PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 12943, 5 May 1908, Page 3

PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME.

fFaoM Our Special Correspondent.] LONDON, March 27. Mr Keir Hardie returned home from his world-tour this week, looking strong and well. A monster “ welcome home ” in tho Albert Hall is being organised by the Labor and Socialist parties, to take place in a week’s time. Meanwhile the interviewers have been busy with the veteran Labor leader. “What general impression,” he was asked, " is strongest in vour mind after visiting Canada, Australasia, and South Africa? What of the, future of the British Empire?” ‘‘We can none of us speak for the future,” he replied. “ but what strikes me at present is that colomal loyalty is merely a surface sentiment. When business interest and loyalty clash, it is business interest that wins. Tariff Reform will never tighten the bonds of Empire, for the reason that tho colonies are not prepared to give anything. They will take any advantage giadly, hut they will make no sacrifice. The Flag and the Throne stir a certain emotion, for they arc the ties with Home, but tho Empire arouses no enthusiasm at all. In South Africa, for instance, I found all the English people with large interests rejoicing that Milners Transvaal Imperialism had been shunted, and the management of affairs put into tho hands of the sensible, level-headed Dutch. For all the difference the war has made, it might never have been fought. In Canada, ‘panada for the Canadians’ is the cry. Nothing about Canada for the Empire! In Australia there is the same spirit. They are angry at the very idea of their affairs being managed for the benefit of anyone hut themselves. In Australia I was naturally delighted to find that the cry of ‘Socialism frightens no one, though thev are well on the way towards the nationalisation of industries. The working men see that Protection and wages boards arc mere makeshifts. They have been carried as fu- as they will go, and they do not go far enough. Private ownership of land and private enterprise in tho production of necessaries are doomed. People are asking why tho new inter-Statc railway to connect North Queensland with South Ausfiaiia should not be built bv the Governments concerned. Private contractors offer to build it if they arc given land all along the line. Twenty years ago that was thought to be the only plan of getting such a railway built. Now the idea arouses great opposition. Even in Japan I found many evidences of labor ferment. Industrialism is beginning to pinch. The peasants went into factories or became miners just because they were told to. They had the habit of obedience. But now, although the factories I saw were quite as stood lis ours, they are feeling the difference between wage slavery and their former pleasant, contented life on the land. Japan has gone ahead too quickly; there is trouble brewing. Well, well, it’s good to be home. And, by the way, travel teaches you one thing more: tba‘ Scotland has given the world three good things. You find them everywhere—porridge, whiskv 1 and ‘Auld lang syne.’” Mr Hardie has great praise for New Zealand. : He describes it as ‘* the nearest approach to the ideal State” that he has seen in the course of his travels. Everywhere he found an air of prosperity, and it seemed to him that this was largely due to the Socialistic legislation of the New Zealand Government. In this week’s ‘Labor Leader AH Hardie commences his imnressions of his visit to New Zealand. He de- ' scribes Air Tregear, the head of the Labor Department, as “one of the sweetest, strongest, cleanest souls in the Dominion He also refers gratefully to the kindness shown him by the Mayor and Mayoress of . Wellington and other friends. ' I Air J. C. Gleeson, son of Mr B. Gleeson, nt .Napier, and financial manager of the recent New Zealand football combination which toured England, has been approached by several of the leading members of tho Irish party to stand’ for a seat m the House of Commons at the I next election, or earlier if circumstances : allow. Air Gleeson was one of the speakers at a great St. Patrick’s Night Demonstration in Glasgow, when some 3,000 were present. Air Gleeson returns to Now Zealand in about two months time, but will probably revisit England early in 1909. I Air Gilbert Anderson has been asked bv 1 the. New Zealand Government to repre'- ■ sent the Dominion at the International I Congress of the Refrigerating Industries, to he held in Paris. The Congress was to ' have been held next month, but has now been postponed till September. Air Anderson has been connected with the frozen meat industry from its inception in New Zealand, and ho holds strong views on meat inspection and the possibilities of extension of trade.

Mr and Mrs A. Robinson (of Wellington). who arrived here by the Athenic on March 14, intends remaining about twelve months. They are on a pleasure trip, and will visit Scotland, Ireland, Jersey, and the Continent during their sojourn in these latitudes.

Mr M. W. Maclean (of Dunedin) arrived in London on March 18 by the White Star liner Medic, which came from Australia via Durban. Cape Town, and Tenerifie. N®, is nn a business trip, and purposes remaining in London about three months, returning to New Zealand by the Suevic, which leaves Liverpool early in June. * Mr E. G. Leversedge (of Christchurch) and the Misses Edith and Alice Levevsedge arrived by the Athenic on March 14, after a pleasant voyage. They are on •a pleasure trio, and will spend a few weeks sightseeing in London and Paris, and then visit friends in Somerset, returning to London in time for the opening of the Franco-British Exhibition. They leave by the Arawa, which is due in Wellington on July 14. I hear that Major-general J. M, Babington. formerly of the 16th Lancers, and lately commanding in New Zealand Defence Force, has been appointed to command the Lowland Mounted Brigade of the Territorial Force in Scotland. Miss Maud Huitana (Mrs E. B. Buckeridge. of Gisborne) was among the artists who took part in the programme at the Actors Association conversazione last week. Her fine contralto voice created a decidedly favorable impression. Miss Beatrice Miranda was another contributing artist. 0 Colin Gil ray. the New Zealand Rhodes scholar, found a place in the Scottish Rugby team who defeated England by 15 points to 10 at Inverleith last Saturday Ho played, of course, as a threequarter and though he failed to score himself and did not exhibit the grand form he showed in the Oxford v. London Scottish match the week previous, Gilrav proved a most useful man, both in attack and defence. His passing at times was far from perfect, and twice ho and his fellow-collegian H. Martin mulled matters between them when tries seemed certain Still, on the whole, the New Zealander played a really good game, and gave the Scottish Selection Committee no reason id repent of having given him his international cap. Playing for Newport, against Blackheaih last Saturday J. P. Jones, of the latter toaan, who was one of the three-quarters selected to go with Mr Harnett's team to New Zealand, had the misfortune to break his collar-bone. It was a singularly inopportune accident, and may cause “Tuaji” to bo. “dropped.” P. K. M'Evody and L. B. Stringer played for Elackheath, but though the former played ft really brilliant game, and Stringer gave » dashing display, their efforts to SOO r< s went unrewarded, and their side retired defeated by 21 points to nil. , R®cent callers at the High Commissioner s office ; —M r Nigel "A. M‘Lean (Hawke s Bay), Miss M. E. Warren (Wellington), Miss Barber (Wellington), Mrs Joseph M‘Annnlty and Miss M‘AnnnUy (Auckland), Mrs Gilchrist (Auckland). Sir p - Kenedy (Christchurch), Mr E. Bade (Christchurch), Mr Wm. M Ma ■- lean (Dunedin), Mr Sydney Smith/ MThomas Horrace, Mr L. N. Reece (Christchurch). Mr Percy Pentles (Wellington), Mr R. H. Lucas (Nelson). '