OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3184, 1 April 1911, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Ti#E BUTCHERS’ BILL

[from Our Special Correspondent.] SYDNEY, March 21, 1911. Among the genera] rejoicing at the return to civilisation of Mr Staniforth Smith, and those of his companions who are left, after their roundabout wanderings in the wilds of New Guinea, comes -a note of remonstrance from Mr Gullett, M.L.C. The question which he raises relates to the 17'unfortunate natives belonging to the party who lost their lives. Mr Gullett remarks that he has never read an account of a military or an exploiting expedition where the figures of the loss of the leaders and' of the natives, under their command, whether soldiers or porters, were .in any degree proportionate to this. It has always been a matter of pride to see the way in which English leaders of dangerous expeditions have always ' recognised their responsibility for the lives and safety of the men under their command, regardless of their race or color, and have estimated their success by the proportion of tlieir followers whom they brought safely back. Federal Ministers naturally enthused over the return of men who had been supposed to he lost, and this serious aspect of the matter appears to have been over-looked. Assuredly so great a loss of life in so purposeless and futile an expedition calls for categorical inquiry. THE PRIME MINISTER. Mr Fisher addressed a. veryklarge audience at the Town Hall last nigth, in advocacy of the referenda proposals. As might be expected, he had an excellent reception, it might be thought that meetings which are not attended by those who are unconvinced, but bv those who are convinced already would lie fruitless. This, however, is not the case. Adherents are inspired by the voice of their leaders and the magnetism of numbers to renewed zeal and more strenuous effort. These are the influences which sway the masses. To the ' educated mine things appear so plain that there is no sense in repeating them.' Rut if they suppose that mankind in the lump will see things in the same light they are pretty certain to be badly left. Mr Fisher is full of fidence that the people will vote “Yes,” and his confidence is contagions, and is a potent asset of the cause. Incidentally heexplained the “threat” which he was reported to have uttered in Queensland. What Ore meant was, he said, that if the present proposals are not carried those which will be insisted upon in the future, by the ‘Young Democracy” of Australaia will put these in the shade in such a manner as to appal opponents. Of course if “Young Democracy” is in a majority it will do as it pleases. It is remarked, however, that it would' lie impossible to make its demands much more revoluntionary than those which are now before the people, and that the more violent its policy the sooner will its folly be made manifest. “Young Democracy” is excellent. But it needs to outgrow its callowness before it can safely be -entrusted with supreme and sole control. Meanwhile, if fervent asseveration can carry the day it will assuredly be carried. There is not s* shadow of doubt about that. SIR WILLIAM LYNE. Sir William Lyne is back with us again. He has been giving us Ids impressions about life in America. Everything is terribly dear, he says. He blacked! his own boots, rather than pay the ten cents, fivepcnce of our money, which was demanded for the service. No doubt tlie attendant got even with him in some other way. If Sir William were the cold-blooded schemer that he .has been represented, lie would have kept his mouth rigidly closed as f<> this incident. To suppose that there can possibly 7 be any just limit to the demands" of labor, especially when it lias you in a hole, is flat blasphemy. Already a note has been made of the confession in readiness for the next election for the Hume. Of greater importance is the attitude of the returning politician towards the referenda. He admits I bathe does not know what lias been done in the matter, hut, on general principles, probably, lie predicts that Labor will win, hands down. He is meet concerned about- Protection. He fears that if Labor cannot bring the “New Protection” into effect, it will turn and destroy the old Protection. Which seems to throw considerable light on the precarious position of the cause which lie follows with such whole-hearted devotion. His picture of the Labor party, as consisting of men who are prepared to destroy everything if they cannot get their own way, is instructive, doubtless. But to men who are not dependent- on Labor for a seat in Parliament it does not carry any conviction as to the justice of their cause. SENATOR RAE. fSenator Rae is one of the most thor-ough-going of the Labor advocates of the referenda. His views of Labor members in the State Parliament is not flattering. He says that the opposition to the referenda conies largely from State Premiers suffering Loin limelight and an excessive estimate of their own importance. But the friends of the State Premiers, rejoin that if they were endeavoring to take away from the Commonwealth the powers which belong to it the accusation might have some basis of probability. At present the calm assumption of the majority in the Federal Parliament that all legislative wisdom is so completely monopolised by them that- it is the manifest duty of the State'Premiers to hand over all their rights, powers and responsibilities to their competent and experienced hands, seems to show that the boot is on the other leg, or rather that the swelled head belongs to the party of which Senator Rae is so worthy a re-., presentative. One feature of his remark's may be considered as hopeful. He deprecated the rising of bogies, which have no existence except in the imagination of these who conjure them up for their own -purposes. The alleged extortions of the trusts, which, for the most part, are figments manufactured for the occasion, plainly come under the “Bogey” category. The Senator’s denunciation of “Bogeys,” therefore, is likely to he useful. THE PARRAMATA HUNDRED.

