WEDNESDAY, MAY 8th, 1912

Grey River Argus, 8 May 1912, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MAY Bth, 1912

It . ds ■ not every day that we find a literary man striking; an entirely new note ii> ■•tjKe .theory ofj human affairs.' But Mr. .Norman Angell, . in ■'-'■: his two ■ books | — 5' f Eur6(pe' l si Optical Illusion/ and "TWe Greats Illusion^— has marked an entirely he\v departure in 'thought in respect -to th«; growing, if not the [ dominating, spirit of the age. ', Al-' though the space of an .ordinary, newspaper. .article is all- too -.■■ limited ' tip adequately deal - with Mr. Angell's. theory as propounded in "Europe's Optical Illusion 3 " it . may be said broadly that '^tie.: runs entirely .courier • to a, good many time-honoured ideas. What is .a. great deal imore important, he backs up his theories ■ with argument and examples that are not to. be easily disregarded or refused.' It is " : only in accordance with experience that ; one who is so destitidtive to old-theories should not only not ; 'meet with ready •' acceptance, but should arouse .sharp hostility. Amongst | his .most doughty opponents is Admiral Mahan, whose writings on naval matters of late years have "met with so much" attention every where. From I our interpretadorf of Mr: Angell's 1 woiik what" -he tries to .: impress upon j bis readers' ? i.s~lhat; human society I passes ' through certain '^phases of i thought that- for-. the. 'timer-being en-

tirelyj. dominate mankind. As an instance, he. refers to the days of Peter the. Herriiit/ when Ghristain Europe was the" slave of a common impulse to -wrest 'the Tomb of Our Savour and the control of the Holy Places generally from the hands of ithe unbelieving Trfrks. The crusade" was. kepi up . for a hundred years, and probably would ' have continued much Longer had not a change come over hurn'an opinion, in the meantime, that led / Christians to look at "the subject in ah entirely different light >to what thfey did before tjhie first" crusadei Althouig-h Christendom . has to-day as profound a reverence for things sacred as it'had ithen, it would now ridicule any proposal to start a crusade to dispossess .the ■• Turks of the boly places. Another idea, an uriwr(i.tteri part of the social code, was- the custom of duelling, as something" due to 'sacred horiour. Although it sitill holds i^s -ground in Germany, France and ■ other . Continental countries, the Anglo-Saxon race has by common consent jettisoned the duel as' not only a piece of unmitigated foolishness bun actually criminal, and punish k accordingly. : While religion dominated men's minds very largely at one time, polii-ical; power at another, and • always military efficiency, and the sentiment that each gives rise it'o, it is contended -.'that all these are the archaic illusions of to-day. Mr. Angell contends, that the real spirit of the present age is the interdependence of commercialism and. the altruistic ideal of the greatest. good for 'the greatest number. Hence the fear of a great Aranageddon is purely an ilLusion. While sentiment is^ a .factor in' human affairs that is of unknown power, common sense and tjie desire for the general well-being ,of hum ani:y must always triumph ' in ; the end. It is poiihted out with truth and force that the natidris noted. for their jgreat armaments fail to derive any direct .benefit from them that they' would riot obtain "in an equal degree without 'them, 'though Mr. Arigell does not ar.gue for disarmament unless it can be made universal. . For instance, all the small independent nations, such as Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland, whose standing arrriies are insignificant and only 'fit to cope with domestic disturbance, are ■ economically .better off than either Gerriiariy or Britain, ,France or Russia,' as i s shown by the higher 1 value of the consols of the weaker States. ; Conquest does not; bring- increased commerce to the conquering country.. If Germany took possession of '.England to-morrow, no .German would become one pound the richer, or a Briton any poorer. The whole people could not 'be killed off, and as long as they remained their wants would have ito be supplied ; and to do that would reau'ire' all the machinery of; trader — transport or- otherwise— V.liaJi was .required , before the hypothetical, change. The awful cost of such a cataclysm as a general war nowadays -is;; almost inconceivable. Every day the interdependence of the whole of ;i'he industrial world is becoming greater and more unterlock.ed.; The effects of. the late coal s.riike in England were. felt tliroughout 'the Empire, as Avell as from Tokio to New York. 'If any one of the great 'banking centres .gets into .temporary financial embarrassment, the others a*, once rush to the rescue m order to prevent a world-wide calamity. The Bank of England helps the financiers of America, and the Banks of France ; and Berlin are always as ready to stave off a dangerous financial crisis as: any other. Mr. Angell goes on to argua his case by askkig- : what benefit would the British Colonies be to Germany if the Empire were broken, up. As independent communities they pay no tribute to the Mother Country^ and even tax her manufactures for then :fc>wn benefit." Would Germany_be able to ; get from them what Britain bailed to do? The- old . idea oi the uses of colonies, as exemplified by Spain and > Portugal, and by Britain wvlth her early American colonies, have gone out of date. Mr. Angell arg-ues vhat after haying seen the riations cf the earth put so, many illusiions asidfe chfough an enlarged outlook of comaion sense and a prevailing desire for the good and the useful, he hopes to see the spread of a nationalising spfirit that' will gradually realise the /oily of wasting the substance of 'the 1 nations in armaments under the delusion that such expenditure is necesjsary : to stave off Vfar. In the earlier a^es oceans of blood were spilt on 'the attainment of what in the light of present experience seerris to have been 'a ' simple, ; absurdity. Although the foregoing is only a mere cursory glance at the facts and arguments so attractively set out in Mr. Norman Angell's interesting: .brochure, it will; serve to give our readers at least some idea of the lesson.th e author is trying- to .teach, and the method he adopts toi drive it home. It will be easily realised by anyorie who has haid the ordinary experience of life, iiha>t while sentiment is undoubtedly. a potent 1 factor in all human affairs, the most en- ; during impulses of all must ever bejihose which bring the best results, 'which may be summed up in the welfare and' happiness of mankind. While f war, politics, and reliigdon may all , f ail to bring the ideals hoped for, ? good works and" good, sense never fail (iri the end; v and- \yhat more rational ideal" could .there ibe?

