TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Usually an Imprest Supply ' debate is - clueity notable for A Go-as-you-Please a welter of words Debate. about^ everything imaginable and unimaginable. Last night's "inquest"' on the very lively body politic was diflerent, in one respect, fiom the average one. The quality ot' the speeches was no better, but the quantity was happily less ; the ,jury was willing to go home at midnight "instead of at the customary 2 a.m. or o a.m. on such occasions. This first money Bill of each session is an opportunity for airing rumours and. allegations which have accumulated in the recess. Members have almost limitless license of speech, and Oppositionists go as far as the Very elastic rules will allow them. Sir Joseph Wavd, in beginning the guerrilla, tactics of the session, tried much sniping during the long night, but the weapon inUfired. He lost ground by elaborating leal or imaginary grievances, such as the alleged hostile vote of an alleged Chinaman against him in 'the Blulf Harbour Board election and the Government's refusal or reluctance to make a start with a cockspur railway (VVinton to Headon's Bush) in Sir Joseph's electorate. Naturally various critics of the Government exerted themselves to "draw l^ the Premier about the appointments intended to create a majority for Reform in the Legislative Council, but Mr. Massey is not -a" politician of yesterday, and hp pleasantly bantered the gentlemen who set such simple snares (with, practically, warning notices in front of them). 'Mi. O. W. Russell gave a humorous estimate of four hundred applicant'? for the vacancies ; we should not bo surprised if the total exceeded a hundred. Ttio Government must bo in a portion of snrtin embarrassment with only a few seats for .so many claimant!!. Irirnda of tln< party in power look for recognition ot years' of soivire. but the Uovoinniout ea'njiot all'ord l<> ignore the merit <? of some moti who may ho in favour ol 'an nlueliw .\vslcm 'for the Legislative Council but are not identified with the IMorm Paity. Su far the Government has wisely looked bevoncl itt, own julo ;is woll 'as within, when calling men to the Council, and this wisdom won public appioval. Such fairness will be the better policy in making vcappointment* Qi j u electing new members,.

Not always bold when a Government— as Auckland knows ho Politicians t woll— the Liberal Opand the position docs not lack Public Service, audacity in attempts to recapture the Treasury Benches. A coiihpicuous example was given yesterday when Sir Joseph Waul was intioducing a Public Service Amendment Bill. The Opposition Leader's purpose was to convey an impression to the ♦country that under the lion-political Commissioner system the public servants had serious glievances, particularly in the lack of a proper right of appeal, The speaker ignored the tact that his own Government had years in which to grant such a full right as the one_ \vhich he discussed yesterday, and it did not confer the privilege. lie also overlooked the provision in the Act for appeal, and seemed to be unaware that by a recent judgment of the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), whose ruling has to be stiictly observed by the Com missioners, the public servants appear to have a fay-reaching right of appeal. Of course it, is not surprising that any Opposition is eager to discount , or utterly deny, the good principle of legislation designed for the advantage of the people and their employees. Hence come vague allegations of "seething discontent" and smouldering fires of resentment. No proof of the alleged widespread hostility lo non-political control is offered j the awful spectre Of unrest does not take tangible shape, but Uie ghost can be easily laid. , We have no doubt that a small proposition o£ the Service may sigh for a restoration, of the old Veginie by which they ensconced' themselves in positions of peace and plenty. The public would have, undeniably, cause for wonderment— -and even for disappoint-ment—-if the reform did not disturb the equanimity of some persons, aghast at an obligation to be t efficient, or alarmed by a system of promotion by merit. A little .noise, a little, murmuring and muttsiiiig in some cjuarters should help to reassure the public that the Commissioner management is working well for the benefit of tho service as a whole and for the taxpayers.