The qualifying heats -for the Panramatta Hundred were rowed on Saturday. The results ororaised a fine race for Saturday next. It says something for the prowess of the rising generation of scullers, that both Arnst and Pearce failed to get a place, and thus are disqualified for the final. Fogwell, Hagney, Norman and Theo Towns ,however, are left in, as well as F. Matterson and C. Matterson, so that there should lie plenty of interest before the final is reached. Arnst was suffering from the- effects of recent illness, and hfs .failure was no, true indication of form. The general impression, however, was that the scratch'men did not put themselves about too much. The style of Hagney, a. Sydney man, was much fancied by some of the cognoscenti, who are disposed to regard him as the “comintr man.'” Next Saturday will tell the tafe hi MR. BEEBY. The Minister for Public Instruction has been seeing for himself the condi-

tions under widely educational work is conducted * at sojne of our suburban school's'.: - Being by previous experience in cilice it is needless to say that lie was very much shocked by what- he saw at some of these institutions. Buildings devoid' of comfort, ill-ventilated -rooms, and a total absence- of the appliances which the modern educationist relies upon to obtain the best results, are far more common than they ought to be.. Mr Beeby is 'thoroughly seized of the fact that the one pressing problem is the education of the rising generation. The State has taken this work in hand, and it is responsible for carrying it through. Nothing is to- be gained by berating previous Administrations. They have deemed it necessary to economise, and thus' to do the best they could with the means at their disposal. But this, it is considered by very many, is emphatically a case in which the energy and determination of youth can he most advantageously employed in overriding official routine, and' striking out a new departure. Whatever department of the public service is starved, it should not be that of public instruction. It is absolutely certain that in- default of efficient education the ravages of ignorence will be disastrous. We find money properly for purposes of defence. With how much mo-re willingness should' we provide the funds for the instruction of the children. That is the way Mr •Beeby looks at- the matter. But he has to convince his, colleagues and his party, and, as it will take something like a quartet of a million Ho supersede present unsuitable buildings by others of more modern stamp, his troubles are not yet over .

MR. GRIFFITH. The Minister' for Public Works is being folowed with considerable interest in his northern tour. What would he say about the northern -railway, for instance. He wouldn’t .say anything. He said he was under a promise to his colleagues not to commit them in any way, and that, although lie felt sure that the}' would adopt any course that he might recommend, he could say nothing final until lie was more fully posted. The report of the Decentralisation Commission lia.s not yet been received and he desires to view these matters from all sides. Nothing could be nic-pr. But- people who are deeply interested in the establishment of -railway communication with the north, reflect -somewhat ruefully, that when it was a question of establishing brickworks, scruples of this kind were by no means prominent in the Ministerial utterances. Circumstances evidently alter cases. In another matter, namely, the employment of day labor, Mr Griffith seems to be cheerfully accepting groat risks. The power entrusted to Mr Brennan, for instance, will need a remarkable moral and mental endowment to exercise properly, and with advantage to the 'public interests. It is considered, therefore, that if business was really meant, the Minister would have had no hesitation .u saying so, and this is not a consolatory mode of viewing the problem. Some very nice things were said at some of the gatherings. For one thing Mr Griffith assured his hearers that the Government are fully seized of the conviction that no country can be made prosperous by class legislation. If he could only impress- that conviction on Mr Fisher and Mr Hughes they would scarcely endeavour to seize all the power in Australia for the supposed benefit of a class.