NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 93, 14 January 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

A point that is too often overlooked was made by the president of the Queensland Employers' Federation at the annual meeting of that body. The employer of to-day, hepointed out, was the employee of yesterday. "One might imagine from the statements made by a section of the community that the ompjoyera of Queensland were all imported as such, and dumped down in certain areas to tyrannise over a body of men. The position taken up by these men is absolutely ridiculous, because 95 per cent, of the employers of this State were employees a short time back." What is here said of Queensland' applies, of course, with equal forco to Now Zealand. Yet the Labour unionist is having it dinned into him all the time by the paid agitator that the employer is a different sort of human being altogether 'to the man he employs— that instead of having so much in j common they are natural enemies,

It will bo good—very good—news t-o everyone to read this morning that there is every prospect of tho men of our Expeditionary Forco being brought back to New Zealand earlier than was expected. Tho statement of tho_ Minister of Defence on the subject makes it clear that the original intention of bringing, back the men in the order in which they went away will be adhored to with slight exceptions, such as the cases of men in occupations which urgently require their services. This is as it should be. There is one point, -, however, on which Sir James Allen appears uncertain which calls for comment. It is the question of the retention of ii portion of oiir force for guard duty in Germany. This certainly seems both unreasonable and unnecessary. The position of the British soldier is very different to that of tho men from this' Dominion. Tho former is, and has been, able when leave time

comes round_, to -visit his friends and relatives in England or Scotland. He is, so far as distance is concerned, in comparatively close touch with his home and his interests. . Our men, with few exceptions, have not seen their friends here since they left these shores; communication is, of course, more difficult and less frequent, and tho thousands of miles of ocean b'etween create a sense of separation that is not felt by tho British soldier. Moreover, it is a needlessly costly business, for the New Zealand soldier's pay and the cost generally of keeping him in Europo is very much greater than the cost of keeping the British soldier there. It seems to be a- case where • the Minister and the Government can justly and fairly insist that our men should be exempt from this policing work, and that all should be returned to New Zealand as fast as there is shipping available- to carry them here.

. A clear statement from the Gov'ernment in regard to the progress made in developing and completingthe machinery of repatriation would be generally .welcomed. Tho time is comparatively near when this machinery will be subjected to exacting demands, which must be fully met if the. interests of soldiers are to be protected and those of the country at large are not to suffer. The prevailing silonee of Ministers, including the members of the Repatriation Board, on the subject rather suggests that essential activities and developments may be hanging fire. AH the publicity possible should be given to the work of the Department, and the public' generally shoulej be advised as to .the directions in which they can assist in the tasks ahead. For instance, if good progress is being made in the formation or strengthening of the local committees which have an essential part to play in the repatriation scheme, .very little has been heard of it. With Ministers travelling about as they arc accustomed to it is probable, that the "Four Ministers' Board" will prove to be a serious handicap, and may hamper the work of the board very materially. The Repatriation Department will have to show itself a very live Department indeed, or there will be unpleasant times ahead for the Ministers concerned. ;

■Alii the later news from Germany goes to show that the Ebcrt Government has triumphed over the S.partacusians in Berlin, and is rapidly restoring order in that city. The position in some other parts of the country remains uncertain— there yesterday of serious rioting in' several big provincial cities—but on the whole there are now fair prospects of the early suppression of the party of anarchy in Germany. ' With the news of tho military defeat of the Spartacusiang it is 1 announced that good headway is being made in preparations for a general'election, and that the Majority Socialists' are hopeful of obtaining an absolute majority. For a time the experience of Germany in the matter of mob usurpation showed a close, similarity to the trend of events in Russia which led up to- the establishment of tho Bolshevik regime, and it seemed by no means unlikoly that the horrors which have taken shape in Russia would bo duplicated in the German States. Marked differences in tho course .of events' are now apparent, however. If reports do not lie, tho German Provisional Government is resolutely and successfully putting down by armed force'just such anarchical .disorders as the Korensky Government in Russia allowed to develop practically unchecked until they got completely out of hand. An orderly election in Germany, followed by the establishment of a- Government possessing'some claims to representative authority, -would emphasise the difference between Russian and German experience, and indicate the likelihood that Germany %yill succeed in casting off the plague of Bolshevism. ■ ■