An Athens cablegram published to-day suggests that Ulicfe Peace-making Sam, by a timely War Machines, sale of pre-Dread-nought warships to Greece, lias temporarily cooled tho wav fevei' of Turkey and eased the situation. Earlier messages stated that, the Foreign Kelitions Committee of the United States Senate wits against the sale, but that President Wilson stood to it, and secured its approval by the House of Representatives. 'There is a certain refreshing directness about the Wilson methods, Very much in contrast with the starched diplomacy of the older countries. In Europe a Foreign Minister would be swayed by considerations of correctness. He might know that Turkc>- was contemplating a crime againbt peafie, yet, as a neutral, he would hesitate to safeguard pacific Greece by selling her warships that he could well spare. The Greeks might have right on their side; but diplomacy does not strive to be right— it only aims at being "correct." To this school of Old World diplomatists President Wilson does not belong, and he is able to throw his great influence jnto the, scale— Turkey's "formal protests" notwithstanding— to protect the just against the unjust, and to provide the Greeks with war* machines for use against an aggressor. With the chess-board methods of Europe, this moral diplomacy of America contrasts sHarplv. What enables the Washington Administration to stand upon principle is the Fact that the United Statuses', self-cdtitahied, • isolated, '{11^1 free from entangling European and Asiatic interests. Britain, the greatest Mohammedan Potter in the world, must necessarily be careful in her attitude to Constantinople, the seat of the spiritual head of Mohammedanism ; and Sir Ed' ward Grey canllot be aggressively proGreek while the Bagdad railway, tho Persian oil concession (which may be in Turkey), and otW Middle East icons arc still in the fire. Yet British people can applaud America's action. It seems to be a genuine case of battleships preventing battles.

The Miramar Borough Council will meet on Monday afternoon to consider the balance-sheet for last financial year, as received from the Auditor-General. Captain Poster, of the Wairuna, report^ that when taking his vessel over to Miramar yesterday an open boat full of water was passed opposite Jerningham Point. So far no trace of the owner has been discovered. 'A _ farm labourer named Thomas O'Brien, who recently arrived from Masterton, was knocked down by an express i*n Post Office Square last evening. His right arm was broken and he received severe cuts about the head and face. 'His injuries are not so serious as at first re „ ported, and lie is doing well in the Hospital. Butchers are again experiencing considerable difficulty in getting fat cattle, the price of which- has gone to a high level, At the stock sale at Washdyke on Thursday, says the Timartt Herald, Mr. W. Gilchrist paid £15 each for two very prime fat bollocks which came from the Pairlie district. This was sUid by some who were at the sale _ to be a. record price for fat cattle sold in the ordinary way in South Canterbury saleyarcls. ' ( A conference of members of the Headquarters and District Staffs will be held at the Garrison Officers' Club, Bucklestreet, on Monday and Tuesday next, for the purpose of considering matters connected with the Defence scheme. MajorGeneral Sir Alexander Godley, Officer Commanding the Forces, _ will preside. The business to be considered will include Sir lan Hamilton's report and the recommendations made by the recent conference of Senior Territorial officers, MoneY received by the Technical Education Board last month totalled £1155 16s 7d. which included a progress payment of £900 in connection with the c»pita.tion allowance, and £203 12s 8d as a grant for material. The expenditure for the month was £860. made up of £645 for salaries and £215 spent on the general account. The debit balance now stands at £1454 7s 2d, as. against £260 lls lid at this, time last year. There are Several outstanding accounts, however, and these include i Capitation balance, 1913. £970; capitation balance, first cjuartei 1 , 1914, £440; Wellington Training College, £70 j claim for art apparatus, £30. Sydney is face to face with a very serious traffic problem, according to Mr. ' D. 0. Bates, who has just returned from a trip to the Commonwealth. Georgestreet, he says, is, in the neighbourhood of the Post Office, probably as busy as the immediate neighbourhood of the Bank of England in London, the congestion being enormous* The streets, Hvliat with motors, trams, and cabs, were positively