THE DEFENCE ACT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14327, 12 April 1912, Page 6

THE DEFENCE ACT.

It is unfortunate for the opponents of tlie Defence Act that week after week adds fresh proof of tho value of the training system and of tho willingness

with which thc majority of the young men of- the Dominion undertake their resjKiii.sibilitics in regard to tlie defenco of thc country. The Templeton camp, at which the First Canterbury Infantry have been undergoing rather more than a week's training, enme lo an end yesterday amid what ar? now quite usual—genuine expressions of satisfaction by the officers nt the conduct •iiul work of the men and of regret by the latter at the termination of the camp. We can quite understand, even though we cannot sympathise with, the disappointment felt by the resisters" and '-anti-militarists" at this —to them unwelcome—turn of events. Thanks to their noisy opposition to tlie system. Christchurch just now enjoys but a sorry reputation throughout the Dominion for the kind of patriotism that recognises training in defence ns the duty of every healthy. self-

respecting young man. It must be '-extremely- galling to those wlio have thus tarnished the credit of tho city, to note that the young Territorials themselves, tlie hopeless littlo victims of this dreadful system of compulsory training, are doing their best, by their enthusiastic work in camp, to show that "anti-militarism is only the lad of a pitiful minority, and that the Christchurcli people ar.. as loyal and patriotic as any other community in Ne«- Zealand. The remarks of tho officer commanding tho Templeton camp as to the good conduct and keenness of

the men aro most gratifying, but wo attach even greater importance to tho cheerful comments of tho Territorials themselves on the camp and thoir experiences thereat. They seem to have enjoyed both the work and tho play thoroughly, and their opinions can hardly fail to influence a number of the misguided young men who, in their callow folly, instigated by persons who are old enough to know better, have set themselves against the law.

In this connection it is very satisfactory to note tho frank and .straightforward attitude adopted by thc new Minister for Defence, especially when we remember how sadly the previous Government had begun to wobble on tho defence question. -Mr Myers has been a Honied several opportunities lately ol explaining his views on tho Act nnd its administration, and lie has given po ono any excuse for misunderstanding him. On Wednesday ho reassured a deputation of Wellington citizens who waited on him to urge thnt tho compulsory provisions of the Defence Act should bo carried out; yesterday, replying to a deputation of opponents of the Act, he flatly refused to entertain the idea of suspending those provisions. ''So long as I am "-Minister for Defence," said Mr Myers to tho first deputation, "it is clearly my duty, and I " recogniso it, to sec that the law is "carried out." In this case, as it happens, his duty and his inclination agree, for, as he said, ho is thoroughly in sympathy with the Act. Ho docs not like, any moro than we do, tho idea of treating as criminals those who refuse to obey tho law, and he mentioned that there would be an amendment of tho Act, "becauso we wish to " propose other penalties than impri- " sonment for those who do not recog- " nise their responsibilities ns citizens." But until tho Act is amended, it will bo enforced as it is. '-'Every

"man who is fined is going "to be imprisoned if ho does ;< not pay the fine. This Act stands." ft is distinctly refreshing to havo such a downright statement by a Minister. To tho other deputation ho was no less explicit, but ho argued courteously with tho, members, pointing out how greatly the workers wero concerned in thc smooth working of the Act, controverting tho monstrous supposition that they had nothing to defend, and refusing to be moved by threats of "uu- " pleasantness." There is not the slightest reason to doubt Mr Myers's honesty in this matter; •he obviously means what ho says, and tho Government cannot depart from tho position that, as the responsible Minister, he has taken up.

