TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 10

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Empire consultations on foreign policy to be helpful must be confidential. When negotiations are proceeding with a foreign State the various members of the British Empire cannot discuss their attitude in the hearing of the whole world. The necessity for this should be amply evident from the fact that the British Labour Government, which stands in principle for open diplqjnacy, has' been compelled to admit" the need, and, in the Russo-British consultations, follow the precedent set by previous administrations, At the same time the confidential character of the communications should not be : used as a means of stifling public discussion. There is little likelihood of this occurring in Great Britain, where any foreign issue of momenr-j is sure to be debated; but in the Dominions it may happen that an excessive respect for the "confidential" mark on the documents may lead a Government to withhold a statement of its own opinions. We do not think that this is intended or necessary. Without publishing correspondence a Dominion Government, we believe, is quite free to make public its own attitude on a question of importance. Moreover, it is advisable, that this should be d<»ne at the proper time and place. While negotiations are proceeding the people must necessarily trust the Government; but afterwards they should be informed of the opinion which has been expressed on their behalf. This is desirable, both as a check upon Government action and to encourage an intelligent public study of world affairs.

Wrestling, as recognised for centuries in the English, Scottish, and Irish games, and familiar to all who have' attended similar gatherings in New Zealand, was worthy of its place amongst the traditional British pastimes. Every hold was scrupulously fair, and the healthy rivalry between two splendid specimens of manhood was fine to see. But in other parts of the world wrestling has evolved. The Japanese showed' the effectiveness of ju-jitsu holds, and in certain States of America what has been known as "all in" rules were introduced. These allowed every manner of unfair practice, such as kicking, gouging, $ hair-pulling, scratching and even biting, and the strangle-hold, and in the last two years we have had teams of American wrestlers in New Zealand, and their rules have excepted the stranglehold and gouging, but have admitted many other practices foreign to clean sport. At the Town Hall last night, a match was staged between a Canadian and an American, and the referee, Mr. J. Creeke, announced before the start that the contestants had excepted only strangling and gouging. He specially mentioned that the "rabbit-killer" would be allowed if the blow did not travel more than six inches. It was this blow, landed three times, that stunned the Canadian, and his seconds threw in the towel while he lay senseless on the floor. A large section of the crowd was disgusted by this display, and in view of the fact that similar instances have occurred elsewhere, and in Auckland a man's arm was broken, it is time that the new wrestling was investigated, and the gladiatorial elements eliminated. Contests such as last night's offend the rules of clean sport. They are degrading to the participants and the spectators.

A warm welcome has been extended to the Boy Scouts who represented New Zealand at the Great Jamboree. It is agreed that they earned it by their conduct abroad. Their experience has given them a new enthusiasm for the movement and a greater incentive to apply its grand principles. This new enthusiasm will certainly be beneficial to Scouting in the Dominion, and for |this reason alone the trip will have jbeen worth while. The advice of the Wellington Commissioner is, nevertheless, timely. "Don't let the wanderlust get into you too much (he said). Go back to your homes and pick up your Scout lore. Trips are all right, but it is better to prepare yourselves for your careers than to look forward eagerly to your next trip abroad." Tours are sometimes unsettling, as well as inspiriting. With the returned Scouts there is probably little danger. They have an aim which will engage their attention. In Great Britain, as their commander stated, they - observed the movement on a higher plane. We may be sure that they will now give themselves whole-heartedly to the task of raising the New Zealand status, not in order to earn another trip, but so that this Dominion shall occupy a worthy place in the Scout circle. The fact that the Chief Scout has promised the Dominion a visit will be an additional incentive to keenness.

While submitting for world consideration the idea of freedom of the seas for food ships, President Hoover explained that he did not make this | a Governmental proposition to any .nation. Nor was it a proposition for the Naval Conference,- as that session was for another purpose. The prudence of not injecting such a proposal into the London Conference is shown by the reception it has had in the British Press, vWhile bespeaking fair consideration for the suggestion, the Press points out some of the difficulties attendant on its adoption. President Hoover put his proposal forward as a "practical step which would solve a large part of the problem," but the first comments cast doubt on its practical quality. Free passage by sea raises the issue of free passage by land, and, as the "Daily Telegraph" further points ont, there is no longer a

clear, well-defined line between foodstuffs and munitions. Open discussion of the proposal may, indeed, prove the impossibility of half-meas-ures in limitation of sea freedom. Even so, it will not be a fruitless effort if it convinces the nations that there are no effective means of limiting war results, and that attention must again be concentrated upon the provision of pacific agencies to prevent conflicts and establish such confidence that international action against an aggressor will be a practical proposition.

"Speaking for myself, I only wish we had sufficient money to do the work," said Councillor Wright, chairman of the City Works Committee. "I would like to see a further loan carried so as to make a prize job of the lot." Probably there are other councillors who also would favour a "prize job," and ratepayers who would welcome a prize in which they shared. The city must, however, face the fact that "prize jobs" call for money, and money is money even when it is borrowed. Ratepayers are complaining of rate1 burdens. - They are not in the mood to sanction new loans. If they had the opportunity, they would probably block some of the works which are planned or proceeding without loan polls. Economy is desired, and citizens must help the Council to practise it. They are not debarred from emphasising the urgency of particular works, but they should make it clear that they do not, by such emphasis, sanction an increase in expenditure.