TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1913, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Peace, like the horizon, is ever dimly J in sight on the Balkan The War. Peninsula, and ever recedes. The Allies' reply to the Powers' collective Note is practically a repetition of the old demands, and therefore, unless some remarkable j development, unexpected by the general public, alters the present gloomy situation, the war will drag on indefinitely, One of the messages to-day mentions ' that the Allies are looking for an advantage in a belief that the Powers are divided into two hostile groups (the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente). According to English reviewers, the Young Turks, when they overthrew the Kiamil Ministry, also hoped for a benefit in European dissensions. Can the Turks and their enemies both profit from the same cause? It is not impossi' ble. Meanwhile the actors visible and the actors behind the scenes present ft problem play which rather mystifies the world.' "Through the prevailing confusion," wrote Dr. Dillon in the February number of the Contemporary, "it is hardly possible to discern what the various dramatis personae really feel and think and aim at. They resemble fancifully-dressed' figures' at a masked ball, what seems is not; and what is wears a disguise. Motives are embellished by <euphemisms, words hide thoughts, and feints dissemble aims. The fibres of certain great nations are closely interwined with the roots of little nationalities engendering results which •—as the causes remain invisible— baffle or bewilder the observer." When such an observer aB Dr. Dilldn makes such a confession the ordinary layman need not be ashamed of his perplexity. Yet by the aid of that keen critic and other students of Europe's complicated politics one may deduce that some of the delay in the settlement is due to the crafty policy of Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany. "It is an acute aspect of Austro-Russian rivalry," says Dr. Dillon in a general note. "For in making out the boundaries of Albania and providing for the vital requirements of this new State, Austria-ttungary is really furthering legitimate interests of her own— the creation of new markets and the development of friendly hations— which her statesmen feel unable to sacrifice even for the interests of peace." In the Fortnightly of February "Fabricus" remarks '.--"Austria-Hungary strives to prevent by all means in her power the rise of the young Balkan nations, and especially of Servia. Russia sympathises with the Balkan States, and de* sires that they should be permitted to reap the fruits of their victories and to grow and to develop. She is in favour of allowing events to take their course." Austria-Hungary, a political conglomeration of nations, is said to be in a precarious position, and it is Germany's policy- to maintain her ally m full strength. The prophets are trying hard to gauge how fat the interests of the large rival nations will affect the map of the Near East. Some painstaking statistician may presently calculate the power Politic* of petrol in politics, per Petrol. Hough estimates were quoted at the time of the elections of 1911, but there were enough factors in addition to motor spirit to make the various assertions very untrustworthy. Yet it i& a fact that petrol can definitely increase a politician's campaigning capacity. The latest example come* from Canterbury, where the Pre** mier has been whirled rapidly through the plains in the luxurious car* of devoted supporters. Probably Mr. Massey's efficiency as an expositor of his party's doctrines and aspirations was enlarged 50 per cent, by the aid of petrol— in the sense that in a given time hi« range of voice was 60 per cent, wider with petrol than it could have been without thjit valuable ally. The cars enabled him to thoroughly "do" North Canterbury on Saturday, and during his speedy transit he made eight speeches— "apart from the replies to deputations," say* a Press Association message. "This is going Home," as American slang has it, and it Was only one busy day of a eerie*. This sensational croes-conntry work tompares well with similar helter-skelters by Sir Joseph' Ward, who dearly liked to throw the miles pell-mell behind him. It is partly a pleasure jaunt for the Premier, but it is principally a political mission. Canterbury, on the whole, Was "anti-iße-form" in 1911^ and the Government has tho task of convincing the- prosperous province that it is iniquitous and utterly unreflpectable to be "anti-Reform. Therefore, large volumes of opal fumes will drift across the broad pastures and the cornfields before the next appeal to the country. One does not begrudge the hard-worked Premier his motor excursions, but one may regret that he did not try the queer trains in the hinterland of Canterbury, where venerable locomotives (nicknamed "slocomotivcfi") pufi w^arU^ along^jvlt.h,, aotujuated roll-

ing—very rolling-^stock. The general public of New Zealand docs not know nali onough about thoso back-country lines. After many strenuous days of preparation ' the Citizens' Carnival Working for has begun. A grey, Wellington. frowning sky on Satur* day failed to Bpoil tha gala at Lyall Bay, where thousands found pleasure at & profit to the promoters of a great public movement. Many sunny faces of cheerful young lady helpers and others made delightful apology for the boorishness of the sun, and the afternoon was good for all. Important days are yet to come, and every citiaen ■will hftve an opportunity to do something for Greate» Wellington. A little difference of opinion has occurred about the allocation of the prospective funds and the constitution of the committee to control the expenditure, but the final settlement of this matter can well wait till the programme of amusements has been vigorously carried through. t The incident is a reminder that it will be necessary to have a permanent organisation of private cltieens to co-operate with the City Council for the beautifying and general improvement of public property, but meanwhile the essential need is a strong united fellowship to, rouse the citizens into a generous mood for the benefit of themselves and their children. If this movement had not happened this yetiv Wellington would have been lamentably laggard by contrast with other cities and towns of New Zealand-— Dunedin, Chrutchurch, Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Nelson, Timaru, Pictoh, and other places are all busy with improvement schemes, and Wellington people have to do much to catch up to then 1 active brethren of other communities.