The Press. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3I, 1912. 1912.

Press, Issue LXVIII, 31 December 1912, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1912. 1912.

'Fire and wild light of hope- and doubt and '- fear, "Wind of swift change, and ckmda, and houra

that veer As tho storm shifts of tho.tempestuous year; Cry •nellawa.v, but well befall tho rig-ht.

Tho year closes amid a cloud of anxiety. As Swinburno says in "A "Year's Burden."' from which wo quote, "Hopo sits hiding her war-wearied eyes," aud as wo write, the fortunes of peace in respect to the great struggle in tho Near East hang in the balance. Europe resembles a vast camp standing to arms, and every ear seems to be strained to catch tho signal for general war,should it be given. In these distant Dominions men cannot bo affected by quite the same degreo of strain, but there is, nevertheless*, throughout the Empire, a growing feeling that wo may DO on the eve of tremendous events. Indeed tho great feature of tho year, "next to the war in the Balkans, has been the growth of .that feeling, and, as a result, further movement towards greater co-operation in Imperial De-i-fence. It has been a year of war and

I rumours of war. When it began Turkey and Italy had been fighting for three months, without much result, save that .Italy had established herscif on tho coast of Tripoli. The war dragged on for another nine months, and peace was declared just before war broke out in tho Balkans, tho result cf tho struggle being that Tripoli is now Italian territory. Almost immediately there followed tho greatest war drama enacted in Europe since 1870. Tho cause was the failure of tho now regrimo in Turkey to govern Macedonia properly. Tired of waiting for reforms that never got beyond the paper stage, the four States concerned, Bulgaria, Servia, Greece, and Montenegro sank their differences and decided to fight for their rights. The Powers tried to prevent war, hut they were dealing with national forces which had been pent up for years, and now proved too powerful to bo kept back by selfish diplomacy. Montenegro led off by declaring war on her hereditary enemy, and a few days later, their ultimatum with respect to reforms in Macedonia having been rejected, the other Allies followed suit. If the combination of these four States had been a surprise to the rest of Europe, the events of tho next few weeks were much more so. Few people, even among military exports, seem to have been aware of tho truo 6tate of the Turkish arms', &ad tho general belief was that the Turks would at least hold their own. The throe bigger States did not declare war until the middle of October, yet' by tho end of tho month the Turks were flying across tho plains of Thraco beforo tho Bulgarians, .and tho Servians and Greeks had overrun tho greater part of Macedonia. The Bulgarians, displaying marvellous efficiency and organisation', quickly captured Kirk Xilisse and then defeated the Turks in tho tremendous battle of Luleh Burgas, which lasted for several days and ended, in the utter rout of the Turks. It was not until tho Turks found themselves behind tho lines of Tchataldcha that they began to make a resistance worthy of their military traditions. Tho Servians and tho Greeks won victory after victory, but the Montenegrins, after a few initial suc'cesscsj were brought to a stop by tho siego of Scutari, which, with Adrianople, noar the Bulgarian frontier, and Janina, near the Greek frontier, is sfiH in tho hands of th© Turks. The world was astonished by the rovelations of tho disorganisation and incapacity existing in the Turkish Army, .and everywhere men were impressed' .- by this now convincing proof o£ the overwhelming importance in war of complete preparation. Her main array having been driven back to within a few miles of tho capital, Turkey made overtures for peace, and as a result a conferenco is now sitting in London to consider terms. Th© latest information, however, shows that tho outlook is not promising, for Turkey is demanding conditions which the Allies cannot pos-* sibly accept. Before the war th© PoweTs warned both sides that they would not permit any change to be made in the territorial status quo, but it is now Recognised that tho status quo is gone for ever. Mr Asquith's bold declaration that there roust bo a readjustment of frontiers has been tacitly supported in Europe. But jealousy between Austria and Russia, and a quarrel between Austria and Servia, brought Europe to the verge of a general war, and tho danger still threatens. However, two facts seem to stand out clearly in the surge of events—that the day of the Turk as an" overlord in' Europo is past, and that a new composite Power has arisen in South-eastern Europe which will have to be reckoned wrim. ' . .

The most important Imperial events of tho year were the Admiralty's frank memorandum to Canada, and tho Canadian Government's now naval policy. The memorandum set out in calm and convincing language the facts of tho German menace, and while not putting any pressure on the Dominions, pointed out how valuable would bo their assistance in maintaining tho Empire's naval supremacy. Mr Borden announced tho Canadian Government's policy,. which is to provide a substantial addition to the Imperial Navy, and, what is equally important, to send the Minister of Marine to reside in London and ropresent Canada on the Imperial Defonco Committee. Tho Liberals havo decided to oppose this policy and force an appeal to the country on it. During the year there was a great deal of discussion in this Dominion on our duty towards the Empire's naval defence, and Mr James Alloh, Minister of Defence, who is now on his way to England, will confer with tho Admiralty on the subject. Events seem to be shaping towards an arrangement by which Australia Canada and New Zealand, will provide for naval defence in tho Pacific, and there is a widespread feeling in this country that wo aro not doing as much as wo should in assisting to maintain British supremacy on the seas. In England defonco questions continued to be vehemently discussed. The lessons of the Balkan war were drawn with emphasis, and it is probable that a great many moro people now believe in national training than did so before. South Africa adopted a new land defence scheme, and in New Zealand and Australia the systems designed by Lord Kitchener were in full swing.

