The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1900. CURRENT TOPICS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9820, 20 July 1900, Page 4

The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1900. CURRENT TOPICS.

We regret to see that Captain Russell should have taken up the attitude he did during the discussion due to the conduct of Mr J. G. Grey, head of the Hansard staff. For our part we fail to find a single redeeming feature in his studied defiance of the reporting and debates committee of the House. The question before the House was not one of whether Mr Grey is entitled to hold pro-Boer opinions, nor even whether as the holder of such opinions, and therefore opposed to the policy of the Government in regard to the Transvaal war, he was entitled to attack the Government in letters to a foreign journal. Mr Seddon stated the question very fairly, and in failing to agree with him we fear that the member for Hawke's Bay allowed party feeling to weigh with him more than the merits of the case The real question was whether Mr Grey was at liberty, on the strength of his interpretation of the terms of his engagement, to ignore the recommendations of the reporting and debates committee.

In order that a fair view may be taken of this matter, it is requisite to bear in mind that the question arose nearly a year ago. It was brought to the front by the Premier asking Mr J Grey, in a courteously worded letter of some four or five lines only, whether he was the author of certain letters which had appeared over his signature in a foreign journal. The result of the correspondence which followed was that the reporting and debates committee had to consider the matter, and they agreed to a recommendation. This was to the effect that while they had no objection to Hansard reporters engaging in literary or reporting work on their own account when they were not required for the work of reporting Parliament, they recommended that in future no member of the staff should actively engage in New Zealand politics by writing articles or letters for publication. It will be seen that the committee were studiously careful not to single out pro-Boer tendencies for reprobation. They simply took the common sense stand that it w.as inadvisable for paid officials of the Government to be engaged in publicly attacking or defending their employers.

Mr Grey chose to ignore this recommendation. He seems to have done so after considering the point, making up his mind to flout the authority which the committee considered it incumbent upon them to exercise. We at all events gather as much from his own evidence when cited tcf appear again before the reporting and debates committee last Tuesday. He was then asked by Sir Maurice O'Rorke, in reference to the previous report of the committee : —" I think you have stated that you do not recognise the authority of that report to control you in any way." To this Mr Grey replied : —" That is exactly the position I take up." To our mind this attitude could be met by nothing else than a recommendation by the committee that Mr Grey's services be dispensed with. Mr Grey seems to have been afforded every chance to back down, but he does not seem to be that sort of man. He appears to us to entertain quite a wrong view of both his status and his privileges.

We have been driven to that conclusion by reading the official text of Mr Grey's letter to the Premier some months ago, in reply to a communication from Mr Seddon, short and formal, and referring in no way to anything which even by a stretch of the imagination could be termed debatable. Mr Grey's answer to this was a long diatribe couched in most polemic terms. It commences by an attack upon some journalist he styles " The Dunedin "Star Man," and then passes on to attack the position taken up by the Premier in regard to the war. As an example of the tone of the attack, made, be it remembered by a paid servant of the Government upon that Government's head, we give some extracts :—" In the first place," says Mr Grey to the Premier, " let me inform you that throughout my life I have belonged to the party of peace, and have been an uncompromising opponent of recourse to war for the settlement of international difficulties." " I had made a special study of the Transvaal question," &c. "I made no disguise of my sentiments that if war did ensue it would be one of the most unjust and unrighteous wars recorded in history."

There is a deal of this sort of stuff, and the Premier, who was responsible for the colonial contingents being sent, was informed that " I" was totally opposed to him in this matter. This information was conveyed as follows :—" All these considerations " —that is to say, Mr Grey's devotion to the cause of peace, and his love for Mr Gladstone, and various other matters introduced in this extraordinary effusion—" forced me to the conclusion that it was an act of the supremest folly (how the Premier must have enjoyed this !) to drain the colonies of their population for the purpose," &c. Now this, which in itself is exalted moral excellence or miserable fustian, just as it happens to appeal to partisans on one side or the other, would not call for remark if passing between equals discussing the beauties of peace and the virtues

of Gladstone as opposed to the horrors of war and the vices of Seddon.

But it was nothing of the kind It was the Premier, formally communicating with an official who had been previously told by the reporting and debates committee that he must not engage in active political agitation while retaining his position on the Hansard staff, being answered by a tirade of personalities and an obtrusion of the various points upon which Mr Grey differed from the Government. Captain Russell by his attitude seems to suggest that if he had been Premier he would not have objected to a communication of this kind. If that be so, then that he is not Premier is good for the country, which at all events is not prepared to ask the bead of its Government to submit to indignities and impertinences. And to show that we are not going too far in the latter expression, we append a letter forming part of the correspondence which, judging from its wording, seems to have been volunteered by Mr Grey, and which in any case was not couched in terms befitting the dignity of the Premier's office.

