Untitled

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 8

Tho arguments in favour of tho proposed national presentation, to H.M.S. New Zealand taking the'shape of gunnery prizes rather than of a service of plate, seem to us overwhelming, as against tho suggestion of tho servico of plate. The warship was presented to tho Navy to assist in maintaining the sea supremacy of Great Britain, and sea supremacy rests, in the ond. on good gunnery. We do not know, but wo fancy that every officer of tho vessel would much prefer to remember tho New Zealand people as promoters of fighting efficiency than as anything else. Fair more comforting, in tho day of trial, than the knowledge that there is a service of piato on board tho ship will be tho knowledge that wo, as a community, havo helped towards tho good ehootinjj. Wo hope that tho movement will bo vigorously prosecuted, and that a substantial national fund will bo raised.

Wo fancy that Mr J. K. Hosking,X.C, who with Mr A. Macintosh investigated the, working of tho Public Trust Office, does not quit© realise liow littlo the public regards the opinion of Mr J. A. McCullough. In a communication to various Opposition papers, Mr MoCullough made- some serious imputations (shrewdly couched in non-actionable language) against the honesty and candour of Mr Hosking, Mr Macintosh, Mr H. D, Bel] and Mr Herdman. It was in the well-known stylo with which our Opposition friends have familiarised us:—"l don't impute anything, but, still, it is curious that," etc. This is one passage from Sir McCullough's article: —"I do. not desire •to elaborate this point; I merely point out tliat Mr Herdman is in practice as a barrister and solicitor. Ho appointed Mr Hosking, K.C., president of tho Otago Law Society, on the Commission, and Mr Macintosh, who incidentally happens to be a fellowdirector of Mr Herdman on the 'Dominion.' • I expect ho has other qualifications, but I don't know them. 1 know it was declared in some quarters that ho was only a makeweight. It is not so well known as it might be, and thero may not bo so lr.uch in it as some people assume, but tho fact may bo worth recording that tho Hon. Mr Herdman and tho Hon. Mr Bell, K.C., together intervierved Mr Hosldng, K.C., in 3>unedin before that gentleman left that city to sit as Commissioner."

Mr Hoslung courteously explains, with reference to the last point, that ho and his daughter were Mr Bell's guests in the New Year holidays, and that their families exchange visits. Hβ adds that ho met Mr Herdman there. To the ordinary person it would not bo necessary to explain that they dined and: Walked and taken together as friends do. But perhaps it may bo of advantage to Mr McCti'lough, who perhaps cannot conceive that some people can spend a holiday together without talking "shop" and arranging political swindle*, to know that Mr Hosking is not a dishonest man. His statement that ho did not diecuss his connection with tho Public Trust Commission wi'.l bo believed, wo think, oven by Mr McCullough. As to Mr McCullough's other statements, it is enough to say that Mr Macintosh never wa sa director of tho "Dominion," and that Mr Herdman is not a director of that paper. Really, tho frantic efforts of tho auti-Keforniers to manufacture charges againet the Government havo become even more foolish than improper. They have lost their sense of humour, and their sense of proportion, as well as their sense of decency.

Dr. Gilrnth, the Administrator of tho Northern Territory, is, as we in New Zealand know, a very energetic and determined man, and it eeems as if his energy and determination will find full scope in his present post. We aro told to-day that he has refused tho demand for £4 a week presented by tho Government employees who havo gone on st-rike, but it remains to be sevn if the Government wilt back him up. The Australian papers throw a new and astonishing light upon the action of Mr George Ilyland. tho Director of Lands and special Magistrate, who joined the strikers, and subsequently resigned from tho union. It appears that when he was called out Mr Ryland suggested that perhaps I JO ©oul<l better serve the strikers by remaining on duty, and do-

voting his full pay of £-8"0 per annum to tho striko funds I Tho attitude of the strikers is amusingly characteristic, and illustrates Tory well thy principles of tho "Labour" Tarty when in office. Thoy complain of the appointment of men nt high salaries who are antagonistic to "Labour ideals, , ' and they aie specially bitter at the thought that it should be ''their own people, elected by themselves, who choose men hostile to their cause." And perhaps they wou d lx> astonished if they wero told tnat they .'are advocates of tho "spoils" system.