NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

We do not profess to know in what capacity or for what, purpose Mr. F. W. Waldegrave, Commissioner of Police and Under-Secretary for Justice, accompanied.the Chief Justice to tho Cook Islands. Nor can wo see the necessity for his visit, in view of the fact that Sir Robert STOUTwas appointed to conduct the investigation into the complaints made regarding the administration at the Islands, and that one of the law officers of the Crown, Mr,. H. Ostler, had been deputed to represent the Crown at the murder trial of the man Wiomore. Mr. Waldegrave, however,' Ims- not only gone to Barotonga,; but. apparently is taking a very active part in whatever is going on there. He apparently is addressing Natives*, visiting the Native settlements, and is also said to be sitting with the Chief Justice in the secret inquiry which is going en. In one of: his addresses Mr. Walde-. grave is, reported to . have made a statement to the Natives which may have been well meant, but which unfortunately is capable of an interpretation which places this officer of the Government m a very awkward position According to our evening contemporary's report, Mr. Waldegrave said:

If the people had anything to say, he was there representing; (lie Government, and if they came forward and spoko to him their voice would be heard. As for those who opposed the Government, they were not to listentfo them, for they would only lead them astny and land them in trouble.

If the Commissioner of Police really made this statement he should receive a very sharp rap over the knuckles. What right had he, a paid servant of tho State, to tell the Natives that they mist not listen to the opponents of the Government or they would bo led into trouble 1 The effect of such a speech, whatever tho intention might be, would bo to frighten the Native.* from taking any part in the agitation which has been caused by the administration at the Islands. The Natives are very ignorant, and have strange ideas of the powers of the Government, and if they think they will offend the Government by joining in any protest against the Island authorities they will take, very ■ good care to remain silent, or to state what they think will ]sleasc the pow-; ers that be. The future actions of the Commissioner of Police will bo watched with close attention.

It so frequently happens that public celebrations upon a large scale arc partially spoiled by inattention to the • details • of arrangement or carelessness in carrying them out that the success of the local celebration of his Majesty's Coronation on Thursday seems to us to deserve a little comment. The attendance of the public at Newtown Park—owing, no doubt, to the stimulus of a beautifully fine morning unexpectedly arriving, in defiance of the Meteorological Office, after some abominable weather—was larger than was probably anticipated, but the arrangements bad been so well planned that the proceedings passed off with perfect smoothness and • comfort, and fortunately without any accident. Much of the credit is due to the Inspector of Police, but the municipal authorities were of coilrse largely responsible for the success of the function. So much sharp criticism has lately—and not altogether unfairly—been directed at the traffic branch of the tramways that it is proper to admit that on Thursday morning the tramways department quite excelled itself. The military display around which all the arrangements were, made was really very good indeed. The muster of troops and cadets was a very full one, their order was good,, and their

marching showed a marked improvement upon what wc have been accustomed to in the past. Wellington is not much given to enthusiasm in its public celebrations, but it certainly did itself credit on Thursday, and can feel satisfied that it did its duty by the great occasion.

Tun Racing Commission's report could not fail to be unpalatable to the bulk of the racing clubs of the Dominion. The Commission, under the law as amended last session, had to provide for the reduced number of totalisalor licenses issuable, and the main duty imposed on it was to ensure as equitable a distribution as possible. The task was not an easy one, and it was inevitable that dissatisfaction must arise whatever decisions might be arrived at. Generally speaking, the redistribution appeal's to be fair and reasonable, but considering its population, the Wellington district certainly cannot be said to have been unduly favoured. In the Wairarapa, the Lower Valley Club has been passed out of existence; the Taratahi-Carterton has had its two days' racing reduced to one day; and the Masterton Club's meetings have been reduced from four days' racing to three days. In other parts of the Wellington province the Horowhenua Racing Club's meeting has been dispensed with ;• a little further afield the Rangitikei Club has lost its identity; and the Ashhurst-Pohangina and the Pahiatna Racing Clubs have also been placed on the retired list. When to these are added the loss of a day by the Wellington Racing Club it will be seen that' patrons of racing over the area within reasonable touch of Wellington City have been very heavily penalised. It is rather surprising to find the Wellington Racing Club called on to lose a day from its programme, and thus placed on the same level as the Dunedin Club, with two days' less racing than either Auckland or Christchurch. When it is borne jn mind that Christchurch, in addition to the racing, has seventeen days' trotting, Auckland seven days, and Dunedin six days, as against Wellington's one day, the reduction in Wellington becomes still more difficult to understand. Of course this state of things may be righted later, but the Wellington Club and the Wellington race-going public have to suffer in the meantime. Those who anticipate that there will be any material reduction in the amount of wagering on horse-racing as the result of the reduced number of totalisator permits issued will probably be disappointed. No doubt a certain number of people who have been accustomed to patronise,race meetings in the vicinity of their homes will do so in a lesser degree than before where their local clubs have been killed; but the class of person who will bo thus debarred from betting -is not, as a rule, the class that comes to any harm through it. The man who wishes to bet will still find a means of doing so, and possibly through a less fair medium than' the totalisator. The Commission is to bo congratulated on the prompt and thorough fashion in which it has dealt with the task imposed on it. The racing clubs concerned should see the wisdom of giving heed to the recommendations made for the improvement of courses and for, the accommodation and convenience of! the public. Their future prospects will no'doubt depend a good deal • on their action in this respects