dangerotis^and he fcaw one serious accident himself.' The police foi'Ce was far from strong enough, and could not control the traffic efficiently. It would not be long before an underground railway or some other means for relieving the' pressure on the streets would have to be established. Swimming races on Sunday will not be allowed in Wellington, The Wellington Amateur Swimming Association made arrangements recently for races *to he held at the Te Aro Baths toi morrow morning, and a number of written protests were received by" the Mayor (Mi 1 , J. S\ Luke) against such a proceeding on the Sabbath. The matter was put in the hands of Councillor G. Frost, cli&irni&tt ol the R&eei'vag Committee. He found that no permit to hold the races on Sunday had been given or applied, ,f or;, and, in consequence of the' objections that had been raised and because the City Council's policy is opposed to Sunday competitions in its baths, it was decided to prohibit the fixture. An earjy beginning is to be made with the erection in brick and rough cast of i the Training College at Kelburn. Ten tenders were received, and that of Mr. J. H. Meyer at £6965 has been accepted. The unsuccessful tenderers were : — ■ Howie and Matthews, £7673 } Hunt and M'Donald, £7697; W. H. Bennett, £7938 i Sanders Bros., £8370; Watts Bros., £8601 ; Murdoch and Wallis, £8686; Muir and Rose, £8720; M'Lean and Gray, £8882; M. Frain and Sons, £9736, The building will occupy a\Bite opposite to that on which the new In< fants' School stands, and it is to be completed by 28th February. Mr. W. Gray Young, who designed the Infants' School, has also 'prepared plans and specifications of the Training College. An assault upon a referee in a football match, ( played under Eugby Union ' rules, was investigated at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday (says the Herald). The offender was Ralph Craig (Mr. G, M. Stewart), and the charge of assault was brought at the instance of the Auckland Eugby Union (Mr, J. C. Martin). It was explained by Mr. Martin that Craig had assaulted ttie re- , feree after a fourth grade match on 6th June. The Rugby Union was not desirous of seeing a heavy' penalty inflicted in this case, but wished the public to Understand that misbehaviour would not be allowed at matches. . Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., said that such offences should be dealt with severely, but as the union did not desire it in tins case, Craig would be cautioned, and would be ordered to pay the costs of the action, amounting to 28s. The New* Zealand Society of Civil Engineers has been duly incorporated under the^ Incorporated Societies' Act, 1908. This society was originally the Institute of Local Government Engineers of New Zealand," but, at the annual meeting of the latter body, held in Auckland, on the 19th Match last, it resolved to enlarge its scope and influence by including members and associate members of the English Institution of Civil Engineers, and. indeed, all qualified engineers of standing and experience in the Dominion. At the date of incorporation the president of the society wa* Mr. IJ. S. Rounthwaite, M. lnst. C.E. of Wellington, and the vice-presidents were *nd are Messrs. Wm. Ferguson, M. lnst, C.E.. and S. A. 11. Mair, engineer to the Eangitikei County Council. Mr. Hounthwa/te has since resigned the position of president and taken up the duties of secretary of the society. He thought he could do better service for the society in this position, as the work of enrolling new members, associates, and students will require a great deal of careful attention, and really needs the assistance of one who is in close touch with tho work of the Local Government Engineer, as well as with the work of v civil engineers generally. 11l iespon3e to numerous requests, Mr. John Baillie has consented to open- his Gallery of British Paintings in the Harbour Shed " U," near Ferry Wharf, on Sunday afternoon, between 2 and 5 o'clock. No charge will be made for" idmisaion, but voluntary contributions will be received at the door. The Children's Carnival held in f.id of the local Orchestral Society in the Greytown Town Hall was very successful (writes our local correspondent). Miss .Edna' tuly _ played the accompaniments for the children's mai'chcß and the Quadrille, Band for tho dances. Amongst the list of prize-winners in the utility classes at the Masterton Poultry Show drears the name of Mr. B. Sutherland, of Brooklyn— two firsts aird one second. • _ The Carterton United Friendly Societies invite applications for a medical „ practitioner.