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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 92, 25 May 1914, Page 6

Mi 1 Holman, the Labour Premier of New South Wales, continues to be original, or unoriginal, as the mood takes him. His latest performance is a presentation of the Government's programme to that dictatorial body, the Labour Council. The programme comprises 110 fewer than seventy Bills, aiid includes provision for " State-OAvned market gardens, fisheries, iron-works, and timber mill," besides "legislation towards reducing the cost of living." As the ingenious Mr liolman declared himself a Socialist, lie must have prepared that part of his audience outside the Labour Council for his proposed newer enterprises. The extravagant list of idealist measures will be welcomed in Labour circles, where the majority of the people have an undying faith in legislation as a panacea for all social and industrial evils. Dispassionate interested in the political exigencies of Mr Holman and his party, will read into the programme an attempt by the Premier to re-establish himself in favour with that section of

Labour which has been seriously annoyed with his independence. It will be noticed that in those industries where the State is to enter into competition with private enterprise, the number of men employed is comparatively few —hence but few votes will be lost. Mr Ilolman and his party are dependent more or less on the of Sydney, and the more important centres for their political well-being. Labour methods of taxation do not appeal at all to the primary producers, and' what the Premier has to do to maintain his present advantage as head of the Government, and to keep the Government ill power, is to consolidate the city electorates with the promise of such legislation as he has outlined. The economists of the world will await with interest the Labour method of reducing the cost of living by Parliamentary enactment. It will tax the ingenuity of the combined talent of the Cabinet to make a success of the Fair Bents Bill —a previous measure with this object had a chequered career.

"Graft" methods on the best American lines have been revealed in connection with the Russian police at Odessa. It appears that the police have extracted handsome annual tribute from the keepers of disorderly houses in Odessa. Their nefarious tactics for adding to their incomes have been disclosed by a new inspector who, led the plotters to believe that he was willing to join the combination of '' grafters." . When he had collected damning evidence, this inspector quietly made known the little scheme, and prosecutions are to follow. Of course, "graft" is no new thing to Russia. In fact, it has proved one of the great drags on the wheels of Russian development. , Officials from the most exalted to the most subordinate have in times passed dipped avariciously into public moneys. Just to what extent these peculations had grown was made clear when Russia set out to resent Japanese aggression in Korea. Once the Tsar's Army was in motion, it was discovered' that supplies for the men had been "doctored" in a disgraceful manner. Not only was the commissariat affected in this way, but it was found that- heads of departments in their ' • arrangements'' with: various contractors, hfid allowed cases of alleged stores and ammunition to be forwarded to the front which carried nothing but : the labels. It was shown that the Russian troops were, in many instances, starving and ill-clad, though vouchers'had been passed for payment of. their equipment. An enquiry at the time revealed an amazing corruption in high political circles quite equal to the most picturesque stories retailed of American "grafters." Becker, of the New York police, who lies once again under sentence of death for the work of his subsidised, gunmen, grew rich on the tribute exacted from disorderly houses and gaming saloons. A commission of enquiry in his case resulted in startling disclosures. Apparently, some Russian policemen have nothing to learn in this business —they are only following the example of many of their political heads.

While the Mediation Conference is endeavouring to unravel the woeful States - Mexican tangle, President Huerta is shivering in his shoes, and the Napoleonic brigand chief, Villa, is every day drawing nigher the capital. Flushed with his recent successes, Villa will not be troubled in mind at the failure, so- far, of the mediators to make any progress with the peace proposals. After sWeeping Tampico clean of the Federals, the Constitutionalists proceeded to blackmail wealthy citizens, and execute those officers of the opposing army who were unfortunate enough to be captured. The representative of the Dutch Government at Washington/ after a Dutch warship had been ordered to leave, telegraphed to Carranza; to impress on the Constitutionalists that they should behave themselves. Mattery have reached such a stage that polite requests to "behave" will not haA'Q much restraining effect on Villa's avengers. One time it so happened that Huerta, with the rascally Villa in his poAver, had every reason in the military world why he should have hiad him shot by a platoon. To-day, the-Mexican wild cat has sharpened his claws and. tasted blood so often that Huerta is liable to be severely lacerated if the Peace Conference does not intervene to save him. Villa is descending on Mexico City with all the speed he can muster. His troops, Avhose morale has been stiffened by oA r erwhelming victory, will be advantaged over the Fe4erals, who, driven to make a last stand at the capital, are bound to share the apprehensions of their chief with regard to the danger of sanguinary defeat at the hands of the Constitutionalists. The conditions attached by Huerta to his resignation are not li-kely to assist the mediators in their deliberations. Probably the States would not be averse, to a delay, which would give Villa an opportunity of dethroning Huerta by force of arms. The unfortunate and unpolitic president is in a cleft stick.