A Distinguished Visitor.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 5 March 1914, Page 6

A Distinguished Visitor.

Canterbury, which prides itself not only on being the "most English" part of

New Zealand, but on its interest in the Empire as a whole, will extend a hearty welcome to the distinguished Imperialist who is now on a brief visit to Christchurch. As Administrator of Rhodesia, and subsequently as Governor-General of Canada. Earl Grey has played an important part in the government of the Empire. Only those who were in the great Dominion while Lord and Lady Grey exercised their gracious rulo at Rideau Hall can fully realise tho great influence for good which they e_certed, and the affection with -which, they -were regarded from one end of the country to the other. Lord Grey's popularity was not gained at the expense of his sincerity, on the contray, he was outspoken and candid. A Canadian paper, which described him as one of the ablest men who have occupied the position of Governor-General, added this comment:—The Governor-General represents the Crown in this country, but the King could not talk publicly of public matters as a Governor-Geperal of tact and discernment can." After his return to the Old Country, Lord Grey threw himself with renewed energy into various movements which had for their object either the furtherance of Imperial interests, or fe-cial roform. Ho became President of the Royal Colonial Institute, and that organisation at once bounded Into new life. He is an active supporter of tho Victoria League, the Overseas Club, the Scout movement, and ambulance work, to mention only a few of the bodies in which he takes an interest. "We have already referred to his services in the cause of temperai.ee. Tho last great work in which he has engaged in is not yet completed, but if the Dominions House becomes an accomplished fact, it will be an enduring monument to his memory, which will also be perpetuated by the national park which he was instrumental in establishing on tho Plains oP Abraham at Quebec. It is to be regretted that, for health reasons, Lord Grey is obliged to avoid overfatigue, so there will bo no opportunity while he is in Christchurch either of giving him a public welcome or of listening to one of his thoughtful and inspiring speeches on great subjects. All parties of the community will join in the hope that Lord and Lady Grey wit! carry away pleasant recollect ions of the Dominion of New Zealand, and that Lord Grey's health will soon be restored.

No doubt there are a great many peoplo who think that Prince William of Wied is a fool to accept the throne of Albania. From the point of view of comfort and a quiet life, thc Prince is certainly foolish to accept. He is in the prime of life; very rich, with large estates; has a young family, and enjoys thc honour paid to a German prince. Why. therefore, should he want to be king of a poor, semi-savage country, peopled by one of the most turbulent races under the sun. and never yet governed as the Prince must hope to govern it ? Other people, however, will applaud his resolution, holding it a commendable act to leave security to put his hand to a dangerous and difficult enterprise. We British, who have shown so much of the spirit of adventure, should take this view, and wish him success in his kingship.

The new King could hardly "have a more difficult task. Albania is in a stato of total disorder. The inhabitants have always had a habit of fighting among themselves, and the events

of the last eighteen months have stimulated tho spirit of lawlessness. A whole system of government has to he built up. There is no money, no

proper capital, no'palace, and no army to enforce the Royal will. Durnzzo, n forsaken and unimportant village on the coast, has apparently been chosen as capital, partly because the tribes about there arc friendly, and partly because, if the worst comes to the worst, it will be easy to get away by sea. Not a very promising outlook this, but the Prince is reported to have the qualities that may weld the Albanian bundle of conflicting interests into a whole. Heis described as able, strong in will ami in physique, and quite fearless, and his wifo is said to have a character in keeping with his. As a soldier ho qualified for work on the German General Staff, to which only the most promising officers are appointed, and it is said that he would have distinguished himself if he had gone on with his military career. Ho has a chanc© now of showing what German training can do in thc making of rulers of men.

In Portugal history continues to write with an ironic pen. When the Republic was established, tho millennium was hailed with an almost touching enthusiasm. There was to bo no more oppression, political or economic; all tho evils in tho State were to disappear. How far that has been realised may bo seen from our cable messages, which tell of a general strike, the cutting of communications by tho striker-, and the guarding of railway lines by troops. The last item should bo noted by syndicalists. Even in England a section of labour objects to such use of troops, thereby implying that strikers should bo left free to wreck stations and trains, but hero we have a Radical-Socialist Government in Portugal actually using troops to prevent strikers destroying; property and life.

All this morning's news about labour troubles in New South Wales is well worth study, and none more to than tho message about interference, with rural non-unionist workers. It is stated that a body of unionists raided a farm at Wagga, compelled a number of nonunionists to cease work, and took them off to tho unionist camp. "A strong force of farmers was enrolled," and the non-unionists were rescued. The action of tho unionists was, of course, grossly illegal, and the authorities will be failing in their duty if they do not prosecute those responsible for the outrage. No doubt this is the unionists' idea of "peaceful picketing," a privilege used to cover so much wrong-doing. We are not saying that in this case the Government is to blame, for thero is nothing to show that tho police wero appealed to, but what happened at Wagga Wagga might happen on a wide scale in times of industrial unrest if the Government did not firmly maintain law and order. Our own Government foresaw this clearly in the recent strike. If the State cannot keep order, private persons will usurp its functions.

The First Lord of the Admiralty ■'_ reported to-day to have said that the largest battleships in foreign navies are larger than the largest in the Briti.h Navy. An issue of the "Standard" recently to hand has an interesting tabic bearing on this point. There is some doubt as to the size of British battleships now in the stocks, but so far as is known the biggest vessel yet laid down is 27,500 tons. The Germans havo designed a battleship of 29,000 tons, and a battlc-cniiser of 32,000 tons. Franco has a vessel touching 30,000 tons, Japan one a little larger, and Russia one of 32,000 tons, while the United States contemplates a vessel of 38,000 tons, more than twice the displacement of the original Dreadnought. It is stated that certain British vessels of the current programme, instead of showing an increase, will show a decrease, dropping back to 25,000 tons.. If the Admiralty decides to put a limit on tho size of ships it will have plenty of expert support. Experts have never agreed as to the desirability of the mammoth type. Tlie main argument against it is that it puts too many eggs in one basket. A submarine would have no moro difficulty in "getting home on" a 30,000----ton vessel than on one of 20,000 tons, and it is contended that it is much safer to havo three vessels of 20,000 tons than two of 30,000 tons. Torpedoes and submarines have been much improved, and the more ships thero are the groater the distribution of risk.

A point that has often troubled .the plain man was raised in an interesting way in England the other day by the death of a Burnley tradesman. This worthy man died leaving £18.000, and in his will he remarked that he was a Socialist, and that all land and capital ought to be public property. _ He is, of course, not tlie first professing Socialist who took good care to make a decent fortune for himself. What the plain man cannot understand is the monstrous anomaly of a Socialist growing rich. Tf a Chrifitinn Scientist wero found to be making, a fortune out of a drug store, if (and this is the case with the great London Radical newspaper, the "Daily News"). a newspaper proprietor who condemns gambling were found out encouraging people to gamble by specialising in tips and betting prices, or if a Prohibition lecturer were found to be a brewery shareholder, they would be condemne.'. as frauds. But Socialists grow rich whenever they can. Radical politicians profess to be on tho side of the poor and lowly, and against the rich and high, and simultaneously secure titles and fortunes. The marvel is that these peoplo manage to delude working men who would kick the brewery-holder tem-perance-lecturer downstairs as a humbug. The fact is, of course, that hardly anyone is really a Socialist: they are only humbugs who preach the Socialistic gospel.