The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1914.

Evening Star, Issue 15479, 29 April 1914, Page 6

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1914.

lx was Lord Cromer who, in thp course

of a recent letter to the Tfl® Irish London ' Times,’ pointed Crisis. out that “it was highly “undesirable that anything “ should occur which, in case of need, “ would prevent the Government of this “country (the United Kingdom) from “ speaking in the Councils of Europe in “the name of a united people.” This communication was published on March 11, and from that day to the present the Imperial Government would appear to an outside observer to have done their best to run counter to the eminently reasonable suggestion of the Maker of modern Egypt. On the 14th of the same month Mr Churchill went down to Bradford and there made what was called a “ take-it-or-leavedt ” speech. He breathed out threats of what the Government would and would not do in Ulster, and declaimed passionately and tellingly —in striking opposition to Mr Asquith’s own advice that his proposals should bo given “ deliberate and dispassionate consideration ” —on what would happen if those proposals were rejected. The outcome of this deliverance was to stiffen the Ulster opposition, and, followed as it was by the ordering of troops and warships to the north, to discredit the Government beyond hope of recovery. It pleases Mr Churchill to tell Sir Edward Carson now that references to his Bradford speech are “ irrevelant.” They are, however, strictly relevant to the issue. It was Mr Churchill’s unhappy speech that was the starting point of a controversy from which there is no hope of emerging short of the complete submission fay one side or the other. Tiro Ulstermen will not have Homo Rule at any price, and it is not within the power of the present Government to compel them to accept it. The Ministry cannot resort to the employment of force without a mandate from the nation, and that mandate they have not yet secured, nor, apparently, will they seek to obtain one until compelled by the sheer weight of quickly gathering events. Meantime, it would be as well if discredited exMinisters like Colonel Seely abstained from public comment. The ex-Minister of War has made so sorry a mess of things that one would have thought that for very shame ho would not have obtruded his version of recent history or himself upon his countrymen. But, unabashed and unashamed, Colonel Seely, at Newcastle, asked wildly and vaguely;

What of a plot on the other side? Who were the 30,000 volunteers mobilised against? He demanded an answer from the Protestant Bishop of Down, who blessed the colors, and who, if ha did not denounce the use of weapons, would go down in history as “ the arch-hypocrite of Christendom.

One would have thought that even Colonel Seely knew what the 30,000 Ulster volunteers are for. They ere there to resist the Home Rule Bill, and, whether rightly or wrongly, wisely or unwisely, they have made no secret of their intentions. In the words of the once-famous Lord Churchill, “Ulster will fight,” and to profess ignorance of Ulster’s intentions at this time of the day is the crowning folly in a policy of folly and fatuity.

For the existing situation Colonel Seely holds two people responsible—not Colonel Seely and Mr Churchill, as many might expect, but Sir Bonar Law and the Bishop of Down 1 Ones is apt to lose patience when so-called responsible statesmen give utterance to dangerous nonsens© of this kind. Of Mr Bonar Law we need say nothing beyond this; That ho is quite able to defend himself; that he is ready to promise not to upset the Parliament Act; and that his party will accept the verdict of the people either by way of a General Election or a referendum on Home Rule. All he now asks, with a view to getting at the truth, ia that there shall be a judicial inquiry into the orders, etc., that were given by Colonel Seely and Mr Churchill in relation to Ulster. But the attack on the Bishop of Down (the Right Rev, C. F. D’Arcy) is about as contemptible a business as any that has preceded it—so contemptible, in fact, as to be beneath nofee in the country in which it was made, and where the facte are fully known. It is sufficient to say that the Bishop of Down is simply one of tho many persons who had warned the Government of the certain consequences of their policy, and he has long since placed himself on record as willing to submit to a divided Ireland, which no Irishman desires, and to accept exclusion rather than that there should be a resort to civil war. Six weeks ago the Bishop wrote as follows in tho ‘Church Family Newspaper’:—

Mr Asquith’s offer brings much- nearer the possibility of a settlement of the Home Rule question on the principle of the exclusion of Ulster; and it is certainly very important that we should consider the bearing of this new situation. on the position and prospects of our country and our Church. jS’o Irishman desires exclusion. Those who wish for Home Rule are anxious to preserve the integrity of the country, and those who oppose Homo Rulo do so for reasons which they believe apply to every part , of Ireland. . . . Ulstermen are actuated by no selfish spirit; rather by a layge, Imperial patriotism. • • ■ - In ' spite of tola, however, they feel that exclusion 15

better not only for themselves, but also for the Unionists of the South. , . .

The division of Ireland can never bo welcome to any section -of Irishmen. All that can bo said for it is that it is better than civil war.

Here, then, is given a picture of a Protestant Bishop who is prepared to swallow many a bitter draught for the sake of peace, reason, and Christianity. But bo-, cause Dr D’Arcy has not gone to the extreme of self-effacement, and counselled his fellow-Proteetants to submit to a rule they detest, he is denounced as “ the arch-hypo-crite of Christendom” by an cx-Ministcr whose egregious incapacity has brought disgrace on himself, contempt upon the Government, and endangered the prestige of England on the Continent. If this be the true spirit of the Empire’s public men, the Irish Problem may yet bring that Empire to disruption.