This letter ran as follows :— Wellington Terrace, Wellington, 21st February, 1900. Sir, —In order to forestall any further crawling officiousness and malignity on the part of the Dunedin star man, I beg to inform you that an article of mine on the Samoan question appeared in the New io'k T,mesol2bth December, 1899. I have now the honor to forward the subjoined extracts for your information. I remain, &c, J. QfjATTAX Grey. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier. —But the real point to be borne in mind is that Mr Grey is not being dispensed with because he is charged with loving Gladstone or being a partisan of Kruger and Steyne, but because the reporting and debates committee ordered him a year ago to abstain from active political propagandism while employed as a Government reporter, and he has held himself entitled to ignore the committee and do as he pleases. To talk about this involving any question of freedom of thought or speech is nonsense. To our mind the Premier is right in the view he has taken, and Captain Russell is wrong.

The Chinese Ministers abroad seem to be playing a cunning game. N/ot only does this appear to be recognised in St' Petersburg, but also in Berlin. The declaration of war against Russia, for example, as will be remembered by those who read our yesterday's cable messages, was stated by the Chinese Minister at St. Petersburg to be a contravention of the policy of the Chinese Government. As Russia is faced with a serious condition of affairs in Siberia as a result of that declaration of war, followed up by. successful warlike acts. and has had to denude the important Amur district of troops in order to defend herself, it is not likely that the views of the Mandarin at St. Petersburg 'carry any weight. Germany shows what she thinks of the reliability of the Chinese Minister at Pekin by refusing to allow him to cable to his Government in cipher, or at all except in messages in plain language previously . submitted for approval. This action, although reported only in connection with Berlin, is doubtless being carried out by all the Powers involved.

To the studious observer of affairs in the Far East .the most serious aspect of the problem is not that which is presented now, but the involved danger of the settling-up between the Powers. The strong show of force made by the, Chinese Government at present is in our opinion likely to prove deceptive. It is one thing for Chinese patriots to talk of putting millions of troops into the field, and quite another for even the whole resources of the Chinese Empire, great as they may be, to maintain for any length of time an army capable of resisting the efforts of the allies. In two months from now the position will in all likelihood be very different. The allies may be then in possession not only of Pekin, but of other points of importance which, while not ensuring for them a cessation of resistance, will at least make them masters of the situation. But when that has happened the real trouble will commence unless Russia should then prove amenable to reason.

This time Japan will not be so easily put off as she was five years ago. Indeed, it will be something to wonder at if she does not put forward far more comprehensive claims than those which Russia, France and Germany combined to defeat at the end of 1894. Even if that be not so, and she avows herself content to take as her share Corea alone, to allow her to take possession of it will be a bitter pill for Russia, whatever may be thought of it by the other two Powers. If Russia feels herself strong enough to challenge the claims of Japan when the Chinese have been subdued, and does so, the result can hardly fail to be a taking of sides by the other six Powers involved. As the outcome of that would depend upon affairs in Africa, it would not be wonderful if Russia and her prospective allies were to attempt to keep the Boer trouble there going. Luckily for the British they have broken the back of the difficulty they were confronted with, and it is not likely to cripple their Eastern diplomacy now.

China war news appears on page tvo, cables and Transvaal war items on three, serial on the sixth page, aid political and telegraphic, also correspondence, on page seven.

At a meeting, of the non-commissioned officers of the Napier garrison, held last evening, it was unanimously decided to hoid the non-coms' annual ball in the Garrison Hall on Wednesday, August 15th. Color-Sergeant Gleadow (Rifles)i and Lance-Sergeant McGoldrick (Guards) were appointed joint secretaries.

The annual social promoted by the railway employes of this town will be held in the Garrison Hall on Wednesday,. August 29th, and should prove as successful in every way as previous efforts, a strong committee being already engaged in working up the affair.

A. parade of the Ahuriri Mounted Rifles was held in the drillshed, when the men were drilled by Sergeant-Major Finn ami acquitted themselves most creditably. Messrs T. Parker and Co. will have the uniforms made as soon as possible, and the men will parade in rhem at an early date.

Mr J. E. Page, who ha.3 been appointed to a position in the Napier branch of the Uniou Bank, was prior to leaving Invercargill the recipient of a presentation from St. John* choir. The Yen. Archdeacon Siocker spoke in eulogistic terms of the service BJr Pase had rendered the Church as lay reader, and the choir as hon. treasurer, a;id wished him every success and happiness in his new sphere..

