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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11121, 13 January 1899, Page 4

OPEN COLUMN.

rue editor uocs not uold minseli responsible lor opinions expressed by correspondents. THE AUSTRIAN INVASION. Sir, — In these days, when leaders of the Government consider that they dictate, that there is no necessity for the will of the people as expressed by Parliament being accepted, it may be somewhat dangerous to criticise the decrees of New Zealand's Kaiser. The most able of our medical authorities, I understand, agree that the .question of mental aberration ' is one of the most difficult matters to deal with. What is and what is not insanity is, I believe, one of the most difficult questions which the medical men have to consider. Some of the smartest business men, who on nine subjects out of ten are beyond question so far as public opinion goes, are so far as the other portion of the ten subjects is concerned so completely at sea than one must doubt •whether they are in a sufficiently secure mental condition to be trusted. We have not yet the law of lese majestic in New Zealand, under which our telegrams inform us that within the last few days an editor of a German paper has been sentenced to four years for publishing a cartoon which was supposed to I caricature the Kaiser's second son ; but we have apparently arrived at a position in which the Government of this colony has Bhown that, to put it mildly, it has an "Austrian bee in its bonnet." The arrival of the Waihora last week in Auckland witnessed the assembly of a large police force, backed by the permanent army of the colony, to enforce what must be considered the "Austrian bee in the bonnet policy," and to attempt to prevent the landing of passengers who had paid their own passage to New Zealand. This was in direct contravention of any known law on the subject. 1 The Government says that no matter what the law is, no matter whether the action they take is opposed to the opendoor policy of England, and without the authority of the New Zealand Parliament, it will, if it can, upset all these "open door" arrangements, and decree that the Premier of New Zealand is altogether above the New Zealand Parliament or the policy of England. We' have seen within the last few days an ignominious backing down. Our Government, having held this colony up to the ridicule of the civilised world by attempting by force to prohibit two passengers by the Waihora from landing, allowed one of the same nationality to walk ashore from the Elingamite without police interference. Our cables to-day inform us that the Mokoia has left Sydney with another detachment on board. These are men who have paid their own passage, and are under no obligation whatever to the Government. They belong to a country which is at peace with us and Britain j their countrymen in the past have not ' been an excessive charge upon the charity able institutions of the country ; they are not prohibited from landing here by any legislation thar I am aware of, and after such an exhibition of unwarranted tyranny as was made last week on the Auckland wharf, I think we shall find that on the arrival of the somewhat larger number than arrived by the Waihora that the Government, possibly in deference to the feelings of the Home Government and partly to the universal condemnation itß action has evoked, will on Monday next on the arrival of the Mokoia be having a feast on humble pie, and it is to be hoped that it will do them good. In the present state of European politics, if there was no other reason, I do not think the colony will for one moment allow such a grossly offensive and unconstitutional action on the part of anyone, even if he has an " Austrian bee in his bonnet." Apparently the " Kaiser " is not taking his gruel kindly. In his position he never expected to have to take gruel. .We are informed by wire that the Mokoia has 100 Austrians on board, and that the Union Company will be required to execute a bond of ifilO each before they are allowed to land. One is apt to ask, "Why is this?" How many of our settlers on their arrival in New Zealand could have deposited JJ10? It is very questionable whether the " Kaiser " himself could have done it. lam well aware that there are hundreds of our best settlers who could not have done it. The "Kaiser" claims that the Auntrianß, paying their own passage, and asking no Government assistance, make money where others starve, and then return to their own country taking substantial savings with them. There is no proof of this. The official returns do not show it, and even if it should be true there surely can be little objection to these people making money in a life and in a part of the country which is exceedingly desolate. If there is any reasonable ground for believing that these people come here penniless, and leave carrying large amounts of the country's wealth with them, why not put an export tax of £100 on them ? That may not be defensible, but if> would be far more reasonable than the present proceedings. Before this incident is over I think the "Kaiser" will wish the Kauri Gum Act, 1898, at — the bottom of the deep blue sea. — I am, &c, ' P. SuTTON. Napier, January 12tb, 1899. CONSTABLE HAEVEY'S BOOTS. Sib, — Besides the lady's hat nuisance at theatrical performances, of which "Nemo" complains in this morning's issue, I think it is about time the silly and time-worn gag referring to Constable Harvey's boots, which every barnstormer that comes to Napier seems to get hold of, was dispensed with. Last night I was seated behind two tall females "adorned" with wide-brimmed straw hats, which about once in every two or three minutes allowed me a glance of part of the stage. This of course did not put me in tho best frame of mind, and therefore when I again heard the stupid old wheeze about the constable I certainly would have liked to heave a briok at the performer who uttered it, and could I have flattened out the afore-mentioned hats at the same time I should certainly consider my half-a-crown better spent than Ido at present. No doubt a man who for 20 odd years fills the position of police constable must during such a period make a number of enemies, espacially among the larrikin element ; but I am sure the great majority of any Napier audience admires Constable Harvey as about the most efficient and conscientious police ojjjcor in the district. I presume theatrical manager! desire to amuee without giving offence, and if they congider that among any Napier audience are almost sure to be some member of Constable Harvoy'g family, they will no doubt cease holding that worthy member of the community up to ridicule. — I am, &c, Disgusted, Spit, January 12th, 1899.