NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 95, 16 January 1929, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

In an effort to insure that an almost world-wide disease amongst sheep shall not be found in the meat supplied to the public Smithfield is examining every carcass that arrives from such places as South America and Australia. New Zealand meat is exempt. Once again we have reason to be thankful for the high standard of our supplies and the rigorous inspection to which they are subjected before they arrive in England. If the confidence of the purchaser is gained half the battle is won. Time and time again one sees .that in the export trade of a Dominion it is better if necessary to impose restrictions on oneself rather than risk losing the confidence of the purchaser. In. Australia the canned fruit trade received a severe setback on the British market a few years ago for no other reason than lack of grading and proper inspection at the origin. The housewife never knew if she would get a good tin or a bad tin. Money spent to insure absolute satisfaction to the purchaser is money well spent. Nothing is more difficult or. more costly than an attempt to regain a market once it has been lost through lack of public confidence.

It is curious that Voluntary Life-Saving Clubs at the seaside belong essentially to the Dominions. Britain, with her thousands of beaches, seems to have no such institutions. The unfortunate, the daring or the foolhardy bathers of Britain must rely on the local boatman with his sympathetic boathook if they are to be saved from drowning. The well-drilled squad of powerful swimmers ready to dash with their life-line into the surf and do the rescue work is unknown. It is left for the stranger to take off his coat and do his best for the drowning swimmer when seas are too big for the phlegmatic attentions of the local boatman. It is curious that this should be 50, for life is no cheaper in Britain than in the Dominions. Blackpool, Margate, Brighton might well encourage visitors by a judicious advertisement of their live-saving facilities. We should be proud of of ours, and we should encourage them by ensuring that they have equipment second to none. No visitor , from the Homeland can fail to be impressed at such a humanitarian institution carrying out its self-imposed duties with super-efficiency of a Brigade of Guards on parade. These clubs of ours are the free ambulance of the beaches; even City and Town Councils might assist in. the good work. It should be everybody s duty to see that the equipment which one day may be called to rescue them from death is not stinted for lack of money.

The abdication of King Amanullah from the throne of Afghanistan, adds another dramatic illustration to history's record of . the truth that legislation cannot proceed in advance of public opinion. Amanullah’s European education and travels had convinced him of the desirability of introducing Western ideas to his country. -The reforms were not those which would corner benefit on the King and cast a burden upon his subjects. They would have, elevated Afghan civilisation and made for greater individual progress. Amanullah may be said to have been an intensely practical man. He was also an enthusiast. Enthusiasm is an excellent qualify. It gives impetus to action as the wind filling a ship’s sails.. But enthusiasm -may be carried too far,' and when it overbears judgment it is as likely to be as destructive as a gale at sea.. So Amanullah has found it. Enthusiasm for reform, well meant and self-sacrificing, has lost him the throne of his country. ■?** * ' *

The reforms were beyond the comprehension of his compatriots. They had not had the advantage of European contacts. Therefore, they objected to the forced pace in reform. The monarchy is the major factor in the government of Afghanistan, the new constitution only being established in the year 1922. Popular education is free and compulsory, but the popularly- educated classes have not yet reached the electoral age, The masses are ignorant of the operations of representative government. It is unfortunate that the innovations introduced by Amanullah cut across customs which have not a political but a religious significance. Fundamentally Mohammedanism and progress cannot combine. The resignation to fate, which is the fundamental attitude of mind of the Mohammedan, runs counter to the spirit of progress whose breath is the faith that can remove mountains. The one accepts fate; the other seeks to master it. Amanullah should have been able, to appreciate this elemental but fundamental difference between the spirit of the West and the faith of his compatriots. Failure in this respect led him into a position of appearing to attack the religion of his people,