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that Inspector O'Bdpn, who has been appointed to succeed Inspector M'Govern in charge of the Napit-r police district, has received from, Colonel Estell, commandingthe Salvation Army, a letter congratulating him on his promotion, though the Colonel says he feels the officer's removal from Christchurch will be a loss to their organisation. On behalf of the Salvation Army he conveys to Mr O'Brien their great appreciation and thankfulness for the assistance rendered during hia term of office.

For amusement, variety, and entertainment, a social held last night in the Wesleyan Sunday school, in aid of the school funds, waa all that could be desired. There was a large number of people present, aud the Rev. W. G. Paraonson occupied the chair. Songs were given at intervals, parlor games ; providing the major poition of the "'• evening's amusement. Refreshmentswere thoughtfully provided and were heartily appreciated. A vote of thanks was passed to the performers who had helped in the'success of the gaihering, the ladies for supplying the eatables, and to Mes-rs F. H. Heweit and Co. for the uss pf the piano.

One of the Cook brothers, the wellknown whalers in the north of AuckUnd, had a perilous experience at Whangamumu the other day, according to the Auckland Herat*. He was out in charge of a whaleboat crew, and, standing up in the bow of the boat, harpooned a large whale, which had been entangled in a buoyed net which is used to capture the whales. Mr Cook began hauling in the slack of the line attached to the harpoon, aud was in the act of coiling it, when suddenly, the whale darted ahead, and the bight of the line caught his leg. He was dragged overboard in an instant, and carried along underneath the water for some distance, but fortunately, got disentaogled in time.- When he came to the surface he was considerably exhausted, and was picked up by the boat.

A meeting of the H.B. Land Board was held in the Napier office'to-day, and attended by the Commissioner (Mr E. C. Gold Smith) and Messrs R. R. Groom and > T. Hyde.—The Weoer Road Board intinnted that, there were no objections to the disposal of the road reserve at Akitio river to Dairy Factory Company as a site for their factory. Re- - ceived. —It was decided to classify Waikopiro block No. 16 as secoud-class • land. —An application from the selector of section 7, block IV., to pay interest on the value ot the improvements instead of lodging the amount, £25, was granted. —The rent of section 67, Mahora, £12. lis 6d, being in arrears, and the notice to the selector having been returned unclaimed, it was decided to forfeit the section and reopen it" for application. —The proposals of the Weber Road Board and Hawke's Bay County Council lor the expenditure of £562 63 3d and £66 8s 4d respectively, were approved.—The following applications for transfers were granted :—tiection 3, block VI., Mangatoro, from G. J.. Goldfinch to P. W. and C. H. Goldfinch j section 6, block IV., Tahoraite, irom W. Gardiner to Alexander McKenzie; section 3, block 1, Mangatoro, from George Harvey to H. M. Titehmarsh ; . section 1 block VI, Mangatoro, R. Caughley to J. Caughley ; tection 4 block V, from C. Svensen t<> A. Svensen ; section 31 block XIV, Takapau, M. Fras« r to E. Moirison ; section 14, block 11, MaDgatoro, from W. T. Kilford to J. Searle ; section 2 block V, Mangatoro, fromE. A. Kilford to W. C. Kilford - T • sestion 8 block 11, Mangbtoro, from M. CastlestoH. A. Ferguson; section9block XVI., Pohui, from Joseph King to James King.—Herbert Dodds wrote urging that a small bridge should be erected over the Manpapoko river, and it was decided to recommefd the request to the Chief Surveyor's favorable consideration.

The House of Commons has thrown out the Manchester and Liverpool Express Railway Bill (writes a London correspondent). The committee, however, did not condemn the proposal to run trains at nearly 100 miles per hour on the mono rail. The plans satisfied them completely excepting as to brake power. The problem of stopping a mono train at high speed was not deemed to be sufficiently clear. The promoters of the bill, too, had not satisfied certain local interestsThis marvellous scheme of locomotion will come up again next year, ft may be here noted that, to the joy of Londoners who use the underground railway, trains have already commenced running on part of the district section with electrical engines. There'is hope that before long the tunnels will be less evil-smelling, than they are with the ordinary locomotive.

Ladies should see the Special Bargains now being shown in Kirkcaldie and Stains' Limited, prior to their Annual Stocktaking, which must be completed by the 21st inst, Children's Knickers, Chemises, and Wool Vests, are being sold at Is each ; Ladies' Flannelette Chemises at la lid, and a host of other bargains too numerous to mention. — Advt.