MR RHODES'S COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11190, 3 February 1902, Page 5

MR RHODES'S COMMISSION.

A WELLINGTON JOURNALS COMMENTS. (SPECIAL TO "THK FBESS."} WELLINGTON, February 2. Mr Heaton Khodess action in volunteer-

ing for South Africa is generally approved here, and even the Ministerial ipnrnaJ, the "New Zealand Tones," strongly supports not only his going, bat also has getting leave of absence from hdsconefcitaenbK. The "Tim* , *" article is of soffickait interest, and so much to the point, as to •warrant my tefegntphing it in ML The "Tinea" says: "ft has given the country much eatisfaotion to teara that ths member for EUeamere hae accepted a oommkeion and will go to to front with the Eighth Contingent. Mr Rhodes belongs to a class of whom it ie, with or without reeoon, held that it* members, having no spur of necessity to drive them in any direction, are in the habit for the most part of regarding patriotism and other public virtues as abstractions. By taking up the duties of captain in a fighting battalion, Mr Rhodes has shown that for high minds there are other spurc to action than those of necessity. President Roosevelt has in this respect given a noble example to the world, havkig from fads first start in iife devoted his energies to grappling with the duties of citizenship. The results are historical. Amongst them have been the reform of the New York police, the addition of the regiment of rough riders, under his own command, to the army that invaded Cuba; the downfall of Tammany, and a host of writings of great force on burning questions—every writing stamped with indomitable courage, inextinguishable public spirit, and useful information. It is not given to every one to succeed in a fashion so striking as to reach the height of the Presidency over seventy millions of people by a road strewn with successes in departmente where the bokteet spirits had long given up reform as hopeless, but snch success is at least an encouragement to others to adopt the same lofty principles of conduct. As a matter of fact-, at the present time there are many who have done so. In Britain, the spectacle of people of wealth devoting themselves to the amelioration of the race is not uncommon, and the names of rich men who are fighting at the front for their country in South Africa are not rare. In our own country the flower of the young nation has taken up anna at the call of the Empire, and' Captain Rhodes has shown that he Kk*s to do more than merely join in the cheering. He not only takes off has hat when a Contingent goes by, but he goes with it to whatever bitter end its duty may lead ifc. Men of his class were permitted during a series of years to purchase exemption from military service in every country ofEurope, and during the American Civil War many such paid good round figures for substitutes ; but in all lands the rule now is that at his country's call every man, without exception, must be ready to face the risks of war. Captain Rhodes, who subscribed to the doctrine with simple patriotism, deserves at leases much credit as the large numbers ofjnen whose conduct is open to the charge of being partially under the influence of a desire for better conditions of life. He is likewise entitled to have hie place kept for him, whatever it may be, until he returns —a concession enjoyed by many of our campaigners. The captain ie a member of Parliament, and as such, relies on his constituents for leave of absence. It is surprising to find the Press of his native city divided on the point, and the surprise ie all the greater as the "Liberal" journal I takes the narrow view that his constituency will, during this absence, remain unneprefsented. As a matter of fact, the absence of Mr Rhodes on crucial divisions will make no appreciable difference in the already hopeless minority of the Opposition, while in matters on which he is likely to want to vote on the Ministerial side the majority is already overwhelming. With regard to local matters, all Mr Rhodes's brother Canterbury members will be found more than willing to keep a watchful eye on his dis- | trict, >o that the interest* of hie electorate i will in no way suffer. So far from Gap t? in Rhodes's constituents desiring to penalise him for his patriotism, they are more 'ikcly to triumphantly re-elect him in his absence. i should military duty necessitate hie absence from New Zealand in December next."