TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

One Turkish Ministry has accepted the Powers' advice for the terPeace in mination of war in the BalSight? kans, and to-day that Ministry has a successor with the % warrior Shevket Pasha as Grand Vizier, in place of the veteran Kiamil Pasha, vigorous still at the age of four score. Trouble is threatened in Constantinople, for the populace is hostile to the surrender of Adriahople on the terms specified in the Powers' Note. It is possible that impetuosity and 'bitter resentment may work some mischief, but without some European backing the opponents of peace, on the conditions submitted by the Powers, cannot hope to make their hostility effective. Popular riots and indignation meetings will not avail against the forces which are reducing Turkish territory. Of course, Turks may feel encouraged by "moral support" of Germany and Austria to make a demonstration of protest now, but it appears that any assistance from that quarter will be purely of the "moral" order for the present. Berlin journals (which give, in the guise of anonymity, the opinions of great Official folk) profess to be very indignant at the turn of events. One declares hotly: "The Triple Alliance has weakly allowed itself to be taken for a tow post. Germany and Austria are crushed to the wall by the Triple Entente." Austria, for reasons of self-preservation, had to be on guard against the gaining of important territory by Slavs' near her own Slav provinces, and therefore Servia and Bulgaria have been more and more compelled to lobk to Russia for sympathy. In playing their own game for territorial expansion, the Allies are also suiting Russia, which is a move nearer to Constantinople. It is a strange medley of influences and counter-influences. The Powers have had an eye to the future, and on present evidence Russia appears to have gained something substantial in the scramble. By the aid of Labour's machine vote Mr. G. S. Beeby (ex-Min-A Radical Win. ister for Lands and Labour in the M'Gowen Government) has scored a victory for Radical Liberalism against Wadeism at Blayney. That thread by which the Labour Government of New South Wales has long been perilously hung stretches wonderfully. The Government's heels are in the air, but its toes are still on the ground. It is sore for the neck—but, still, one lives. When Mr. Beeby withdrew from the Ministry and announced a resolution to help in forming "a new progressive force in politics, free from rigid machinery," Labour's hand wae against him. A representative of the machine, Mr. Johnßton, ran him close at the first ballot, which resulted :— Mr. Withington (Liberal), 1799 votes; Mr. Beeby, 1157; Mr. Johnston, 1121. Some irreconcilables among the Labour ranks vowed vengeance' on the man who had flouted the machine, but the final figures show that the in* \ surgent must have received a block vote from Labour. The total polling at the first ballot was 4077, and with two small returns to add the voting was 4313 for the second round— plain evidence of a very keen contest. Both sides had evidently whipped up their forces .thoroughly, and success by a small majority (a trifle over 100) came to the Independent Progressive, who will support Mr. M'Gowen on motions of no-conndenco. The issue will probably put new heart into the Labour Party, but it is dangerous to set up any towering structure of hope on the Blayney groiuul. The incident perharja more indicates the,

weakness of Wadeism at Blayney than the strength of Labour, and as a pointer for the general election this year its value Is too doubtful *o justify any guesswork at all. The M'Gowen Government will certainly surprise Australasia if it survives, even by a hair's breadth, the next appeal to the country. Larrikins have damaged ft number of N . presentation seats on Destructive the Thorndon EsplaCubs. nade. The City Council has decided to erect the customary notices requesting citizens to "protect their own property, and to write to the police. Vandals are nob much influenced by notices, even when prosecution 1b threatened "by order." It is necesßftty to catch a few and punish them in a manner to frighten their hoodlum brethren. The detection is not easy without the co-operation of the public. Unless people who witness acts of wanton, senseless mischief are willing to assist in bringing the offenders before a magistrate, the destruction may continue for many a year. The "monkey tricks" of wild small boys and callow youths have been a sore problem in this city for some years. The Kareri watershed, Queen's Park, fences on the Wades-town-road, and other property have been maltreated with impunity by stupid enemies of the beautifying movement. Apart from the actual havoc done, which is intensely irritating, the commvmity suffers, because public-spirited citizens are disheartened. "What is the good of our endeavour," they may say, "when hooligans break dowh what We build up?" We hope that the council will not be content with a casual letter to the police, to be remembered for a, day or two and forgotten. A eerious, persistent attempt should be made to check the young barbarians who injure public property.