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Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 857, 1 July 1910, Page 6

Ouit evening contemporary last night took occasion to attack the movement to secure justice for tho North Island in the matter of public works expenditure. The movement is called an "ignoble conspiracy," and wo are told that what is wanted is "a National party" to destroy "the cliques which work for disruption." Now, as everybody knows, there is no policy more persistently advocated in The Dominion than the destruction of the system that makes Parliament an assembly of local delegates chiefly concerned to scramble for as large a share as possible of tho public funds. We have over_ and over again deplored the necessity for the movement that so offends the evening journal, but while the- present conditions exist, while the Ministry controls and apportions with a constant regard to its own interests the funds that should be apportioned on a basis of what is nationally most wise, we insist, that those members who desiro a. fair distribution of public expenditure must use every means at their disposal to get it. More desirable than the success of any North Island league, in our opinion, is the destruction of the present system of "political" control of the public funds._ Our contemporary's criticism is particularly faulty because of its failure to fix- the blame on tho right shoulders. North Island members are not to blame for combining in the interest of justice and of true national progress. The blame rests entirely with tho Government and those wlio assist it to maintain the present unc!"sirable conditions. If our contemporary were anxious to maintain those conditions it could not have played more elcvcrly into the Government's hands,, than bv hiding,_ wilfully or by accident, the real evil to be attacked.

"Capping Day" at Victoria College yesterday was responsible for some interesting speeches, as well as providing a fair share of the customary entertainment for the undergraduates. Lord Islington probably astonished everyone with the knowledge he displayed so soon after his arrival here of our education .system ; and his speech may be taken as an evidence of the very keen interest he is evincing in the Dominion and its institutions. The behaviour of the undergraduates, it is pleasing to note, was much more reasonable than it has been on some occasions in the past. Probably they got just as much enjoyment out of the proceedings, and certainly it was much more pleasant for the bulk of those who attend such ccremonics.