NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2016, 25 March 1914, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

NoißiNO sftems to bo safe from the encroachments of the Aiodcru spirit. Sectiinent eanuqt hold its. own -ivhen it cprncs in coniict with comfort and

commerce, The process of modernisation has been going on in the Holy Land for some time past, and now jiven Jerusalem and Bethlehem are wuig brought up-to-date, A cablegram wbieli appeared in yesterday's D-oaiJUON annouueed that the cJcptnc light lias been introduced into Jerusalem, and that tramears arc to run to Bethlehem, These changes are no doubt regrettable from certain points of view, but it is useless to expect, tha world' to stand still. If the transformation fvom ancient to modern had gone- oil gradually throughout the cenhirios in Jerusalem, as in Home, London, and Pads the coining of the ckcti-ic light and tramways would have bce-n accepted As a matter of course; but the suddflvi .awakening after a bug'period m unbrokca repose naturally causes a shock, which, in -the ease of stieh sacred spots m Jerusalem ami Beth- ■ Idiom, is unusually severe. The proposed "improvements" have given mo to a good deal of adverse com- : ment in contain, quarters, and oijc evitic asks: "Why not complete th© work of progress with a niciuro palace on . Mount Morialj 1" Another that "to suggest a tramway service is coming perilously near to _ protanity." This stand-still policy may co-niinencl itself to tljo eentimontalisfc who lives at a distance, but the inhabitants of tho place probably look at the matte froSi a different point of view. The 4mish Vkronkk reminds the op. jjon-eftts of the concessions' that to tliera tho pa.st .is everything, whereas to those who, whh for the regeneration of the Holy Land thjs future is almost of equal eoaseqiieneo. Jerusalem stands for a national hope as well as a religions sottMinent, and there aro those who want it "to awjiko to a fresh life, mi become ift the future a great city, worthy of its past history."

■ Duilisro the present debate in the House el Oommotis, Mβ. Asqcith hinted at the possibility of a refefoft* dum on. the Homo Rule ' tjwssti-oto, and now the &»</»/ Qhronide, the wellknown Radical journal, states that he is ready to agree to a general ■election in July, provided the Oppo■sifcion will co-operate this , -'session in gassing the Pluml Voting, Home ittilc, and Wejsh .K.scsta.b'iishnicnt Hi-it Opposition foadew are not iitoiy to agree to a compromise 11 }5. k S tl ' Thell ' intention is that the. Home Bulo Bill should be submitted. to the judgment, of the people before it becomes law—hot by means of & referendum or a general d-ootioij. It has been rumoured on several decisions that the Government would agr«e to a. dissolution after the Bill had passed; but even' if a-settle-meat by CoaSeat could te arrived at, a change in the Gcßistitution of sneh vast importance owrhfc tiot to bs made until the people of {she United Kingdom have bad an opportunity, ■of expressing their »p..p. rova'l or disapproval of it, "All that is needed and the least _tha* is nty&.cfed, is ii general eleefcicm," says.the Loadon Times, "If the Literals won a decisive victory they w.«ijd %a no worn off than they are to-da.y in any way, and infinitely better off In must ways. Ttei British Unionists, a;s tftrf ha*e plainly stoted,' would at rtc& ■. the verdict of' the poih,- and tiho !:e----sistattce of tJlston"whatever may be Said to the Eoiiltary,. would i.iiev-it.. ably, ■stand ■on -an Entirely dmejenti tebtirtg." ! Rie latest clevclopn'JCrits ! go a j-oftg way to verify a romarlc rc« tentl'y made ly Mr.- BbSA-R tj.w. :

'''I am stfrc," he 6aid, '".the' Prrnle Minister will fiow Acv<» altftrn.pt deliberately to cocree tXlster. What I »m afraid of is that he aa;y d;rijt into it."

Ihe. little tremble befeveen the Wardists aa-d the SoeiatDemoprats at ChfistckiWh has not been ed ov«f by the. attitude adopted by thfi leader of the Opposition. Sir Joseph Wabb, in reply to tho tcle■gratn of the indigpaat .president ol Cafterbury Soci.al-Dcmciei'ate., politely to .ijterfot'e with the efitcrjjrise of liis lieutenants m forming a rival and so the iVictie):n coatintics, It tiaw ajgpeitrs that the gcnileinoa of thd "Ecd' ; persuasion Were p»cpa*cd to work; in harniony with the Wjirdisks, and te assist Sift JogfifH WAttfl*s candidates in sueh electorates as they did not themselves contest. This, 0i course, jfiitst have be"eß very ing to the Leader o.£ the Opposition; but, tinfoi'tumitely, his supporters in Canterbury Would not benefit thereby. There the SociatßcnioErats would nr.n tfieir owil oandidttfe-Sj and the outlook for the Wan&ts, W&s far fr-ona pvoftrising. Thcoutepiiie wa? the attempt, on th«s part of some of the War4ist nicinljera, to split theLabour vote by forming the new orgattisation, and calling .is the Liberal end Labour, federation. The impression is gaining .ground that all the , ski.musiiittg between Mjo Wardists attd the jjojitieal organisation t»f, the Bud is merely pfclirninai'.y to an nii.dGrste-,nd..ing or working alliance. The .difficulty is to arrange a basis of cagree-Tiient as t# the seats to be coTiteated fey the candidates oi the respective C-an 1 terbury is the key U ifee situation, as the two parties are there of akmt equal strength, and .neither is incJiijed to give way. Developments will be Worth watching. The Stock!Democrats ave talking very Idndly ef what they can and will do, but we shall iiot bo in the least surprised to find tiieni working hand in liand with the liadical section of the Wardists before- election day.