HOPE FROM MEXICO.

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 4

HOPE FROM MEXICO.

Mexico has a message for the world just now. It is a message of hope. The death, in an obscure scrimmage, of “ General ” Francisco Paucho Villa, the most redoubtable of the brigand leaders in the long civil wars which followed the end of Porfirio Diaz's benevolent despotism twelve years ago, is a reminder of how much its state has improved since those mad clays. Mexico was a land ofcarnage then for years together. It was all that Europe and Russia and Ireland have been since. Civil war was the only industry and respect for law and government seemed to have vanished for ever. One President followed another, and found it impossible to assert his authority against tempests of violence. Rival leaders headed their own armies, controlled largo territories, menaced the capital, and pillaged those whom they did not destroy. Actual battles that were fought wore more spectacular than deadly; the Mexicans who took to a soldier’s life—and those must have been no small proportion of tho population—enjoyed it far too much to wish to be killed in it; but battles of a comic opera kind were incessant, plunder- and oppression threatened to leave no industry capable of revival when the mad orgy should cease, “ generals ” were as cheap as dukes in the Kingdom, of Barataria, and Villa was tho most feared of those generals. He controlled an army of 35,000 cut-throats. When his peace was made with the Government of Mexico he became a thorn in the Americans’ side. But, until his death was reported yesterday, no one had heard of Villa for a number of years. Ho had lived on into a new, peaceful Mexico—peaceful, at least, by contrast with tho past. He had even become part of it.

For years now Mexico has been a model to Europe. It has been well governed. It has been orderly. The affray in which Villa has been killed—a mere wayside affair, a piece of friendly ambushing, we can imagine—makes no serious contradiction of that condition. Tho long misused country has even been recovering its prosperity, which means, surely, that Europe can do likewise; that industries and useful services have more power of recuperation than might easily bo imagined. The credit for this most gratifying transformation has been given to its latest President, General Obregon, who has held rule now for three years, and has proved himself a genuine benevolent despot. “ General Obregon is, to my thinking, the most attractive figure on the world scene to-day,” Dr E. J. Dillon has written, and he is not .apt to take a too roseate view either of men or of affairs. “ Falling into no class, he cannot be labelled. He is a pioneer, and no one who takes the beaten track is that. As a private individual his career is a remarkable human document.” Tho way in which Obregon treated Villa may have seemed, at the time when it was tried, much too good for his deserts. Ho bought him off, with the members of his bandit array, pardoning their leader, and placating his wild followers with a year’s pay and a small farm apiece. It is a way which, followed with bandits in China—short of tho inducement to lead a settled life—has proved signally ineffective, but it succeeded in Mexico. Presumably Obregon knew his rebels and they knew Obregon. He has ruled by the strong hand, but not for himself. “Of all contemporary statesmen,” says Dr Dillon, “ he alone stands for the aspirations of that growing section of the human race who feel and know that regeneration cannot proceed from laws, edicts, or institutions, but only from a wholly new moral and cultural orientation.” As a remedy for contemporary ills, he has declared his chief faith to lie in education. Though slow it is sure, while “ short cuts,” in his own words, “ generally take one further from the goal.” When some understudy can take up his avork in Mexico it might be worth the while of more than one European country to hire the services of President Obregon as a State manager.

■ A chorus of “Hear, hears” accompanied the remarks of Mr G. Benson at the mooting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce "last night to the effect that much inconvenience was caused by Idm incoming English mail reaching Dunedin the day after the departure of the outgoing mail. Tho question was referred to tho executive of tho chamber.

Tho As sociatod Board, R.A.M. and R.C.M., London, announces that the practical examinations throughout Now Zealand will bo conducted by Mr Algernon Lindo this year. Mr Lindo visited New Zealand as examiner in 1917, and ho has carried out examinations for the board in nearly every part of the Empire during the ten years. Ho is an accomplished pianist, and his book on the art of accompanying is tho standard work on that subject. Pho examinations will commence at Auckland at the end of August, and will finish at Invercargill about the middle of December; Wellington about October 10. One of tho recent suggestions about tho Dunedin Exhibition was that Sir Joseph Ward be asked to join the directorate and_ accept nomination as president, but during tho last few days this proposal seems to have boon dropped.