'Although the piV^ndiimaiy meeting bn Monday evening in connection with giving 1 - ex-Mayor Russell • a send-o?F J \yas rather a chilly affair because f'l . l\e jmall attendance, that is no reason ;:why all who want to honour Mr. Russell should not do so in as thorough 'a; mariner as can be done." Although ■there are a great many ratepayers • \yh ido not see eye-to-eye w : ih :':••-' gentlemen who attended Monday's ';' meeting, they; 'mighit' change their views'- on this matter if Mr. Ku^-isirs enthusiastic friends would publish in form a statement of "Qic work that 'gentleman iias i-rt to his credit during- the two years that he has filled "the •mayoral chair. He claims to tiavie reduced the. bank bverdraft »by some jQ2QO6. But we know' that during' his term of office

tne rates .have been so raised as to. briin'g^in double that amount at least. To raise the municipal rates and: stop work at the same time ns the sort of finance that "might be expected from a Chinaman, .but not from a p>ersori who promised to be an improvement on ail that the public had seen before. Deeds always; speak louder' than words. That's why there isV every confidence that if. Mr. 'Rus^ll^ friends, or the gen;lemenwh<J' attend^ : ed Monday's meeting, wHI : only} "set ou-t m black and white the specific fbene^fits that Mr. Russell conferred, on 'the" muntiicipality during his.: ftwo yeari'; regime, then there may be. some hope of organising a general .tribute : of appreciation of tho ratepayers of those . services. The suggestion is offered so that those who have, initiated '; the moyement may. make it as .general : >rid sucecssful as such a valedictory^ fun br tJon should be, a credit to the departs mg. ex-Mayor and the ; town ali-cV; -ih order to make the tribute mbrevcom-: plete, and: not by way «f ostentation, the address might alsn include the benefactions of the retiring Mayor; The gentlemen who have the mdtiter •in hand should carry it out ihoc^a^-i---ly .while they .are about 'it .if they have such aii a^ppreciation of his Services.

The Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald, Minister for Public Works, visited - : Nelson the other. day. , As is-. the. custom, he was besieged by deputations, asking for useful works of various kinds! In reply, Mr. .Macdonald said "that.tho amount usually allocated for publ lie works \yas £2,000,000 ;a ,yedr; „»ut if all requirements/ were ' acceded' .&, it would run «t!he Goveimmient i-nto something like £12,000,000. ' When the Government cut down the amdurits they were still accused .of •borrowing' too much -money. Evidently tho. cry had ha f ]. same effect, judging; by. the position of parties at the present -lime; He had been a back-blocks iciilvr • himself, and he fully realised the difficulties of the pioneer settler. ; So; far" as he was concerned, he was not going to trouble about the.cry : of ; bor-i-pwing too much money. In a place like New Zealand, be failed to see How the Opposition, or any other Government, could carry out the development of the country, without reasonaWe/borroiwing each 'year. He" was, nok'-in ." favour of plunging the country into / debt.; but the people who. were .interested in the country had never complained that the Government .was, borrowing too much- money. • ' 'So long •as I remain a Minister or a priyaje meriiber," concluded . Mr. Macdonald^ ■,'"£■' intend 'to do my best to get money for tfie development of the 'back-blocks.^' (Applause). . V

