PUBLIC OPINION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2531, 18 June 1909, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE RIGHT COURSE. Though the objections raised to the Prime Minister's proposals were in. one or two unfortunate instances largely factious in character we may fairly congratulate the Opposition as a body upon the way in which*’ it has' dealt with this vitally important question of Imperial defence. Mr Taylor will doubtle;'G continue to hold to the end of time that the Dreadnought otter was superfluous, and that Sir Joseph Ward's alleged preference for the limelight ■ will be the chief reason for his appearance at the Imperial Defence Conference. As to the necessity that New Zealand should be represented at the Imperial Conference by the, Prime Minister, most people are now agreed, both inside and outside the House, and we believe that an immense majority of the electors throughout, the Dominion would, if the chance were offered, record their conviction that the Prime Minister ,)has acted wisely in securing the prorogation of Parliament till his return, and that the country will suffer no serious loss or injury through this delay.— Auckland “Star.” THE UNEMPLOYED. When fertile regions are mocked against the settlement which builds up cities and affords employment for artisans and laborers in a thousand direct and indirect ways, suffering follows as surely as night follows morning, and no pretentious statements and insincere expressions) of sympathy can pro vent it, nor can any trumpery relief works, such as those mentioned by the Prime Minister, do any real good. They are as futile as the stupid allegations of his colleague, Mr. Buddo, who as?ks the people of Canterbury to believe that there is any quantity of good land open for settlement in the north, and that the agitation for the acquisition of all surplus Native land by the Crown and the prompt opening of the acquired land under ordinary settlement conch tions is being carried on by “speculators. ” —“Now Zealand Herald.” MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. We question very much whether the civil servants who are losing their employment through the necessity for retrenchment which lias been forced on the Government as a result of its own reckless financial practices, will conclude that the best thing they can do with their modest superannuation allowance is to devote it to gambling m land. Although the Prime Minister admits there are half a dozen very important questions to be dealt with, the Government evidently considers, and has succeeded in impressing upon the bulk of its supporters, the view that there is nothing relating to the state and welfare of the Dominion that demands immediate consideration. We have no doubt that the' bulk of the people -of the country entertain a different conclusion. “Otago Daily Times.”

CABLE RATES. It will be mutually profitable, advantageous in various ways, to have the cable rates reduced, so that even people in very modest circumstances may be enabled to flash a message round the world, and get change of a shilling for the ethereal “globe-trotting,” but that “matter of finance” is still a lion in the Imperial path. The peoplo have to wait the .details of the ultimate cost, direct and indirect, and it will then be for the Governments concerned to decide whether the scheme would be worth while. Yet even if the plans, as now projected, are not carried out, the investigations, carefully and diligently conducted, will undoubtedly . result in improvements in the present service. —Wellington “Post.” GOD IN THE SCHOOL.) Many “'remedies” but few cures are suggested by our Protestant friends for the godlessness of our system of public instruction. But the obvious cure is clearly, too heroic a treatment for their timid souls and their none too robust religious constitutions. And thus it befalls that Catholics have a practical monopoly in the true prophylactic or preventive of the evils of the secular system—namely, the- school in which God holds His rightful place in the life of the child. We have piped to them, and they hare not danced. And they spend the precious years shifting and turning from scheme to scheme and finding' no rest—tossing idly from side to side in the prone position that they occupied three and thirty years ago.— “New Zealand Tablet.”

THE PRIME MINISTER’S MISSION

As the sons and daughters of an Imperial race, the people of New Zealand are prepared to play their part in working out the common national destiny, and revealing that under free in-, stitutions the pride of race suffers no decay. This matter is one that has touched the public imagination here and abroad, and Sir Joseph Ward) is well entitled to the congratulations ho has received on having so truly gauged the sentiment which animates his countrymen and women. —“New Zealand Times.” INSULTING THE NORTH. Auckland has only 100,090 people, and employment is said' to, be dull. There would soon be employment for 200,000 people if the Government took ■energetic action instead of sending Mr. Buddo to misrepresent and insult the North. We have been congratulating the Auckland farmers upon the splendid ’results shown by the timber exhibition, and it is not calculated to encourage confidence in the administration to bo told by Mr. Buddo. at a time when all know that the agricultural and pastoral career of the North is just commencing, that there is no general desire for land.—• “Auckland Herald.”