City councillors woro taken by surprise last night (states a. Christchurch, Association message), when a letter from the Minister of Public Works was veal, stating that if tho council was prepared fo forgo tho remaining eighteen months of tho electricity contract, which expires on March 51, 1925, tho department was prepared to enter ,into a fresh contract for icn years at a discount of 10 per cent, off (lie standard rates. Tho chairman of the Electricity Committee said that the department's offer was somewhere about a 50 per cent, increase on the present rates, and for the next eighteen months the cost would ho £33,000 extra- for electricity over and above tho present rate. Tho mayor said that it was rather surprising at this lato stage, after the council had investigated tho Waimaka.ri.vi scheme, that the Government should offer a ton years’ contract in consideration of the council forgoing the present contract The ’X'port on tho Waimakariri scheme would he avail able in a, few days. Cr Howard, M.P.: “ Wo will have to fight on the door of tho House.” Tho Mayor: “Tho lime lias como when all city members must fight tho battle, on the floor of tho House.” Tho council decided to discuss the-matter at g. special meeting next Monday.

A letter from tho Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, advising that Tauranga is now in direct touch with Dunedin by steamer, was read to tho council of tho Chamber of Commerce last night, whereupon one member stated that it cost more* to ship goods direct from Dnqedin to Tauranga. than to send them right on to Auckland and have them transhipped and taken on by tho steamer of an opposition line! Coal supplies arc still very short in Christchurch. “There is no improvement in the position,” said a representative of a leading firm to-day, “and thoro will be none until shipments arrive from Australia. Our latest advice, is that iho miners will resume work to-morrow, but probably wo will not get any supplies from there until the third week of August. Shipments in sight in Now Zealand aro not worth speaking about. Nearly 40 per cent, of the men in the southern mines are off work through influenza.” —Our Christchurch correspondent.

' In the Magistrate's Court to-day, John Craig Neill, dork in charge of the branch office at, To Aro of the Labor Department, pleaded guilty to the theft of £lO3 16s. When the defalcations were discovered ho surrendered to the police. Ho was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. Bail was not allowed, —'Wellington Dross Association

A Christchurch Association message states that, by 9 votes to 7, the City Council decided to grant a- bonus of 4s weekly, from Juno 25, to employees with five or more dependents. The question of retiring a number of aged and infirm employees was discussed, and it was decided that notice of termination of employment bo given to fourteen men. Twelve will receive throe months’ notice, and two on© month's notice; a.nd men with over two years’ service will receive retiring allowances va.rvfrom three to four months' pay. The six Labor councillors voted against the proposal. Mr Sidcy’s Daylight Saving Bill was spoken about at the meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last night. The Gisborne Chamber wrolo asking that this proposal be supported. Members decided that in view of Mr Massey’s Statement on the subject ‘it would bo no use talcing action. -Mr G. W. Gibson thereupon suggested that they should watch as to what came of Mr Massey’s remark that he would consider the question of making New Zealand time exactly twelve hours in front of English lime, since, whilst that might do very well for the North Island, It would hit the South Island very hard in the winter. A proposal to levy an additional sanitary rate of 10s per year was brought before tho Port Chalmers Council last night in a report from the Works and Sanitary Committee. Several councillors objected, and too clause embodying the proposal was deleted from the report. The growing addiction of ladies to smoking was greatly increasing tho hazard arising from the match and tho cigarette, said Superintendent Ta.it at the insurance officers’ monthly meeting at Wellington. Matches caused by far the greatest number of fires, and the frills of femininity were not nearly so proof against this hazard as were man’s more stable garments.

