NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 720, 20 January 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Although a very short time will elapse before Lord Kitchener arrives, in New Zealand, there,has not yet ■ been any official announcement of the arrangements which, the Gov-: eminent intends to make in connec-' tion with tlio Field-Marshal's visit.: It cannot, be supposed that -Loud Kitchener's impatience of "set pieces," and his reported tendency to love formal arrangements only for the pleasure of upsetting them," make it entirely' unnecessary to do' anything but; wait; for his arrival. The. volunteer forces cannot.be summoned at any hour -bf-itHo: day or night by; appeal of bolls-asj if:they were firomen, ready to; rush into their uniforms and line up at a monotice.. There must, be some preliminary preparation, a.'nd preparation for the inspection that is

wanted'must'take spine time.-!;--With-out careful planning, the JTiej.d-Mar-sh'al will'not' be. able to. dii> more than inspect the men as they stand' at the Drill Hall or march, along the street, and we are very sure that Lord KwcHENEit's main desire is not,'to see with his own eyes whether , our men button their tunics or whether they keep stop iis they march along Lambton Quay;. Cabinet, it is understood, what can bo done in the .way of mobilising the forces of the district, but it.is apparently, not considered necessary to have tho forces iri camp. If: the Government had properly appreciated its duty, it would have long ago arranged a battalion camp for Lord Kitchener's inspection, as was; done by the authorities in Australia., ■ Tho cost would, have been justified by 'the importance :of tho occasion, which would have been a flrst-class ; oppprtunity of getting real value,for the money expended.. v As matters stand, it almost seems likely that the Field-Marshal- will 'find volunteers' the scarcest thingsjin.;the Dominion that has just decided upon .the- compulsory training. 'of our young, men. .The Government has shown very little, concern in tlie matter so far. We hope-it will'ncjt make the country-look ridiculous in our distinguished.visitor's eyes. ; : ■■',

;' One fof "the topics, to', which; the public inind is reverting,-now that the holiday, spirit .ie nearly'/ evaporated,, is the trouble in the'.Laiid and Income: Tax. Department that caused so much discussion last session. The Prime Minister told one df' : our representatives' this : .week that he could supply no information,, as to the Government's ■ intentions', since the matter vnmsubjudice. 'Ho was referring, no doubt,' tt. the .prosecution which..he assured'the House of Representatives" was'about to be.undertaken by: the ] Government as the outcome 'of- :j;ho evidence, given;- at the. inquiry, Into the conduct ■ of' tho Department.-;':/ The' -'public', was ■ just able .to , tolerate -tho ■', Government's fierce determination; last; session; to hush- up.'the-.. : affair, :but :itJwonld not'have: tolerated the Prime MiN-: ister's;refusal,'based: on-exciises so' flimsy. ;as to : amount to", anil insult to the publio's intelligence, to.supply Par liamonji with any -sort of'-,in-formation' ;wero;it' not that the'pro-' miso of a prosecution held out some hopo.thata mysterious and disturbing business; would ■ see,, the light of; day.';.-;.' Sm Joseph. Wabd- says: that "the. case ria siibjvdice.". lU.must know -that.;' there : is 'no 'case , .«<& jiidicc.: in connection, with . the ; affair, unless, of course, a charge has beep laid ,in, some secret, manner, which is - inconceivable.; ■ What Sir Joseph means,' perhaps, is 'thas what he;has ■under consideration. must '■■ be treated as'-sub: judice. , Such ;in ex-., traordinary. idea; is by n6 l .mea!hs impossible;to' a;..P.RiME-;MiNisTE:ii who considers himself above Parliament, and who- has , - in.-.'the past -announced'his supremacy overithe'.machinery.of. the criminalclaw.'V 1 Hβ''is';£iimply : fubbing-;the"; 'public off Interest, of the Departmental', .officers concerned no less than in the public interest: the Government s must remove.-'thevyeil from;:this yery-; uii-. pleasant mystery; without -any. fur- v ther. shuffling. or > delay.- \ Why m .the promised prosecution ;n6t;;b'egun ? • '-o

. ■ Other • events.;,. have.' ;■ temporarily forped'the .New; South /Wales strike intof the.background of public |inter.-, est,' but no doubt'the conclusionlof. the. 'trial.'ofv'the-strike, leaders may- give. a new and important; turn--to- the : situation. :;;.A.jgopd;deal:;of;;iriterest was aroused iii Britairrbytheistrug-' gle,' and; 'seVeral •BrifcishVvjburnals :were r much; struck,''not ■'•■by -thq[ con-troversial-questions- involved,!,';.nor the; effect, of" j the, strike; uponiother industries; cbut by■ the •dena,nt'-;atti r .; tude of the, : men'in v the 'face, of.'the law. The Glasgow had; some observations, worth'quoting, upejn the; legislation. whichdoes;'not 'reflect .and ■ embody ,'tno'i ma--turevjudgment;'of the community :•';:

■■'.■.Theoretically, , ;'. compulsory "arbitration would seeni to be. on'ideal.method ;pf ridding,: the.' industrial world:-of;, and ;6onietim6s > suicidal ; c6hflicts,; In praotioo,: it is : bound,-to'fail because of 'th'e.'recaloitfarit .element'•in- human- nature, which demurs to,;tlie inflexible applicationof. laws, 1 -of;-which the sanction is;not; moral but ■ rooted in ".expediency. It may;'be willing- enongh :to /exact obedience.from others, but .when-the pen? alty/becomes: personal- its inclination , is .to;rebel;i .The working men/of;. New South Wales are probably quite as; lawabiding on the average: as their 'fellows .under other skies; They ; are.: now making the discovery that.law, , to bo! oporative, -must' command the assent'.of 'society. It is "to be/ feared that" a good 'many, of the ■ experiments made by; Australian'- Legislatures, .represent .'rather, i possioriate'attachment to ideals: than' a profound -knowledge'' of * "human "nature and the play, of J economic/forces. , ■'.

For the present', there' are ho: industrial' disturbances. mdre'tho/applicability'/of-.thieso state; ments •, to this country,, /-.but//they should/'never be;; quite v forgotten;: Like .a New/Zealahder 'who.- has 'recently iWrittan'la , book;on -this'-cbun-' fry, many; people'/ here ; believe that "the; economic, principles of .'the Qld -World".are things that,do not apply, 'here.. But : this'fallaoy,'however ilong' it'may. take/in dying,;,;must 1 ' die' at last./: -'v "' :. : ; '> ■■'.■' .■?:- : \-:-;.?:'.i,:/.O '