Evening Post FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1911. FLAT, STALE, UNPROFITABLE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 6

Evening Post FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1911. FLAT, STALE, UNPROFITABLE.

The Speccli from the Throne is n«*er an inspiring effort, but yesterdny it was even dulfer than usual. Anything flatter, staler, or more unprofitable it would be difficult to imagine. There is neither light nor leading nor information nor edification in it. The most remarkable thing about tho Speech is the length of time which it takes to say nothing. Paragraph follows paragraph and platitude follows platitude in a wearisome string until one first wonders whether the force of inanity could further go and , then finds comfort in the reflection that in the judicious hands of "my AdvieeTs" it might easily have- been made to "extend from here to Mesopotamy," but has fortunately been cut shorb at two columns and a half. The constructoTS of this forlorn and vapid anthology are perhaps surprised at their own moderation. They might evidently have made it ten times' as long, and if they had it may safely be said that the quality could not possibly have been, wovss. The Coronation, the Imperial Conference, roads and bridges, the prosperity of the- Dominion, the cheerful outlook for labouT— these and scores of i other things are successively treated in the same jejune and unilluminating ! fashion. It would, perhaps, be hypercritical to expect anything new or stirring about the Coronation, and on. this point, therefore, let it suffice- te> say that expectation is Hot disappointed. But surely the Imperial Conference deserved something better than this : "This Conference was attended by my ! Prime Minister and the Attorney-Gen-eral. The results of that Conference have been most satisfactory, and the details of its proceedings will be placed before you." Once in four years this Advisory Council of tho Empire meets in London and this I year, for the first time, its. members were admitted to the heart of themystery of Britain** foreign policy, which, whatever Mr. Andrew Fisher may or may not have eaid, is the. Empire's foreign policy. But neither this nor any other feature of an. extraordinarily interesting and important gathering is touched on even in the most perfunctory way. Everything about the Conference was "most satisfactory" and having committed themselves to the illuminating comment "my AdviwrV pass on to illumine r»t»i ties* other topics in the rarric helpful way. The nest .■subject treated i« tho \YVbster rlaun, which is not regarded by most people ofi of epoch-making importance. Afore fipuce is nevertheless deVoted to it than to the Imperial Confer once, and it is gratifying to lea.m that here also the verdict is "completely satisfactory." "The continued prosper- | ity of the Dominion" and "the increase in the mateii?.l well-being of the people*' aie next noted in the stereotyped [ihrfKMkilogj' to which vow«o w« nrawtom sdj, fc»juv.fc & fc» jsKSti^faik mz

peopk will consider that platitude has j been suddenly exchanged for pajadox ! when they wad thai "contentment and happiness prevail everywhere." Skipping An unusually extensive paragraph about the farming industry, we are electrified by the following startling announeenwnt; "During the past year my Advisers have continued the work pf assisting the Settlement of the country by steadily pursuing the construction of railways, roade, and bridges in various parts of the Dominion tinder the authorities granted by Parliament." How exciting, how informing, how helpful such a statement ie ! But might it not, along with the greater part of the Speech, b» kepfc always in type to save tho cost of re-setting from year to year ? Beyond noting that His Excellency has been informed that in regard to the labour market "the outlook for the immediate future is very promising indeed," and that the launching of Isew Zealand's Dreadnought "took place at Glasgow on the first day of the month in the presence of a very large number of spectators," We must deny ourselves tho privi' lego of pursuing the impreesive catalogue anj further. When we come to the list of measures which fills the last few paragraphs of the Speech the hope for information and guidance is disappointed almost as grievously as in the string of Commonplaces which preceded it. The list> of measures is & Het of names, and littl-e mote. Local Government, which is the most urgent need of all in the field of legislation, i« sandwiched \n between Loans to Local Uodies and the Registration of Plumbers, and not the faintest cluo is given as to the naturo of the measure. A Native Land Bill will bo introduced which "will defcl with various matters that have been noted in practice during the period since the Act came into operation." Thte enlightening description is about as much as v?s get ot any of the measures. "Bills affecting an improvement in the existing law will be submitted to you in respect to Workers' Compensation, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, and Wages Protection," As every Bill will, in the opinion of its sponsors, " effect an improvement of 'the existihg law," this Announcement merely amounts, as We have eaid, to giving the flames of the Bills. The only measure in the- list of the nature of >which any further information is given is one relating to the sale of seeds, which is introduced by the statesmanlike asstiTance that "the question of the eradication of noxious weeds has become one of vital importance." A poorer, tamer, wordier, more platitudinous Speech from the Throne has seldom been heard.