T he Pactolus dredge last week for 17b hours' dredging obtained -46 ozs 3 dwtsgold. . : . The estate of the late Walter ■ Wi.l- ' hams, of Westport, was. certified 'for stamp duty at .£B,OIB. . . , _ The Maharajah of 'A-lwar,- trayelH^g fix>m Marseilles to : Paris, lost -a case of jewellery valued at £2i,0Q6. ; ./,-—' •In the Queensland Labour won Cairns seat which had been -an doubt. . The steamers Ruahine, Taliine, Wimmera, and Zealandia, were within ; wireless, range yesterday. « v Frederick Smith Pollock, a coach builder, at' Stratford, was founds dead hanging in an ouchouse behind -ihis - office on Monday afternoon. . . ' ■■ .The official estimate of the population of the Australian Commonwealth, at .the end of December -Idbt was 4j- " ; 568, /07. " .-. - '.•■■. • A. meetine of the Borough Council wild be held to-morrow (Thursday) evening, .at 8 o'clock/for general business.: ■ ■ ' The steamer Changsha has arrived at Thursday Island from the East. One of the, Chinese crew is suffering from what is supposed to jbe smallpox. , - . At the Magistrate's Court yesterday moming .before Mr. Hewitt, S.M.) a firsc 'offender' .•for drunkennests was fined- 10s and costs, or in default 24 hours' imprispnmenit. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald's- election slander action against Alan Burgoyne has been sealed, the allegations being withdrawn and judgment for £100 agreed to. On Friday next at 11.30 a.m.. at their rooms, Mackay street, ■ Mark Sprot and Co. will sell bypublic auction on account of whom it may concern 64 sacks of potatoes: wiithouit! reserve. - The. New Big River return for the month of April is 650 tons crushed, yielding 5780zs gold. The cyanide ' treatment dealt with 500 tons, yielding 67ozs 10dw:s bullion. The 4otal - estimated value of the above 'is £2,---475. ■-..■' . The up-to-date design —^finish — arid ease of running — are special features of the new artistically finished prams at WADE'S. . '_ Ladies interested in Stencil Work are invited to call and inspect the new stocks of Stencil Designs just opened up at Ji. Dixoh's, Tamui' -Street. —

Prams specially designed for -the comfort of the baby— finished in artistic colours from £3 at WADE'S. .