We have mado further enquiries regarding the dilatory manner ,in which the luggage ex Remuera wns dealt with on being lauded from the Mararoa last Wednesday, and find that tho reason why tho Mararoa was swung before discharging the heavy luggago was becauso there wero no trucks in which to discharge it, and the master swung his ship while waiting for tho trucks, rather than lose time by swinging later oh. The shortage of trucks at Lyttolton. we find, is causing serious inconvenience, and the Railway Departmeuc appear to bo quite indifferent to tne wants of the public or thc requirements of the port. On Wednesday the working of fivo cargo vessels was delayed for some time owing to no trucks being available, and the Mararoa was unable to discharge her inward cargo until sho had first taken on board outwnrd cargo and thus set some trucks free. The matter is one to which tno attention of the new Minister for Railways, or the member for Lytteiton, might be very profitably directed.

The fanners of South Australia have just administered a sharp lesson to some strikers which shoulel be noted by farmct-s and "workers'" elsewhere. South Australian wheat growers use a great deal of fertiliser, much of the land being almost useless without it. The workers at the Wallaroo Superphosphate Works, which supply the farmers' needs, went on strike at the most- awkward time for the wheatgrowor, hoping to influence the employer and crippling the producer. Ninety thor.sand tons of phosphate from the Works are used annually, and when, the men struck SO.OOO tons were awaiting distribution.' Tho growers waited a few weeks for the trouble to cud, ami tlwn, their much-needed manure being still fa.r away, they took tho matter into thoir own hand?. Gangs of men were organised in different districts and tlespatched to thc works, iiiid the growers got the phosphates they required. If the" men had had their way eight-ninths of the wheats

crop would have been sown without fertiliser, and thc community would have been penalised to the extent of several hundred, of thousands >>• pounds. The action of the tai mors gives additional point to the warning ot the president ot the Auckland Farmer-' Union, that tho men <:iv the land will not allow Labour to paralyse the primary industries of tho country. Congratulations are due to the energetic executive of tho newly-formed Methven A. and P. Association, en the very praiseworthy manner in which j they worked to make their first i agricultural show n success. For an j initial effort tiie display wa-s most I creditable, but the reputation ol the | district is such that it would havo been j a surprise indeed had this not been the ease. While, for somo reasons, the multiplication of small agricultural shows is to be deprecated, there ccr- | tainly seems ample room in this largo nnd productive district for such an exhibition, and we hope that the new Association wiil continue and prosper. The Federal Postmaster-General ami tho Victorian Art Society (rather a peculiar combination), havo between them produced tho long overdue Commonwealth, postage stamp. Designs were called for from artists all over the world, but neither Mr Thomas nor Mr Fraser, his successor, cared for any of those submitted, so Air Eraser combined tho leading characteristics of two designs into something that ho thought would bo suitable, and called in tho Art Society to mako the drawing. Tho result is far from happy, and if it i.s adopted will serve as an example of thc danger of allowing men appointed to manage business, to meddle with a nation's art. Tho design is severely simple. An outliuo man of Australia is tho basis, and on it stands a kangaroo. Above the map is the word "Australia" in large letters, and below is the denomination of the stamp. Tho design is bald and ugly, and no skill iv colouring could save it from being a failure. It is also humourous. In front of tho kangaroo is something that is officially declared to be a plant, of kangaroo grass, hut which, to somo people, may suggest very different objects. A .Syclnoy paper easily turns the grass into tho bones of a droughtslain animal, whilo to our mind it suggests a set of disarranged cricket stumps—a singularly appropriate lentil ro just now. It i.s a little, too bad, when Art is struggling fitfully for breath in tho rarefied air of a new land, that sho should bo assaulted in this callous fashion.

Tho Canadian Prime Minister describes tho statement in the Quebec •'Chronicle" in regard to the question of naval defence as without foundation, but his denial may be only a devico to gain time. It has been decided, says tho "Chronicle," to treat tho question of naval defence on non-party lines, and to call for tenders feo- the construction of two superI>roadnoughts. Meanwhile, it is said, Canada will represent to Britain and the Dominions that "naval autonomy is essential, and representation, at the Centre of the Empire imperative." This, it is suggested, can bo mot only by the creation of an Imperial Squadron, to which Britain nnd tho Dominions will contribute, and which will bo controlled by a special Admiralty Board of contributors to bo represented thereon.

