NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

By the passage of the Canadian Navy Bill, the Dominion /undertakes to build in its own yards, within four years, five cruisers and half a dozen destroyers at a total cost (including the cost of the docks) of £3,000,000. There arc somo events so plainly the beginning of now currents, in the stroam of history as to make it unnecessary to suspend judgment upon their importance, and the decision of Canada to com-, mence the building up of a navy is assuredly one of them. The Bill did not pass, of course, without encountering serious opposition; it ■was attacked on constitutional

grounds, on the ground of its usefessness cither to Canada or Britain, and on the ground that it was too ambitious a scheme for the present. From certain statements made by the Prime Minister some months ago the impression aroso that the new navy would be entirely independent of the Admiralty. It was explained, however, that the vessels would in time of war or in any sudden emergency be at the Admiralty's disposal. Sir Wilfrid Lmjeier has explained that "war meant war everywhere, that when Britain was at war Canada would be at war, and that if Britain entered upon war Canada would become liable to invasion also." This is the point upon which the objectors to the navy focussed their main attack. "Are we going," asked Mr. Monk, one of the Conservative leaders, "to accept a position under which the whole foreign policy of the Empire is to be framed and carried out by a Cabinet in Downing Street,' a policy in which we are to be responsible for everything without having a voice in anything 1 We are asked to assume responsibilities for diplomacy, treaties, and alliances of which we know nothing and which are made by men who are -not responsible to us." The reply to this is, of course, that that is Canada's position at the present moment. It is not a tolerable idea that Canada can, as it were, buy into the Foreign Office by building a navy. Canada is involved in every British war as it is. If Germany went to war with Britain over some dispute relating to Australia, for example, and destroyed the British Navy, Canada would be subject'to Germany's direction. We are confident that none of the constitutional difficulties feared by the opponents' of the Navy Bill will arise, or that, arising, they will not be easily, soluble. The final passage of the Bill is a welcome event to those who believe that the Empire's future depends on the growth of the national responsibilities of the daughter nations.

To those who have given any thought to the subject the attempt now being made by Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., and certain other so-called Labour leaders to create a national political labour organisation must appeal foredoomed to failure. In the first place the promoters,, of the. movement confuse trades unionists and workers. They appear to imagine that those outside the ranks of the trades unions are not entitled to rank as workers. But this is a minor point.' The real trouble ahead ,of the labour agitator in this country is the fact that the worker is, on the whole, so well off that he has little or no occasion to, make any gwjat _ fuss about the conditions under which, he lives. Of course there are individual cases of hardship and isolated cases of injustice, but the worker generally is reasonably well'off, and he knows it For years past the Legislature has been placing laws on the Statutebooks to improve his position. Some of these laws have been beneficial, some have been the reverse. The factory laws which insist on proper safeguards fpr the health of tho employees and for fair working conditions arc of the first-named order; while regulations creating artificial conditions at direct variance . with economic laws and which hamper, industrial-: development have been the reverse. But throughout the piece "the worker" has been the first consideration, and while he would have been, just .as well off—better, perhaps—without a great deal of this State interference,'his lot to-day is by no means a hard'one. Efence the labour agitator in New Zealand makes no. lasting impression _on those he seeks to ,stir. into actjon. He may create a . momentary spasm of unrest, but the average worker is level-headed enough to see that tne inflammatory talk of the agitator leads. nowhere. We doubt very much whether ten per cent, of working men in this country to-day are so foolish as to regard "capital" with real unfriendliness. They know perfectly well that "capital" is just as necessary to their welfare as they are essential to the most profitable employment of "capital," and while they may have their individual, minor grievances they are not,to be led astray by the wild oratory and nonsensical claptrap of the street demagogue. There is not likely to be any farrreaching political labour movement in this country without the stimulus of a. widespread sense of injustice. At the present time it is the employer rather than the employee who feels that he has occasion, to complain.

. Farewell, gatherings have been very common in the Public Service in recent. times and only too frequently they have .marked the retirement of old and tried public officials. Yesterday two such, Messrs. "Warbijrton and Heywood, were honoured by their fellow officers of the Audit Department. Both are retiring voluntarily from high and responsible offices in one of the most important Departments of tne State, ana very proper recognition of their long years, of service was made by the Prime Minister and others at yesterday's gathering. New Zealand has been singularly fortunate in connection 'with the men chosen to control the administration of . the Audit Office. The late Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, who was Auditor-Gen-eral prior to the appointment of Mr. Warbitrton, was a man; of very high ideals, fearlessly independent in the exercise of his duties, .and imbued with a very strong sense of the obligations attached to the position he held. Mr. Warburton proved a worthy successor. He has at times fought strenuously in his insistence on the strictest adherence to the law in connection _ with the public accounts, and also in respect of the accounts of local bodies, and ho one can doubt that' the result has been in the public interest. In following in the footsteps of such men, Colonel. Collins has been set a high standard of duty. We trust that lie will in his turn retire with equal distinction.