TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 13, 17 January 1910, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

This is said to be a period of transition in New Zealand — apartRadical ing of the political ways Missionaries. — a time when the alleged sheep on the Liberal "run" are to &cek different pastures from the alleged goats. Political factions are decidedly complicated at present. There are Ministerial leaseholders and Ministerial freeholders; Masseyan leaseholders and Masseyan freeholders ; Radical Liberals and Conservative Liberals ; Radical Oppositionists and Conservative Oppositionists. These "crisscrosses" ot political sentiment occur chiefly among the members of Parliament and their immediate supporters; the older school is in turmoil, and right at the back is Young New Zealand, slowly beginning to think politically. In the meantime a strip of land chiefly divides the followers of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey. Successive sessions, it is alleged by some critics, have narrowed the border, and lest ifc should be further thinned, the Radicals are taking the field. A southern paper mentioned recently, "on the best authority," that a meeting would be arranged in Christchurch early in February to draw up a leasehold plan of action, and at this conclave newspaper editors will be present, and Legislative* Councillors (including the Hons. J. T. Paul and G. j Jones), and straight-out Ministerialist leasehold members of the House of Representatives, with the Independent "stiffening" of Messrs. T. E. Taylor, J. 'P. Luke, and D. M'Laren. It is reported that Mr. M'Laren may be appointed by tho heads of the Independent Labour Party to do organising work I in both islands, and he is already speak--! ing of a "New Zealand Radical and Labour Federation," as distinct from the Ministerial Liberal and Labour Federation, of "Lib.-Lab." notoriety, much disliked by^ many good Liberals. It seems that at least two political movements are to disturb the Premier's recessional peace. "Political events happen so quickly in New Zealand that al"The Laboratory ready some of the reof the World." ferences— as in regard to the land policy — do not precisely fit the case," ran one remark by Mr. A. G. Stephens in his Saturday reyiew of Mr. G. H. Scholefield's book" "New Zealand in Evolution." That comment of Mr. Stephens may also be applied to Mx. Scholeneld's claim for tho industrial legislation which, he wrote, has "practically eliminated the strike and ihe lock-out from the consideration of business men." History has been rapidly made since Mr. Scholefield closed Ida accounts in 1908. j Various facts have proved that it is far too soon to sit in judgment on New Zealand's chief experiments ; time is needed to test them. New Zealand has often been called "the laboratory of the world," and the outside world has been eager to peep into the laboratory. Men have come from Europe and America, but they have largely been "too pre- | vious." They have been impatient to "write up" an experiment before it has been properly 'tried. An interesting laboratory experiment is to bring together conflicting elements which will remain prettily ai> peace in a test-tube. They keep company so lovingly — to 'the casual eye — that a poet might find a theme for a sonnet in their cessation from troubling. Something shakes the tube slightly — and the harmony ends in a violent explosion. The visitors to these shores have been too apt to assume that an experimental essence — bottled and labelled in the laboratory of Parliament — is necessarily an established "cure-all." Time, however, proves that problems which vex other British and non-British countries, may still stir New Zealand, though the degree of the vexing varies. In estimating these degrees of difference most of the commentators I have not sufficiently studied the population — its distribution, its occupations, and other important factors. A fortnight hence an Australian cricket team of projected The Game and heavy calibre leaves the Gate. . home, at the invitation of the New Zealand Cricket Council — the governing body in this Dominion — to tour these islands. Is the host ready to receive his visitois? At the present there is no POftaJnty lhat he i«, but iign* aro not w&utinj; that tb9 house divided may

be reunited in time sufficient for preparations of an adequate and satisfactory nature being made for the safe conduct of the tourists. The invitation was issued in the middle of last year, the council specifying for a "pooling" scheme under -which tb.6 four leading associations of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin were to guarantee a certain sum, participate iv the general profits accruing from ths tour, or share in the aggregate loss. The local association immediately objected, as a matter of principle, and has held firm m its objection to the "pooling" scheme, with the result that there was a threatened possibility of its being passed over. Now Auckland has joined forces with her sister association in th© endeavour to revive the old procedure of each body guaranteeing a sum towards tho council's expenses in playing the Test matches, the while each association handled its own profits or losses. In the '■face of the attitude of the two strongest centres, it looks as though the "council must countermand the tour or yield gracefully to thb desires of the majority, for several of the smaller associations, too, have decided against the "pool-and-participate" idea. According to its rules ■and constitution the council — a purely administrative body — undoubtedly has the management of cricket matters, and especially the control of visiting teams, 1? *'?• a , n^ s - * ts idea in specifying the pooling" scheme was, doubtless, that all the chief centres should get a match, and that the stronger should assist the weaker in the matter of "gates." But it must remember that each of the centres has its own clubs to foster and cultivate, and in Wellington, especially — since the institution of district cricket — the financial aspect is fraught with some anxiety. Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland each possess "coaches," but Wellington's great need in this direction is still _ unsatisfied. Again, the local association has offered the council to go as far as a guarantee of £150— £50 more than asked — with 20 per cent, of the net_ profits, if need be. This appears a genuine and a generous enough offer. Under the guarantee system the council is shorn of almost all, if not all, of its liability, and it is probable that, sooner than allow the tour to fall through, and New Zealand cricket 'to miss an opportunity for example, lhe> governing body will accede to this compromise. For tho sake of cricket in these islands we hone it will. l