The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1934. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 177, 28 July 1934, Page 8

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1934. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

JV>r Mβ cai/ecs tft*t lacks assistance. For the wrong thot need 3 resistance For the future tw the distunoe, And the good thai xe can do

It is nearly a hundred years since Queei Victoria came to the throne, and in that tim< Britain has had only three- Sovereigns. Ii two hundred years, since the accession oJ George 11., she has had but seven. This give: an average of about thirty years, as compared with half that time for the Sovereigns oJ Anglo-Saxon days. This longer period has made for stability, and contrasts with the short periods for which elected Presidents usually hold office. Even President Masaryk who is a kind of perpetual President oi Ciecho-Slovakia, ■ has held office V for onlj fourteen years. Next year's celebration oi the silver jubilee of the King's accession will afford an opportunity of testifying to the nation's personal affection for the Sovereign; and also to that unifying inluenee which the Throne exerts in national life. • It may not be quite true to say, as Mr. Bruce did at the Savoy dinner in honour oi the Duke of Gloucester, that "the day the Monarchy goes the British Empire falls apart," but it is undeniable that the Crown is a visible sign of unity, and that the coininor bond of allegiance unites as nothing else coulc do. In the Empire are whole classes unable to comprehend the idea of a Constitution, and unable to feel the least attachment tc impersonal laws. To them a republic merelj stands for difficult ideas in government, while a Constitutional Monarchy stands for the easj idea of something personal. A Royal Familj also appeals to the popular imagination, Bagehot says that a "royal family sweetens politics by the seasonable addition of nice and pretty events." Eepublics are for most people dull and uninteresting. They do uninteresting things. A Monarchy fixes attention on one person doing interesting things, People remember the names of kings and queens, whereas few can name a dozen presidents. An oath of allegiance to a monarcl is something easily understood; an oath of allegiance to a constitution is too vague tc rouse emotion in the average breast. There still clings to monarchy some of the religious idea that the Sovereign is the "Lord's anointed." Even George 111. was referred tc by those who differed from him as a kind of "consecrated obstruction." The Crown is of no party, and it combines the affection of

conflicting parties. It is a visible symbol of unity above party strife. Twenty-five years gives a Sovereign a grasp of affairs of State that could not be acquired by. a short-term President. It was one of the misfortunes of the late King Edward that he came to the throne late in life, and that he had not been allowed full access to State documents till he was over fifty. It is one of the King's privileges that he has the right to be informed, and he is entitled to know exactly all the mos£ important acts of State, which are done in his name. The most secret discussions of the Cabinet must be made known to him. He has the-right to warn. In course of time the King becomes an unrivalled storehouse of political experience, and his warnings cannot be lightly disregarded. He is permanent, above all parties, under no temptation to bargain for place or honour, and with no ambition to satisfy except the ambition of securing his country's welfare. - The silver jubilee of King George will be an Empire family celebration. It will be also a spontaneous tribute from all families in the Empire of real affection for one who. has gained the whole-hearted love of his people as much by his high character as a man as by his wisdom and ability as a King.

PURE MILK.

- The statement made at the last meeting of the Hospital Board, that the Auckland Milk Council was concerned only with the price of milk, was promptly contradicted by the chairman, who explained that the Council had before it proposals for qualitative tests that had not been covered by departmental inspection. A committee of the Council has aow. drawn up a series of comprehensive recommendations for milk standards, which ire to be brought before the producers ind the vendors. The object of the Council, is set forth by the chairman, is "to make available to consumers milk of high quality at ihe cheapest possible price." Some of the recommendations are highly technical, but it is plain that the object of the Council is to raise the standards of quality, and it will not be contended that these standards do not need raising. The Departments of Health ind Agriculture will still be responsible for part of the whole, system of inspection, and sare must be taken that the Council 30-operates closely with these authorities and that there is no overlapping. The chairman das already stated that the Council will receive monthly reports from the Departments. Phe cost of bacteriological examination is something that has to be considered; the lifference between the local charge and what is paid in the South is altogether too great. Che public, however, does not care who makes ;hese tests so: long as they are made. What t asks for is milk pure bacteriologically and n nourishing content. It is an anomaly that n "the dairy farm of the Empire", the ionsumption of milk should be so low. It is >roved beyond any doubt that milk is one of he best of foods, and that it is particularly valuable as , a food for the young. If the tandards introduced by the Milk Council are iccompanied by public instruction in the tecessity for using plenty of milk, and- the >rice is kept low, there should be a large rierease in consumption of milk, which will be f higher average quality, to the betterment f the communty's health.