No one. would care to charge Auckland with insolence or sauciness, so it may he charitably assumed that it was ns a joke that Messrs 'Wilson .and Horton have written to tiie Dunedin Chamber of Commerce stating that if that body desires to attract population to Otago or capital to Dunedin its best course would ho to advertise in a paper which the writers publish in Auckland. Members of the council._ at any rate, regarded the H tter as a piece of fun, anti were especially tickled at the insinuation that jVimetlit, which lends money to other provinces, should need to “attract capital,” and the letter was allowed to pass with the remark that the proper answer .would ho to ask the writers where Auckland is. When in Lark hill Camp, earlv in 191,9, waiting for transport back to New Zealand, members of the Expeditionary Force were given the opportunity of purchasing photographs taken in Franco by the official photographer. Sinco returning to the dominion many ex-servicemen have expressed a desire to obtain a supply of these unique war ■ photographs, but little effort has apparently been made to offer them for sale In Australia the Government issued a.n up-to-date catalogue. In reply to an inquiry from an Auckland returned soldier, the Minister of Defence replied that sots of war photographs depicting life on (ho New Zealand sector were available on application to the Dominion Museum, although .no catalogue had been issued. There are 652 Maori War veterans in the dominion, according to a statement made at the last quarterly meeting ot tho King’s Empire Veterans at Auckland. Of this number, Auckland claims 106. It was reported that three Auckland veterans had died sinco tho previous quarterly meeting. The financial position of tho association was reported to bo satisfactory, £125 being in lh) bank. “ Your Worship, a 39in pipe is as easily handled by men who know how to do it us you would handle a pair of socks.” This quaint statement was addressed by a councillor to the mayor at last night’s mooting of the Port Chalmers Council when culverts under roads were under discussion.

A grandfather was ordered to pay 10s •per week towards the maintenance of his son’s wife and children at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court. The committee of tho St. Clair Surf Bathing Club resolved last night to call the attention of the St. Kilda Council and the Domain Board" to tho excavating of sand" that is going on, the opinion being expressed that if the outs are carried through to tho beach thcfe will or may ha danger.

The combined ladies’ hockey, men’s hockey, Association football, and cricket bodies of Dunedin have arranged to hold a sports wonderland carnival in Dunedin within the next few months for tho purpose of putting the funds of those bodies on a sound basis. To obtain assistance in connection with ths carnival a depute tion, comprising Messrs R. Johnston, Alex. Martin, and T. S. Mitchell, waited upon the Management Committee of tho Rugby Union last evening. Tho speakers pointed out that, with tho exception of Rugby football,' lira sports for which the carnival was being organised did not have much financial backing. In fact, in other parts of New Zealand Dunedin was looked upon as something of a ‘ Cinderella ” in those sports, imd it was hoped tho results of tiie carnival would remove that itnpros sion. Among o her obligations, for in stance, the Cricket Association wished this season :o send an Otago cricket team to Auckland. The deputation did not suggest'any particular method o? support, but le f t that entirely in the executive’s hands The chairman (Mr W J. W ilson) assured tho deputation that the matter would receive full consideration. After -ho deputation had withdrawn the matter was referred to tho Works and Flag Committees for a report.

Users of gas from .tho municipal gasworks at Port Chalmers will he pleased to hoar that tho mayor (Mr J. Watson) is of opinion that cause for complaint should bo removed as far as possible by tho this Committee. When the Gas Committee’s report was before tho council moating last night, His Worship snid complaints were hoard, but in order to increase tho consumption of gas—arid that was what the council wanted—everything should bo done by the committee to remove cause of complaint.

Mr H. E. Barth, hon. secretary of the Otago Radio Association, writes: “An ir. teresting coincidence in • connection with wi"eless° lias just been brought to my notice. Last ' Friday, when the Otago Radio Association was broadcasting a wireless concert, a telephone message was • cceived at tho association room announcing the tire at the Shiel Hill Hotel, and, thinking it might bo of interest to the listencrs-in, the news was broadens.ed One of tin. listoncis-in, who had hoard tinwireless message through a friend’s iv ceiving sot, was on liis way homo in a tr;nn,°iiiid happened to inenrio , i liovv ho hac 1 heard the news of tho Shiel Hill Hotel being on fire,' when a fellow-passenger, hearing the conversation, became suddenly greatly excited, and asked if it were true, as he was the proprietor and know nothing of it. Ho immediately made off to hail a taxi to take him to Ins binning hotel.”