That tho question of naval defence •should bo dealt with on non-party lines is as it should be. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's defeat was largely brought about because tho French Canadians did not believe in naval defence. Both tho Leader of the Opposition and thc Prinio Minister, however, we believe, aro Imperialistic in spirit. Thc construction of two super-Dreadnoughts would he an efFeotivo contribution to tho defence of tho Empire. Tho present Canadian Navy Act leaves it at the option of tho Dominion Government ns to whether or not tho local Navy shall lo placed at the disposal of the British Admiralty, but we cannot doubt that this would bo dono if a crisis arose. Tho proposal for an Imperial Squadron, to bo controlled by a special Admiralty Boarel on which contributors aro to bo (represented, .raises in a fresh form tho issue of an Imperial Council, and if tho "Chronicle's" statement should turn out to be a shrewd prophecy, it will be interesting to watch the development. of thc ide*.

Another point -of interest to which wo should like to refer is the amount of the public debt of Canada ns compared with that of New Zealand. Although Canada comprises half a continent, and has a population of nearly eight millions, her public debt amounts sto only about £64,000,000. whilo New Zealand, with a population of ono million, has a dobt of £31,000,000. It is true that hero the railways aro State-owned, while in Canada they mostly belong to public companies, but allowing thirty millions for these, outdebt is still large compared with that of the "great Dominion. Tho rato of interest paid by Canada, according to tho latest figures in our possession, is only 2.42 per cent., and as about 1.45 per cent, is reccivcel as interest on investments, it leaves tlie net rate of interest- at 1.07 por cent.

It will not be the fault of Mr J. J. Dougall if Christchurch is not aroused out of its apathy as regards municipal politics. For a city that takes its Parliamentary politics somewhat strongly, it certainly shows very lukewarm interest in the administration of its own affairs, and it will not be the least of Mr Dougall's services to the community if he succeeds in waking it up. In his address last night, in opening his Mayoral campaign, ho confined himself largely to two subjects-Mho report of the Canal Commissioners on the inadequate" - railway facilities at Lyttclton and Christchurch and his own road scheme. At one time Mr Dougall was a strong believer in the Canal, but he recognises common sense when he sees it, and the forceful arguments of the Canal Commissioners converted him. Like many another man he believes, we imagine, that thc Canal will be mado some day, but ho no longer looks for it in his day, and he is therefore anxious to throw all his weight into the work of improving the present method of carrying the import and export trade of the city. In this task he is entitled to all tho assistance that the citizens, singly or as members • of

j organisations, can give him. Mr j DougalPs suggestion ol a Greater Clinstdiurch embracing Lyttclton. Sumner, nn ,j_ New . Brighton, and his scheme for improving tho city streets show that he is a man ol ideas and i initiative. ~-ho. if he wins to the | .Mayoral chair again, will do bis best |to keep th 0 c |ty from stagnating.

j _ It s<*eins tha*, during the recent suf- ; f rage tie disturbances in London, when. ito show how veil qualified they were to i vote, a number of women broke about I £.")l)0f) north of T) ] a tc glass windows, th- | window-breakers were paid out in thoir ! own ctun. Acting on the principle that jwhur was sa.Kv for tlie shopkocpT : gander must be sauce for the stiffrugte.te goose, a hand of University stuj dents pursued investigations into the | action of largo stones on plate-glaw. j window-;. They .elected lor their in- | tcrcsiing e.\perimen;s the windows of j the International Suffragettes' shop j near the Strand and these of the ! "Women's Press"—the publication deJ partiiieiit of the Women's .Social and j Political Union. Though' such pcrj ioriiiaiices arc. to be deprecated as j i utile, they certainly, as one coriespon- | dent remarked, ''.-ippe.il to the crude j ,se_.=e of retribution which exists in the j breasts of the general public."