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Press, Volume LI, Issue 15393, 25 September 1915, Page 10

It might almost be said of the war messages to-day that there is news of everything except fighting. Tho official messages about the operations arc very meagre. Tho Germans claim to be pushing tho Russians back south-east of Yiina and west of Dvinsk. It is unofficially reported from Petrograd that tho Vilna Army is safe, which is borne out by the German communiques. It is also stated that tho ouemy has lost 'Joo,ooo men in this region, which, however, is extremely doubtful. If this is correct, the enemy cannot bo as strong as ho is mado out to bo by a French correspondent with the. Russians. Tho Russians officially report a successful offensive in the south-east, near Dubno. Air warfare again fills the communiques from tho Western theatre. In Italy tho censor is still entirely unrelenting. The Bulgarian mobilisation is unexplained, and tho only item bearing on the Dardanelles operations is an Athens message stating that tho Turkish positions on tho heights east of Suvla Bay are being bombarded, and that "tho heights may bo occupied without the necessity for a general assault.'' Tho moaning of this depends on what is implied in tho term "general assault." If artillery is used to batter such positions preparatory to captnnng them, infantry must bo used to occupy thorn.

Wo would direct our readers' attention to an important statement issued by tho chairman and secretary of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, and appearing in another column of to-<lay's paper. Perhaps it is unnecessary for us to add anything to the clear language in which -the statement sets forth tho purposes of this fund, the work it is doing, and tho urgent necessity that it Bhall be made a very large ono as speedily as possible. On the basis that £750,000 is required for the whole Dominion, Wellington. Otago, and South Canterbury have already subscribed moro than their quotas, and Auckland is rapidly providing its share. In Otago 20s per head of population has been sulwcribed, in Wellington los per head, in South Canterbury 1V S Od per head. In North Canterbury only 4s per head has been a total of £27,000, instead of the £100,000 that is required. It must not bo forgotten, of couree, that North Canterbury has contributed about £100,000 to tho Belgian Relief Fund. At tao same timo, the duty remains of subscribing to tho fund for tho relief of our wounded and disabled soldiers and their dependents, and the dependents of thoso Canterbury men who havo given thoir lives. Tho chairman and secretary appeal particularly to the well-to-do people, especially in tho country. It will bo a reproach to these if they do not como forward with substantial contributions. and we trust that they wiil shrink from incurring that reproach, and that the public generally will give heartily for tho ono fund which will have to bo kept going for years after the war is over.

The unanimity in Parliament over the National Registration Bill is something for New Zealanders to feel proud of. It was a clear indication that as our sons are fighting in the trenches of Gallipoli with, unquenchable courage and unalterable determination, so the Parliament and people of New Zealand are absolutely united and determined to fight on at whatever sacrifice until victory is secured. It is true that Mr P. C. Webb, Mr Witty, and Mr McCombs were not able even on this great occasion to refrain from unworthy appeals to class prejudice, but their discordant twitterings served only to bring into greater impressiveness the volume of strong patriotic feeling and stern determination which surged through the Houso and, for the nonce, brought even Mr Payne to tho front as a man able to rise above such pettiness when the Empire is at stake.

Mr T. M. Wilford, with whom we are seldom ablo to agree, has our heartiest congratulation? on tho broad-minded, patriotic, and forcible speech in which ho announced his intention of supporting tho Government in this matter on tho platform or elsewhere. Mr L. M. Isitt has never appeared to such advantage as he did on this occasion, and in the eloquent speech which lie delivered on tho Financial Statement. We forgive him for wobbling on the Defence Act, and for tho other sins and indiscretions of which, to our way of thinking, he was guilty in his political youth. There was all tho eloquence of deep sincerity when he said that all party differences wcro now sunk, and he and tho Prime Minister were just two men who loved the Empire, two fathers who had sent their sons to the war. Mr Isitt offered his services on tho platform to the Government in support of the Registration Bill. We do not. believe that any platform work will be necessary—the people are only too anxious to be organised and placed in a position in which they can give more.effeetive service to the Empire. But other occasions are sure to ari>-e in which it mav be of great importance t<> make; use of the spoken word for the purpose of educating the public in regard to tho war, and to urge the need of further efforts on our part. Mr Imt's drifts on tho platform would then enable him to do inestimable service, and we ho|>e that advantage will bo taken of his offer.

It ib with no intention of reproaching tho Canterbury members of the llouso of 11 omresciit:;tivos. but merely in order to arouse them to a sense of their responsibility, that we i eel impelled to say that, with oiio or two exceptions, they have been failing in their duty as public men during tho present war. As the elected representatives of tho people, aspiring to lead public opinion, one would have cxpocted to sec them heartily co-oporating in all philanthropic movements in connexion with tho war, and taking an activo part at patriotic meetings- One cannot heip contrasting tho activity and energy shown in electioneering campaign* just before the general election with tho easy-going composure with which some

of the elected representatives of the people appear to treat tho greatest crisis in the history of tho Empire. The bulk of the work of encouraging recruiting. organising patriotic funds, and giving a wclcomo to returned soldiers, has fallen for the most part on a number of quiet, unassuming citizens, who have never shown any desire for political notoriety, but who have proved that they were to be depended upon when there was important work to be done.