At a largely-attended meeting of the Newmarket branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the following resolution was carried unanimously : “That this meeting emphatically protest against the Government’s proposal to have new rolling stock built by private firms while some 500 men were so recently dismissed from the service all over the Dominion on account of the work m hand being finished.” ■ Week-end cable messages to Great Britain at reduced rates come into xorce on May 1. Three of the candidates for the city mayoralty held final rallies last ovemng. Mr Shaddock spoke in the Howe Street Hall, Cr Marlow was at the Art Gallery, and Cr Green chose the Albany Street Gymnasium Hall. Each candidate at the close of his address was accorded the customary vote of thanks and confidence. The case in. whidi Lawrence Fraser sued Isabella Walquist, his mother for £4 10s, money paid by him m February, 1909, to the Dunedin City Council on his mother’s behalf and at tier request, was concluded in the Magistrate s Court yesterday afternoon. There was a counter claim for £l4 10s, value of grass seed and a tank and boiler. Mr U N. Scan* appeared for the plaintiff and Mr A. C. Hanlon for the defendant, -"-“-er hearing evidence, Mr Widdowson, S.M., gave judgment in respect of the claim tor the plaintiff for £3 10s; on the counter claim judgment was given for too defendant (Mrs Walquist) for £6 12s, amount realised from sale of grass seed, less £3 10s (costs £1 16s). The position of Grown Prosecutor at Christchurch has leen offered to Mr b. G. Raymond, K.C., of that city. Mr Raymond has accepted the appointment, buu will not assume his now duties until some time in May, after the next criminal sittings. , In the concluding paragraph of their annual report the Otago Education Board 8 inspectors direct attention to what has long been felt to be a serious interference with the continuity of school work. They 6a y : —•* During the year the staffs of the city and suburban schools have been called upon to assist with their pupils at several functions that have no direct bearing on the life of the schools. While to some extent indirect benefit may result to pupils participating in outside functions, there is not the slightest doubt that considerable interference with the ordinary work of the echools is experienced, and the feeling that the schools are being exploited to some extent is on the increase. We are of opinion that this tendency must ho resisted, or serious harm will result.”

The Dundin Woollen Mill Employees’ Union decided at a meeting held last night to affiliate with the Otago Trades and Labor Council under their new constitution and title—viz-, Otago Labor CounciL ISIr Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m. : —N.E. to'S.E. winds; rain in about 30 hours. The special passenger train for Materae left Dunedin at schedule time (8.50) this morning. The tmin comprised 15 carnages, and 550 excursionists availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the camp. _ “Our Own” wired from Taumarunni: Messrs R. W. Smith, Witty, and Jennings addressed a largely-attended and enthusiastic meeting at Ohura on Monday flight. This is one of the extreme bnckbiock places. The speakers had ridden 50 miles, and had an unpleasant journey, the recent heavy rains making the roads in places almost imnassablo. ' It was an object-lesson to Riccarton s M.P. AtTaumarunni last night the speakers addressed a largo gathering m the Theatre Uoval. the Mayor presiding. The meeting was enthusiastic. At the conclusion of both the Ohura and taamm mertincs thanks and confidence, in the Liberal party were passed with enthusiasm. Inquiry at the Hospital just before wo went to* press elicited the fact that Mr Alexander Smith, who was mm red m the motor cycle collision, was a little better, and showed signs of regaining consciousness. . The'King’s Birthday will officially celebrated this year on June 22. Last year the celebration took place on the day itself (June 3), and in 1912 on June 14 On a hare and hungry looking hillside above Miller’s Flat, on the borders, of the famous Otago Central. district Prince Alfred apples have been picked that average 240r. in weight. They may bo seen, half a dozen of them, in John Edmond s window-bright colored, red and yellow apples, sound, and as big as a baby s head. Seven-year-old trees produced them. They were grown in Mr I. Bow-den’s-orchard, and have been sent down from Fagan’s store. In bis inspection of tho Otago and Southland railways, which began to-day, the Minister (the Hon. W. H. Homes) is accompanied by Messrs E. H. (general manager of railways), H. «• Jackson (chief mechanical engineer), H. Buxton (district traffic manager), and J. Pearson (locomotive engineer). At the meeting of the St. Kilda Council* last night the General Committee reported having received a letter from the Minister of Defence stating that it might be possible to employ those who were .exempted from military service .on religious and conscientious grounds in work that might be of use to the community, and asking for suggestions as to the nature of the work. The committee stated that they had no recommendations to make, and suggested that tho matter should be left in the bands of the Government. In speaking to the report-, Cr Thompson said he considered it was a matter not for a body such as the council to give judgment upon. The council adopted the committee’s report.^ The Dunedin Horticultural Society’s Winter Show, which takes place in the Garrison Hall on May 13 and 14, promises to evoke more than the usual amount of interest this year, as the fruitgrowers of Otago are interesting themselves. in tho special classes that have been put into the schedule for their especial benefit.. Tho committee of the society are sparing no effort in making the display of fruit a comprehensive and representative one, and, judging by the interest being taken by orchardists, opportunity will be taken of the facilities for the exhibition of fruits by the growers of Otago. Messrs Blackmore, of Christchurch, and Goodwin, of the Government department, have been scelected to judge tho fruit sections. A recommendation by the committee, that the two remaining band concerts of the season be held in the Coronation Hall, was adopted by the St. Kilda Council last night. Cr Harris said the nights were getting too cold now to hold tho concerts in the rotunda. Admission to the concerts, which will be duly adver- , tised, will be by silver coin to defray expenses.

Alterations in the Lawrance-Emns Flat railway time-table are advertised in this issue.

Anyone who likes good whisky will appreciate the fine mellow flavor of Watson’s No. 10.—[Advt.] Mr J Steadman (Aome Photo Oo.), Georgs street, would like you to look at spme_ eupp'O enlargements on the new Acme and other paper. Telephone 90S.—fAdvt.j The United Starr-Bowkett Society will dispose of £2,000 to-morrow evening, as advertised.

Just opened, new photographic goods; best brands of plates, papers, mounts, etc,, always in stock. At Gill’s, Frederick street; tel. 1,144. Agent for Harrington, N.Z., Ltd. Mutual Starr-Bowkett Society’ will dispose of two appropriations of £SOO each to-morrow. Applications are now being received for shares in new group.