TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Mr. George Fowlds, who surprised tho House of Representa • A Move by tives and the country Mr. G. Fowlds. hist year with his "new evangel" (t( 10 text of his speech of reMgnation from the Ministry), has definitely joined the United Labour Party, according to news from Auckland. This action fits in naturally enough with his previous procedure. Auckland, at least, was prepared for thia step by the fact that the Northern "Young New Zealand Party," with which Mr. Fowlds is prominently connected, decided a few days ago to amalgamate with the United Labour iParty.' Mr. Fowlds says that he is not in enlire accord with the Labour programme, bull he sees more to admire in the Labour profession of policy than in Liberal promises. In our view the leader* of tho new Labour movement havo yet to definitely fix their working policy, as distinct from the "objective"' (pratiic* ally the "co-operative commonwealth"), so that tho "middle class," for which Labour purports to bo catering as waIJ as for such "revolutionaries,*' as extremist members of the Socialist Fedoiation of Labour, can know what to expect. There are some ehrewd politicians in tho Labour Party us in otheis, and they are busily "sensing" Ihe country. There will be some widespread rejoicings over the acquisition of Mr. Fowldc, ' even if his support is slightly qualified, because he will be tho means of bringing others into the Labour fold. It is reported that he intends to conduct through, the country a campaign on behalf of the United Labour Party. Looking ahead, one may fairly assume that by the influence of Mr. Fowlds and those whom he will attract to the Labour standard, the policy of the party will bo readjusted to make a clear line of demarcation between the Labour of, say, Mr. D. M'Laren and the Labour of, say, Mr. R. Semple. At all events, the advent of Mr. Fowlds as a Labour organiser must .hasten the process of party evolution to which we have often referred. Day by day the vision of Moderate Liberal versus Labour looms up more plainly. The Queensland electors have_ just decided on a straight-out issue of Liberalism against Labourism, and" by present signs tho year is nqt .distant when New Zealand's political battles will, be on similar ground. Whatever Labour may care to dp or not do iv conjunction with the Liberals ranged under the Hon. T. Mackenzie, it is clear that Labour is making plans for the future, plans lor Labour against ull-comei's. At a cost of about £600,000, the Government of New South A Plea for a Wales is to have a, Model Suburb, model snbiirb, "Daceyville" (between Kensington and Botany), for the convenience and comfort of Sydney workers. The, euburb, which has been excellently planned, as reporte from The Post's Sydney correspondent have shown, ia named after Mr. Dacey, a member of tho State Labour Ministry, who died a few weeks ago from ' overwork. Mr. Dacey promoted the scheme with an enthusiasm which quickly swept away all obstacles. . A man was nettled, ana the man arrived. The Sydney experiment obviously has an Australasian importance. If it succeeds, as it promisee to do han4som,ely, townplanning w9l gain some support in other States. New Zealandere will watch the trial just as eagerly as their Australian kinsmen, but it i« really not necessary to await the results of the Daceyvillo enterprise as a preliminary to healthful suburban development in this country. The " model suburb " movement has been well started in Kngland and other old countiies, and the euccees of the initial ventures has assured an extension of this good policy. It is pleasing to, notico that the Auckland City Council wishes Parliament to give the municipality power to acquire the Orakei Native Estate for a mcxjel suburb — naturally tho Hon. A. M. Myers, a zealous town-planner, has approved the proposal, and has promised to submit tho matter to Cabinet, When he was a" private member Mr. Myers Had a Townplanning Bill dmt'ted with a view to benefiting tho whole of Auckland City Hiid the largo surrounding district. The political scene has changed since then, but time has emphasised the call for all tho activity which Mr. Myers uiid o^her public men can spare for town-planning. Unless public men are willing to see the advantage and to act spiritedly for it, the subject will remain one toy bootless debate. It was the hearty interest of fiiioh men that educated the public of Urjtain and America and got the people moving. Thuß epoke an American visitor to Australia last year t — *■" I have attempted to show how a movement started here and there by a few big-minded men has gradually forced action through public opinion, und has successfully guided and helped that opinion until it has swept the country and made men think for themselves, the idealist to study harder, the man of buiiness to realise the present value and future great benefit of this idea, until each town wants precedence, and each man, each home, wants to co-operate to secure it. ... It is every man to t!ho wheels, and no backwash from anybody. If the business man follows ana approves, it only makes tho change *ne easier, the quicker, and the more thorough." New Zealand desires a number of these essential " big-mindejd men " to come into the open.