NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 182, 29 April 1922, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Whatever opinion ths world may have had of British rule in Ireland, it can have no doubts now as to the difficulties which confront any form of Government in that country. The disclosures, as reported to-day, made during the heated passages between Mr. Griffith and Mr. de Valera in the Dail Eireann, are po more illuminating than the declaration of the former: “I am not going to be intimidated by

any. gunman hero. . . . You may assassinate us, but you cannot intimidate us.” This was not the-outburst of an Irishman talking to Englishmen ; but -an Irishman ifaced, with the danger of assassination at the hands of his iellow Irishmen. It is interesting to learn, that Mr. de Valera has weakened and wobbled and changed, but this was already suspected of him. It is more important that Irishmen in Ireland dare Wot differ from their own countrymen as to the form of Government that is best for their country without running- the risk of assassination. What hope is there for Ireland under such conditions., Mr., de Valera says tho Free State Government is the sole cause of the present state of affairs. A few weeks ago he was saying the same thing of the British, Government. In actual fact it is ho himself, or perhaps it would bo more correct to say the men behind him, who are now solely responsible. They it is who are now seeking by intimidation and by acts of aggression along the frontier of Ulster to make the position of the Free State Government an intolerable one. They fear the free vote of the people of Ireland at the coming elections, hope by spreading terrorism throughout the country to prevent a fair test of public’ opinion being made. It was quite time that the Free State leadefs took a definite stand against this sort of thing as to-day’s message seems to suggest they are doing. '<< 9 » * «

The authentic note of the Little Englander was sounded by Mr. J. R. Clynes during the debate in the House of Commons on Imperial migration. As he is reported, Mr. Clynes said he was unable to accept Colonel Amery’s conclusion that it would be of advantage to neglect the trade opportunities of Europe in order to cultivate closer economic and trade relations with the Dominions. Perhaps the proposition is thus stated in somewhat more strained terms than Colonel Amery employed. No one, presumably, expects or wishes the United Kingdom suddenly to sever her trade relations with Europe in order to cultivate- trade within the Empire. At a long view, however, Britain has far more to gain from cultivating closer economic and trade relations with the Dominions than from I the most apparently advantageous trade with foreign conn-, tries. The active development of inter-' Imperial trade, by the improvement of land and sea transport and in other ways, offers her a means not only of safeguarding.her commercial interests, but of effecting in the best conditions any redistribution of British popu’ation that may become necessary or desirable in changing conditions of international trade. At present she has special reasons for seeking closer economic relations with the Dominions in the fact that much of her former trade with Europe is meantime lost and will only be recovered, if it is recovered at all, by years of rebuilding effort. Apart from the tremendous disturbance of former trade connections occasioned by tho war, however, Britain would definitely safeguard and improve her future prospects by relying more and more on markets and, sources of supply within the Empire. The conception of an Empire largely self-supporting find interdependent readily commends itself te British people overseas, but | the speech delivered by Mr. Clynes is an addition to other reminders that many people in the Mother Country

are still reluctant to forsake old ways and methods in trade, inadequate though these are to the new conditions by which Britain and the Empire are confronted. Now that the Imperial Government is opening out a scheme of assisted emigration which it proposes to develop on a great scale, it becomes incumbent on this country to take thoughtful stock of its resources with a view to securing a fair share of the new population thus offered. Apart from the temporary troubles now in evidence, the difficulty, of course, is to provide such openings for British immigrants as will compare favourably with those offering in Australia and other parts of tho Empire. Setting out the Imperial Government’s proposals in a speech reported yesterday, Colonel Amery said that its future policy would be contingent upon the Dominions undertaking a considerably larger expenditure on land settlement. If the provision of cheap land is to be the determining factor, New Zealand will be likely to fare badly in competition with Canada and some of the Australian States. There ought to be some alternative possibilities, _ however. The expansion of secondary mdustiies, an enterprising policy of forest development, and a similar development of our valuable but neglected fisheries all deserve to be considered in this connection. The Dominion cannot afford to take a back seat in the matter of attracting the surplus population of the Mother Country until it is shown beyond all doubt that no other course is possible. * * . Practical interest in a very important branch of education is manifested by a local resident who has made a donation which will provide annual prizes at the Girls’ College and Wellington Collage for j, essays “upon some specific subject relating to the inculcation of good citizenship, and bearing upon the. duty of citizens to .one another and to the State.” Much is now being done in both primary and secondary schools to make children acquainted with citizen rights, duties, and responsibilities, and in some cases at least the results are very gratifying. There are schools in which such instruction is developed on the lines of free discussion, and children are encouraged to amplify their knowledge and to clear up uncertainties by independent 1 inquiry—for instance, by writing to a town clerk for information regarding details of municipal organisation. Means are thus found of -at once imparting useful knowledge and developing in the children powers of initiative, together with the sense of responsibility and fair consideration for others, which are the essential foundation of good citizenship. Apart from the benefit to individuals, it is decidedly in the public interest that such methods should bs extended and that all children in their school days should be given’a thorough grounding in the principles of citizenship. ' ‘ ’