NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 148, 19 March 1931, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

It is a significant commentary on the different standards of political ethics in the British and New South Wales Labour parties that while the Lang Government is talking quite seriously of debt repudiation, the MacDonald Government has declined to consider the question of seeking a ten years’ moratorium on Britain’s obligations to the United States. One prefers the easy way out, whatever the cost to the national reputation, while the other is prepared to face difficult facts without “squealing.” The latter is the British way of doing things, and it ought to be the Dominions’ way.

Public interest in the affairs of the city and its municipal government is represented by two distinct bodies, the Civic League and the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association. Each has the same aim—the welfare of the community, an efficient corporation, and prudence and economy in administration to meet the necessities of the times. With these broad objectives in common, it ought to be possible for them to sink the minor differences which at present appear to have placed them at cross purposes, and to pull their weight together in the general. interest. It is as imperative in these difficult times that unanimity of purpose and a spirit of co-operation should animate the activities of municipal government as in the case of the general government. The public is in no mood at present to be distracted by sideissues.

It is interesting occasional!}’ to note how affairs in the overseas Dominions are regarded by impartial observers remote from the scene. The Times, London, for example, remarks that the Australian High Court’s dismissal of Mr. Lang’s appeal in the matter of his proposal to abolish the Legislative Council has given “this very ‘Red’ Premier a check which may seriously interfere with his plans for establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat with himself as dictator. Io those familiar with The 'Times’s habitual moderation of language, especially when on the subject of Dominion politics, this is very strong comment. Even the New Zealand Press has not yet gone as far-as to suggest that Mr. Lang’s dictatorial methods are symptomatic of a desire to give these methods the form and substance of a proletarian dictatorship in being. The Times has probably rendered Australians a service in showing them, quite disinterestedly, a picture of their situation as others see it and one, now that it is so painted, which seems strikingly true to the facts.

Expenditure on (lie British Air Force, according to a Ministerial statement in Parliament, is a quarter of a million over last year’s estimates, but it is 1 per cent, lower than it was five years ago, while France’s is 130 per cent, higher, Italy’s 40 per cent, higher, and America’s over 150 per cent, higher. It is not very comforting to reflect that in this most important military arm Britain is only fifth in first line air strength. Even if it were the case that gradual disarmament were in progress, Britain’s position in respect of the three arms of the service should be in ratio to her standing as a first-class Power. In the present state of the international situation it would be at least prudent to assume that another war is not impossible, or even, to take a pessimistic view, not improbable. The United States air force expenditure, from this point of view, can hardly be regarded as anything but preparation for eventualities, however remote these may be. It is certainly far from what might be expected from a nation which has so ostentatiously paraded her peace sentiment by such public flourishes as the Kellogg Pact for the outlawry of war.