The Empire had a prosperous year in trado and commerce, but tho problem of labour unrest was not less acute than before. Great Britain experienced a boom in trade, Canadians were again very busy and full of confidence, while in Australia, though there was a rather serious drought in some districts, which resulted in a smaller wool clip, the tide of prosperity continued to run strongly. What with international problems, tho German menace, serious strikes, talks of civil war m

"Ulster, a heary Parliamentary programme, and the by-elections going against then- the British Government had a very anxious year. Their unpopularity in the by-elections was largely due to tho Insurance Act, and it remains to ba aeon whether this will disappear when tho henefits begin to bo distributed. Their prestige suffered a severe blow when they were defeated in a "snap" division on an important clause of tho Home Kulo Bill, and altogether it may bo eaid that their is considerably weaker now than it was at tho beginning of tho year. Tlio Unionists, however, are so seriously divided on tho question of Tariff Reform, that they cannot take full advantage of tho coalitions condition, and their leader, Mr Bonar! Lar, has, in some respects, proved a < lisappointment to his party. In Australia labour troubles were numerous, the "most important being tho Brislano tramway strike, which was very I rnily handled by tho Government. Iln Queensland Labour made no headway in tho elections. In New South "Vales Labour continued to hold ofTics by a narrow majority, but it lool:s as if its course was almost run. Altogether, signs point to a decline in the popularity of Labour in both Federal and State politics. In South Africa General Botha's troubles with his colleagues culminated in his resignation. He was invited to form another Cabinet, but we havo not yet had word of his choice. It was thought that the anti-English campaign of violonco in India had subsided, but at tho end of tho year tho world was startled by news of an attempt on the life of tho Viceroy. Among othor events and conditions of the year should be mentioned the successful conclusion of the Chinese rebellion, the abdication of the Manchu dynasty, and the establishment of a Republic; the fierce and dramatic political campaigning in tho United States, ending in tho election of a Democratic President; the controversy over the Panama 2anal tolls; the continued failure ol Mexico and Persia to put their hounes in order; France's expensive war <f pacification in Morocco; the success of tho Socialists in the German elections; and tho loss of tho Titanic, the greatest disaster in the history of tho morciant service, in which somo 1500 people perished. This last event gave 1915 a tragic distinction of which ono hopes it will never bo deprived.

Tho year 1912 will long bo memorable in tho history of Now Zealand as that which saw'tho displacement of the Continuous Ministry after twenty-one years of power, by a Reform Government, with Mr Maiscy at its head, and the disintegration of the party to whom the Continuous Ministry owed so long a life. It will also be noted in the history of Parliamentary Government on account of tho peculiar dovices by which tho defeated party strained the Constitution in order to avert, if possible, its expulsion from office. Wo need not recapitulate all the' details. Our readers will remember that when Parliament assembled in February, after the elections, Sir Joseph Ward was virtually in a minority, seeing that tho want-of-confidenco motion was only defeated' by the casting vote of tho Speaker after Sir Joseph Ward had given his promise to resign. Having succeeded in proroguing Parliament, a further attempt was made to nullify the verdict of the constituencies by forming a fresh Ministry under the leadership of Mr Mackenzie, but this was promptly sent to the right-about as soon as Parliament had a say in tho matter, and at length Mr Massey came into his own. His first session showed a remarkable record of good work accomplished. Tho control of the finances "was restorecT to Parliament by means of several important reforms. The Budget was presented in a clearer and more businesslike form, the Public Accounts Committee was made a live body, and given the supervision of the Estimates, and tho Public Revenues Act was amended in tho direction of curtailing the power of the Executive, and giving more control to Parliament. A Land Bill was passed into law, giving the holders cf leases-in-perpetuity of Crown lands the right to acquire the freehold, and giving new facilities for closer settlement of private estates. Tho Bill for the reform of tho Legislative Council was" defeated .by a hostile amendment in that Chamber, but resolutions embodying the principle of tho Bill wore carried through the Lower House, and the fight for reform will bo renewed next session. Another most

important measure, tho Civil Servico Reform Bill, was placed on the Statute Book, and promises to infuso fresh life, fresh hope, and fresh efficiency into tho Public Service. Liko some other proposals of the Government, it takes away power and patronage from tho Ministry of tho day. There is every prospect, however, that members of tho Service will receive juster treatment from a non-political Board, and that tho public, will receivo bettor valno for their money. Another reform which there is reason to believe will prove of great practical benefit is the placing of tho Government Railways tinder the control of an expert as General Managor. Among tho 'measures placed on- the Statute Book, tho Military Pensions Act, giving to the veterans of the Maori War a long-deferred modicum of just recognition, must not bo forgotten.

The past year has witnessed not only a change of Governments, but a change of Governors, Lord Islington, after a too-short tenure of office, having been succeeded by Lord Liverpool. The nen Governor and his wife have already succeeded in producing a most favourable impression, and thcro is every reason to believe that their stay among us will prove pleasant to themselves and beneficial to the Dominion.

Perhaps tho most regrettable feature in the past year's record is the amount of labour unrest which has mado itself apparent. Tho strike at Waihi proved to bo a most deplorable blunder, for

which tho Federation of Labour must bo held responsible. The net result is that some loss was inflictod on the proprietora of the mine, a great deal on shopkeepers and other innocent residents in the district, while the workers, so far from gaining anything, in addition to being without wages for six months, have in many cases lost their employment altogether, while much misery and suffering has been inflicted on themselves and on their families, particularly on tho latter. Towards tho conclusion of tho strike a serious disturbance took place, accompanied by tho toss of a life, and but for tho firmness of the Government, and the tact and ability of the polico on the spot, thero is no doubt that tho result would havo been much graver still.

Happy to relate there has been no serious disaster involving loss of life on a largo scale during tho past year, but its closing days havo been saddened by tho bathing fatalities at Sumner. So far as tho material outlook is concerned, everything seems most prosnerous for the now year. The season has been highly propitious, tho-,prices of our staple products are high, and despite a temporary tightness in the money market, the Dominion has never appeared more prosperous than at the present time. With every confidence therefore we wish our readers "A HAPPY NEW YEAR.!"