TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1909, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

- ■> When pressed for a revelation of the Government's mind Will They Stand about the strike at to Their Guns. Point Elizabeth, the Premier remarked last night that "the position was quite clear so far as the Government was concerned, but he did not want to anticipate it." He has promised to have the Government's case presented to Parliament,, and in the meantime one may infer from the Premier's significant remark, coupled -with the sturdy silence of the past week, that Ministers, this time, are determined not to be browbeaten nor weakly intimidated by idle threats. We do not hold with those who fancy that the managers of the Stato mine (from the Minister downwards) are under an obligation to show their hands every time a legislator, with no special responsibility in tho matter, puts a question. The crisis may be one-demanding shrewd silence for a time; and we say this not in any manner apologetic for the Government, but from the viewpoint of plain commonsense. The silent sauce deemed good for the goose at Point Elizabeth can be equally good, in certain circumstances, for 'the gander of Wellington. If the men who are entrusted with the administration of the people's mine believe that they can best serve the people by silence at this time, then let them be silent so long as they stand firm throughout. The -workers have refused to take their case to a Conciliation Commissioner. They prefer making a peremptory demand of the "stand and deliver" order, and — probably ill-ad.vised by outsiders— they think that they have power enough to force the Government to its knees. If the telegrams from the West Coast correctly represent the temper of the men, then they have forfeited any claim to public sympathy in the disP i lt - e " , Their veiled threats have a note ot insolence, which should serve tothor- | oughly set the Government against any ignoble surrendering. Even if the people are compelled to have dear coal for a time, and tho country is put to inconvenience and loss, these things will be cheaper than a surrender to men who try to argue with a pistol. A surrender to the men of Point Elizabeth, after their refusal to submit their alleged grievance to a, proper tribunal, might prove the beginning of grave and endless disorders in the whole scheme of State activity. Parliament appears to be a believer iv tho doctrine: "All J.he Casual. work and no play Parliamentarian, makes Jack a cbll ■n-,, , b °y-" Though the •tuns are heavy members manage to furnish hght reading. The Hon. Wi Pere created a diversion in the Legislative Umncil yesterday by a homily on lung Mahuta, the absent. Mr. Wi Pere's complaint, in essence, was an old one: "The King is above the law." J.ho Lower House, naturally,"" has provided more comedies than the more decorous Council. -When the Government was defeated on a clause in. the Advances Bill last night it was disf£ Ye £ ed that ab °ut eighteen soldiers of the Premier's army had retreated southward for the week-end. Mr. Massey was away in the north helping an agricultural show towards success, bhortly before one o'clock this morning the attendance in the chamber was about twenty -five out of- a rota of eighty, or 31 per cent. The remaining 69 per cent, apparently thought that their duty to their country or to themselves required their absence when the policy of loans to local bodies was under review. The attendance, too, was nominally twenty-five, but many were but sleepy or sleeping fractions. The machine was run down; tho belt was off the fly-wheel. Earlier in the week, when important estimates were going through the mill, the spectacles were even more quaint. From the attitude of many members on the Premier's side, it was very plain that they had agreed to shut their eyes, like the children, and bpen their mouths — but not to speak. The caucuses had engendered a peaceful reasonablenes among them, from the Government's viewpoint, but it would have been more politic on their part to show a semblance of vigilance, even if it was only a pretence. The hours have dragged on, enlivened occasionally by such distractions as the Taylor-Davey-telegram vaudeville, and by complaints. Members have chided the Premier for wasting time, and the Premier has chided members. Sir Joseph periodically threatens the school that it, will have to reassemble soon after the Christmas "break-up," but the pupils have grown used to the threat. The members are_ sitting late, but last night and other nights have shown that a man can sleep as well sitting as lying wheu he puts his mind to it. Two days ago the cables" contained a message reporting the Germany Falls "reluctant admission" into Line. by the Berlin Kreuz Zeitung that co-opera-tion -with Britain in regard to the Congo would be necessary if Germany's treaty rights were to be maintained. That such co-operation should need apology when it is remembered that Britain's contemplated action is notoriously in the interests of humanity, might seem strange. Apology is rather due for previous apathy. But there could be no doubt that the article was really a semi-official "pilot balloon," and yesterday's cable news confirmed that view. It may be inferred that Germany's object was to give as little offence as possible to Leopold and his friends, now that it had decided that it could no longer stand aloof. So now we learn not only that the Bremen Chamber of Commerce has committed itself to .a resolution of sympathy with the resolutions passed at the great meeting at the Albert Hall in London, but that an announcement has been made that an understanding has been reached between Britain and Germany regarding the Congo territory, and that aii international conference is to be called. It will be interesting to watch the attitude of the German representatives. At any rate, all must admit, "reluctantly" or otherwise, that action could not much longer be deferred ; for the exasperation in Africa caused by Belgian misrule and Leopold's disregard of his responsibilities is making the position a" difficult one for other Powell who have important interests in the "Dark Ooniinent.'-*