NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

We do not suppose Ih.iL those ''Liberal" journals which some time ago were drawing heavily on their stores of violent language in their criticism of Mr. James Allen's indictment of the Government's dealings with the Chief Justice arc above taking a lesson from the Liberal newspapers at Home. It will be remembered that on May UO last Mil. Winston Churchill observed, in a speech in the House of Commons, that some of the British judges had incurred the suspicion ot bias, that in certain matters "a very large number of the population have been led to the opinion that they are, unconsciously no doubt, biassed." In defending Mil. Churchill-, the Daily iVcws laid the blame for the facts condemned by him at the door of carelessness in the selection of judges. The Westminster Gazette, the best of all the London Liberal dailies, upheld the Deputy-Speaker's ruling that a judge should not be attacked in Parliament excepting on a direct motion, but this rule, it contended, and to our mind contended successfully, could not be strained to bar discussion in Parliament upon the tendency of the Courts or the opinion held about the Courts. Oq the general question of extraParliamentary criticism of judges, the Gazette quoted, in support of the rule that "a judge has no permanent protection under English law from criticism or censure or even strong denunciation" a Privy Council judgment, and the dictum of Lord Russell, in a case brought in 1000 to protect Judge Darling, that "judges and Courts are alike open to criticism." One remark by the Gazette we specially commend to our "Liberal" friends and to the judiciary:

"The absolute dissociation of the Bench from the Executive is a principle which all Englishmen prize, and which, we fervently hope, will never be disturbed." Wo may conclude with an extract from the Nation, the Liberal weekly. It said of Mr. Churchill's statement that a large portion of the community thought some judges were biased:

The statement is as unquestionable as a remark about the sun's rising. He might have added to its effect by saying that, if these gentlemen wish to lose their present character for bias, they can do so by ceasing to show it.

Our "Liberal" friends, we know, have been silent since wc quoted the finding of the Australian High Court in the case against the Hobart Mercury, and have been confirmed in their silence by the extraordinary

and enthusiastic demonstration of public opinion in the matter that was a feature of Mr. 'Massey's meeting. But they will doubtless be glad to have the British Liberal view to fortify them in their wisely amended behaviour.

Tin coming session promises to be even more barren than is customary for the last session of a Parliament.: The fact that it will open a month later than usual of course will shorten its length, and there is the additional circumstance that the Prihe Minister will not be here until the end of August. Past experience has proved that the WARD Ministry is a helpless body _in the absence of its head, and that it commits itself, to nothing of moment without first consulting Sin JosEra Ward. In the. circumstances there is certain to be a good deal oi "marking time" until the arrival of the Prime Minister. Of course there are a number ol Bills carried over from last sessid.i which could be brought forward immediately Parliament opens, but it is unlikely that Ministers will show any anxiety to press these through. _ Sir John Findlay cannot arrive in time for the opening on the 27th instant, but the Legislative-. Council will no doubt yield ready obedience and adjourn to such date as suits his convenience. The public will be much interested to note the attitude of the Upper House in respect of the slight put upon it by the Prime Minister in suppressing the invitation issued to its members to attend, the Coronation ceremonies. The Council is so docile a body nowadays that'_ we should not be very much surprised to see it swallow the insult without even making a wry face.

No doubt the acceptance by Sir Joseph Ward of an hereditary title is mainly responsible for the revival of tho story which has been in circulation irj some of our contemporaries as to the probable retirement of Sir Joseph Ward to the High Commissioner's office, or to some other post in London. A baronetcy is not a very valuable asset for a "Liberal" Prime Minister in New Zealand, nor is it likely to be of much assistance to his party, whereas in London things arc different. Curiously enough, none of the present members of the Cabinet ,who have won the confidence of the electors at the polls are seriously spoken of as likely to succeed to the Premiership in the event of Sir Joseph Ward's retirement, whereas the friends of Sir John Findlay are persistently mentioning his name for the position. _ This is really very amusing gossip, though perhaps a little irritating for the other members of tho Ministry. A few days ago one paper selected the seat that Sir John Findlay was to secure. It

was Wanganui, and the procedure to be followed was to translate the sitting member, Mr. Hogan, to the Upper House so as to leave the way clear for Sir John. Unfortunately for this pleasant little arrangement, the seat is by no means a certainty for Mr. Hogan. The Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. C. E. Mackay, is said to be the more likely candidate at the present moment, and he also would require to be provided for in order to make room for Sir John Findlay. Moreover, it is just as well to remember in these matters that the electors themselves usually desire to have some say in the election of their representative, and arc not in the habit of permitting .the sitting member (or anyone else) to nominate his successor. Mr. T. E. Taylor's active championship of the Government last session is perhaps responsible for the further suggestion that he would figure in the reconstructed Ministry. Unfortunately it all sounds 'too good to be true. The clffys of the Government would indeed be numbered.