NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 105, 29 January 1924, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Several recent cablegrams have mentioned acute dissensions in the Indian Legislatures. A message to-day which reports an angry debate in the Bengal Legislature over the tionary agitators is an example in point. The state of affairs now ruling in India is an outcome of successes won at the recent election ? a nnndirlnfpq Although the immediate effect is disturbing, LTS S prZX e d.X- ot th. Montagu-Chelmslord is in a measure prejudiced, some competent observers of Indian affairs consider that the troubles of the moment will gradually provide their own remedy. The London Times quoted recently as an expression of the views of an Indian politician of distinction, a letter which observed that the extremists who had secured election were proclaiming their resolve to overthrow the Government, but that he was confident these boatings wire vain. “In the first place," he added, “nowhere have Seethe extremists) a majority of the Council seats. In the second nlace as soon as crucial problems are debated and brought to a division, the rift between different sections of the extremists Will widen The less immoderate men of this immoderate party will hold aloof, and gradually go to the other slide. This Aid will ee achieved in proportion as the Government avoid mistakes.’

Yachtsmen generally will join heartily in congratulating Auckland on again winning the coveted Sanders Cup competition The northern representative, the Rona, which won the competition last yeai. rounded off a meritorious series of races yesterday by defeating the _ Linnet and Murihiku, from Canterbury and Southland respectively, in goo style, thus securing the requisite three wins Though at the outset of the contest a week ago the weather proved unpropitioiis. the races eventually were sailed under excellent conditions to try out the various qualities of the competitors, and the fact that the first three heats were won by different boats indicated a fair degree of equality, and added to the sporting interest of the event. The general impression prior to the race was that the Auckland crack would again prove too speedy for her rivals, and this view has been confirmed. In spite of her proved superiority, however, it has been demonstrated that there is after all very little between the best of the boats from each centre competing in this class. This is as good yachtsmen would wish it to be. llrn Sanders Cup competition is a fine, wholesome sporting event, and the admirable spirit behind those who participate in it makes it a most popular contest. Auckland up to the present has had the lion s share of the glory, and her yachtsmen have won it on their merits. Their success should stimulate the other yachting centres to still further efforts to gain possession of the coveted distinction.

According to the London Daily I'jxpress, the British Labour Government “is planning a conference with the Dominion Labour Parties.” This report carries, of course, no official authority, and may not be accurate, but such an intention as is ascribed to the British Government would very obviously be open to objection. Any British Government, irrespective of its own political colour, is bound to deal with the Dominions through their responsible Governments. An intolerable state of affairs, and one seriously prejudicial to good inter-imperial relations, would arise if the British Government sought an understanding with a particular political party in. any Dominion. The objection, naturally, applies as much to one political party as to another. The essential point is that only the Government of a Dominion is entitled to speak for it or make representations on its behalf in matters of national and Imperial policy. There is. nothing to prevent the British Labour Party, as a political organisation, getting into touch with Labour Parties in other parts of the Empire, but it would be another matter altogether if the British Government allowed itself to be guided or influenced, in matters, affecting the Dominions, by partisan representations or recommendations from any Dominion party’. This evidently would be inconsistent with the selfgoverning rights of the Dominions. It may be hoped that Mr. MacDonald will make it clear that his Government has no intention of adopting any such procedure.