The foundation stone of the Waiuta church will be laid to-day, Wednesday, by E. J. Scantlebury, of Reefton. The occasion will be a red-let-ter day in connection with the hi<story of Waiuta and the residents intend to make -it so.' A Brisbane cablegram says. tha<t the Mojm-t Morgan returns for April are j as follows: — Gold reduction works trea^d 7,221 .tons, yielding- 3,635 ozs. The copper works treated 23,491 tons, 644 tons of copper and 8,237 ozsjof .gold, of a total value of £88,723. •The terms under whiich New South Wales has undertaken ;to buidd 'the cruiser' Brisbane and .three destroyers provide that the Commonwealth supplies the material necessary and impont to N.ew South Wales all the other building material. The warships Encouii'ter and Pioneer returned to Auckland yesterday from an unsuccessful search for the missing dredge .Manchester. They covered 'the routes between Wellington and Sydney and the North Cape and .Sydney. _ The Commander of. -the Encounter is of the opinion that the Manchester has sunk". Mr. Breamer is admitting the torrtorials in uniform ait half-price" to <jvve them" an opportunty of witnessing ris great picture "The Price of Beiury."! So it i'si worth something to 'be a territorial 'these times, if only io soe Breamfer's Pictures. The Territorials -will ; no doubt take advantage of "Mr. Breamer's kind offer and be well represented to-n:'ight. An announcement dealing 1 with fur s«ts: that will prove of interest, to ladies appears in this, issue. C. Smith, Ltd., cordially invdte ladies to inspect r-heir new and -up-to-date: stocks of muffs and other fur .goods. There is a good variety of skms and a wide price range* while the - latest shapings in these goods, make them of special interest. C. Smith," Ltd., "The Reliable Drapers.", Smart) fcweed ipoiafcumes in brown, green, navy, helio, greys, etc., only 20s; 27s 6d. 355, and 42s each. Ladies coats 14s 6d, 17s 6d, to 35s each. Underskirts in all colours from 3s lid to 17s 6d each. Costume skirts from 5s lid to 15s. Fur necklets from 5s lid to £& 4s od. Baby shawls 3s lid to 15s 6d- Smart ready-to-wear hat's 3s 6d .to 18s 6d each. Trathen. and 'Co., Boundary street. —^Advt. An dnquest iatb the circumstances surrounding tKe death of David Parry, nriner, who was 'killed in "C" tunnel, Wesfport-Stockton Company's colliery, was held at Stockiton before Mr. E. Rawson, coroner. The jury found a verdict that death was purely acc'dental, no blanie being attachable to anyone, and they added a rider to the effect that bords should be driven on sets and not on props. ;„ A correspondent, over the signature of "Worker," in the lnangahua Times, is givong Secretary Fagan an interesting- ,tim« over miffing matters at Reefton, which have been brought to a most . unsatisfactory condition. There is so much to be said on. tooth sides of the case that outsiders are puzzled to decide -where the balance of truth lies. 1000 men could be put on,"* tout the field seems to be tatooo at present. tForty-six acres of the Orakei estate which the Auckland City Council proposed to acquire for suburban homes, was sold las'c month for ;£4,-----500. Application has 'been made to the Maori Land Board for connrmation of the transaction. The Mayor states that steps will be taken to oppose the application, on the grounds that it is not, in. the best interests of the natives. It is believed that the sales are completed tout details are not ascertadnable. .We are showing' this week some very effective lines in- dress tweed in grys, browns, green, heathers, etc., from 8s 6d to 15s the dress piece. Navy serves Is lid, 2s 6d, 3s 4d to 5s per yard. Habiit and .Face Cloths 2 S 6d, 2s lid and 3s 6d. Golf Cloths for Blouses B^d and 9^d per yard. Then' a clearing li<ne an all wool blouse flannels foirmer price 2s 3d now Is 6d per yard. Also a full range of cream radiantas, unshrinkable with all ithe appearance of silk at Is Bd, Is 9d, 2s, 2s 6d, 3 S per yard. Trathen and Co., Boundary street.— Advt.' An extraordinary vacancy having occurred in the Dargaville Borough Council, Mr. «F. Jones, proprietor of the Times, was. returned against two other candidates. The return was questioned owing to the printing and advertising contract with the Council. Thfe : manager of the Times asked for a withdrawal of ! th© contract and le^al i opinion was sought, which said >:hat Mr. ; Jones was disqualified and also ineligible to stand again, unless tlv Council agreed to the cancellation of the contract. Meanwhile Mr. Jones offered \to insert the Borough advertisementis free, if the contract was cancelled. The majority of the Council agreed "that Mr. Jones is now eligible to stand. Heavy winter dress materials — a special line-in greys and browns — lOd and la a yard. Going like hot cakes a' W. McKay and Sons, drapers. — Advt. . Trathen and Coy. .are showing remaijkable value jin tweed costumes, coats, costume skirts, underskirts, etcWe mark all our goods in plain figures, customers can therefore rely on one price only and that the very keenest. Can we interest you? — Advt. Photoijrnp.hc Snaps? Celluoid Devefopiiiji Wishes J plate size 9d, 5x4 plate lb, iplatels 3d, lxl ; plate Is fid each, -l^on-slip Printing Frames mad* 3 of'strung ash in J plate 9d, 5x4 planIs 3d, \ plate Is 6d. Glass measuies 2oz Is, 4oz Is 3d* 6oz Is 6d. Comr and inspect them at B. Dixon's.Tainm Street.— Advt. ' Ouf winter furs are now to hand. To be smartly dressed one must hav f ; a good set of furs. We have a good range in Sable, Martin, Sealette. Thibet, Mouflon and real bear; also a range of children's furs. These arc all picked skins having being bought early. Trathen and Coy., Boundary Street.— Advt. • The new season's dress goods are in at Thomas and Mcßeath's comprising the newest and most stylish materials from Is 6d to 4s 6d per yard. also a most exquisite line in boxod blouses at lls' fid and 12s 6d. — Advt.