There was a man in Wanganui.on a recent Sunday evening who got the shock of his life (states an exchange). Unfortunately for himself, ho had been looking at the wino when it was red, and, only passing into the hands of the police, no was accommodated in 'he lock-up for the nrdit. Ho awoke from an uneasy .sleep see lire door open and a Chinaman come in'; but surprise turned to a clammy toning when the door opened for the sixth time, ami still another Chinaman entered. It. was at this stage that the friendly voice of a. policeman from tho outside soothed his nerves with tho announcement that there were still nine Chinamen to come. These were tho fifteen Celestials gathered up in the tan-tan raid earlier that ovenmg who by reason of the fact that they could not .nut Lie nocessarv amount of money for bail, were detained". Next morning the Justice De partment had to place an order for two yards of sausage to feed tho hungry miutit tide

Dunedin surf bathers ns' a body seem to’bo. somewhat slack in their organising Tho running of the business has oi_ iatc been left to three or four enthusiasts. Others no dr stay away at their pleasure, hut still expect‘things to run smoothly. Matters have now reached a climax. ■\t in.ocl l ti i; ' r of llio committee hc-id <it St. Clair last night it was provisionally am-or-d to sell the land on which the pavilion stands to tho City Corporation for £3OO, tho club to retain ownership of the building, the corporation to grant a lease of tho land at a nominal rental. A general meeting of tho club is called for August 6 to ratify this arrangement. It was stated at tho meeting last night that schoolboys had been damaging tho elims property’, and that the attention of the school authorities had been called to the matter. In support of the assertion that schoolboys were the offenders a list of tho names of twenty-one of the boys who aro implicated has, it was stated, been handed in to tho club. The commit tee has no wish to take action in the court, but resolved to insist on tho damage at once ceasing.

A brief meeting of the Otago Harbor Board was held yesterday, when it was decided to proceed with the work of filling in tho Lake Logan area. In order to push on the work, two shifts, working a total of sixteen hours each day, arc at present engaged on tho undertaking. Tho excavations consequent upon shifting the railway lino will he refilled with rock instead of reclaimed soil.

In tho Police Court this morning Robert Bell was fined- 12s 6d (including cab hire) on a charge of drunkenness. On a similar charge a first offender (a woman who had como into town from tho country and got into bad company) was convicted and discharged. Mr Bartholomew, K.M.. was on the Bench.

There will be a sitting of tho Arbitration Court in Dunedin on August 8. Tho business so • Jar set down for hearing is not very heavy. A bright entertainment extending over two hours was given by Mbs J. Fraser and her party in tho social hall of the benevolent Institution last night. Cumin unity singing was the opening item. The old folk were in good_ form, and sang with great heart. A varied programme of songs," elocutionary and instrumental items, and national and fancy dancing followed. The audicr.ee called repeatedly for encores, and in some instances the performers had to contribute several items before their admirers were satisfied. At the conclusion of tho entertainment Mr Porte ous, manager of the institution, thanked tho performers and Miss Fraser for the splendid progrnnmm submitted. Tho old people showed their appreciation with a round of hearty cheers. The following contributed to the programme ; —Mr D. IVPKay, Miss M. Phillips, Masters John and James Murray, Master 1!. Wright, Miss M. Whiteley, Miss L. Oalhui, Mr J. Swan, Mr 11. Green, Mr Adla vd, Mr M. Darcy, Mr 11. Edwards, Miss E. Callan, Mbs Joyce Smith, Miss V. Murdoch, Mm De Silva, Miss De Silva, Miss M. Andrews, and Mr J. Rodgers. The accompaniments were played by .Misses M. Whiteley, L. Callan, V, Murdoch, and J. Fraser, and tho bagpipe music for tho national dances was ’.upplied by Mr D. MTvay.

To Palmerston North belongs tho credit and distinction of establishing tho first Banker’s Club, states tho ‘Banker.’ Already there aro signs in several places that tho example sot by Palmerston North bank officers is likely to bo followed in other centres. “Gradually but surely the guild spirit of friendly co-operation between members in affairs social, recreative, and educational is being stimulated,” remarks that journal, and continues : “ Members can do a great deal to add to the pleasure and interest of life by forming themselves into dubs, which will become rallying points after office hours. What is needed is tho practical expression of a little sustained enthusiasm and busincss_ capacity on the part of members in different 'parts of tho dominion.”