NEWS ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 185, 22 July 1911, Page 2

NEWS ITEMS.

The “Lyttelton Times” hopes that if Sir Wm. Hall-Jones should retire during the next year or two the Government will not think it necessary to appoint a party politician as his successor as High Commissioner. The position is now of so much importance, and its occupant deals with such a varietj- of interests that it should be filled by the most capable man that can he found without regard to his party colour.

The Hon. R. McKenzie stated that on his way across the island he did not go into the Arthur’s Pass tunnel. The work, he believed, was going on satisfactorily, although there was a lack of water to drive the turbines consequent on the severe frosts. He considered that the boring of the tunnel would occupy another three and a-half years. Railway construction was now proceeding on the tunnel side of the Bealev river.

Tiie Aorangi, sailing on Jul.v 29th, will be the last San Francisco mail steamer to go via Auckland. After the commencement of the Vancouver service, the San Francisco boats will call only at Wellington. The Maitai. leaving Wellington at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 25th, will go direct to Rarotonga, thence to Tahiti and San Francisco, giving a 31 days’ delivery from Wellington to London. The inward mail will continue as at present: Leave London on Saturday, San Francisco on the following Wednesday week, and arrive at Wellington 21 days later. President Taft asks: “Why is it that, speaking generally, every person who commits a crime in England is tried, and rarely escapes punishment, while in America it is not too much to say that the majority escape the law ?” The President answers his own question, but- did not give the real reason. What is the matter with America is a flabby sentiment, which pities the criminal rather than his victim. As the President admits, it is especially crimes of violence that escape punishment. It has been gravely stated that there are 10,000 murderers at large in the United States I The American says: “He has killed a man! That’s a pity. But what’s the good killing him 1 That would make two killed.” This kind of logic leads to two or three more being murdered to-morrow and every other day in the year, for murder is safe. By sparing the assassin they condemn several who are not assassins. But these, being indefinite, unknown, and out of sight, excite no sympathy.—Dunedin “Star.”