well as by their roots.” South African Meat Export^

“ The Government has acted promptly on the promise given by the Secretary of. Agriculture at the Agricultural Union Congress in regard to assistance in the export of meat,” states the Johannesburg Star. “ It appears that the Agricultural Department itself will undertake the work of handling consignments for London, and that these are to be prepared at the municipal abattoirs in Johannesburg, the suppliers, naturally, taking the ordinary commercial risks. “In this latter respect very definite conditions will have to be laid down, so that no question of Government liability, such as was suggested in regard to the recent maize contracts affair, can arise. With the facilities offered, and the really huge advantage of the export bounty of 35 per cent., plus a bounty of 14d, or Id on first grade ail'd second grade quarters, it ought now, if ever, to be possible to establish a substantial export industry. It is a pity that the energetic measures announced were not taken at least two years ago, when, though general conditions were worse than at present, the prospects of establishing a meat trade were somewhat better.

Britain and America

“A new understanding is required between the two Englishspeaking Powers,” writes Mr J. L. Garvin, in the London Observer. “More absolutely than ever before, the contingency of strife between them is excluded by the stern and growing necessity of things* Too plain is the possible conjunction or simultaneity, of explosive forces both in Asia and Europe.

“No extent of United States naval strength could ever be regarded by this country ns a danger. No form of British construction can be a disadvantage to the kindred country. Their fundamental interests —as concerns the future security of tjie seas —arc the same. Their political and commercial situations are utterly different. The composition of their fleets cannot be identical.

“Not without profound disadvantage to one of them, and, therefore, to every cause they may have in common whether in peace or peril. But the question of more flexible'naval adjustments between Britain and America will he more effectively examined when it becomes known whether another triple agreement will remain thinkable or whether that hope musi be discarded.”

The Stale and Industry

“ The intervention of the State to compel reorganisation and regulation of output is coming in industry as well as in agriculture,” states the London Spectator. “The coal industry already has a quota system and the Reorganisation Commission has the Government’s support in promoting its schemes for compulsory amalgamation; protection to iron and steel has been made conditional upon reorganisation, and Mr Baldwin said recently, ‘Many great industries must demand further attention and further consideration of the Government ; the coal industry, the cotton industry, the iron and steel industry and shipping.’

“It is not unreasonable to interpret this as a definite statement of the Government’s intention to coerce tlie recalcitrant minority who in two at least of these industries, have defeated schemes approved by the majority. When, however, whatever can lie done to organise our industry upon the most efficient lines has been done, we shall still be living in a world of economic nationalism where our field for trade will be far narrower than it was; redundant plant, can scrapped, but the population will not begin to decline till 1940.”