THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 29 January 1909, Page 4

THE WEEK.

The sensation of the week in the Old Country has been the mad escapade of the two> Russian Avorkmen who ran amok between Tottenham' and Walthamstow, London, having first held up a motor car and seized a bag of sovereigns contained therein. They were armed with revolvers which they fired indiscriminately, killing a policeman and a child. Eventually, being run to earth, they blew their own brains out. Aj very serious aspect of this affair is the fact that the Russians were members of the Russian revolutionary party with headquarters in London. It is well known that London is a hot-bed of foreign anarchists and revolutionaries who rush there to escape the penalty of their professions and deeds in their own lands. It has been asserted, time after time, that England's, comparative exemption from anarchists' plots and crimes is due to the fact that she allows them to exist unmolested in her capital. However that may be, protests are every now and then lodged against the Government's laxity in their regard. The Tottenham tragedy* has caused a more than ordinaay outburst against i these desperadoes. The London Times thinks it is high time to put some more effectual restriction on the facile entry of alien degenerates into the country, and that opinion seems to be very generally shared. It is a serious problem, and no doubt the Home Government will now give it the consideration it demands.

Still further severe earthquake shocks arc reported at Messina, and Reggio, and very naturally they are causing not only anxiety, but panic, among the citizens. For some' cause, which the scientists, so far, do not seem able to explain, seismic disturbances seem to become fashionable just now. In Pliocea, Asia Minor, an alarming earthquake is reported, but full details aro lacking. It is said that nearly 700 houses were destroyed. If that is so, it is scarcely possible that all their occupants escaped uninjured. The volcano of Lagnas, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines, has been in violent eruption and caused groat damage. Lastly, we had a. slight earthquake shock in Feilding. Mr J. T. Stevenson. F.R.A.S., of Auckland, predicts further earthquake disturbances from the 17th to the 23rd of next month; and presumably New Zealandejrs should feel gratified that their country, according to the prophet, is not to bo affected by the shocks to any great extent.

J.t is something to be thankful for that "we have heard the last, that is to say for the present at all events, of the New Zealand mining troubles. The Huntly affair, through the intervention of the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister of Mines, has been settled. ' The trouble there, it Avill be remembered, arose at the conclusion of the difficulty in regard to workers' compensation, when the miners refused to return to work until four men, who had consented to medical examination and returned to work, were either dismissed or disrated. The Taupiri Coal Co. refused to give way to the demand, and cons&quently the miners were idle since Christmas. Notwithstanding the settlement, there are murmurs in certain quarters that there are breakers still ahead. It is to be sincerely hoped that this is not the case.

Insistent in international affairs during the week has been the ciy for a White Australia, a White Canada, a White California, and the exclusion of Asiatics. The position so far as California is concerned appears to be a really urgent and critical one, and were it not for the intervention, of President Roosevelt^ in l'&gard to California's pro-

posed anti ? Japanese legislation, it is scarcely possible that- open hostilities between Japan and America could have been prevented. Notwithstanding the President's action, and Baron Koinura's expression of confidence in "Washington, however, it is widely believed that war between America, and Japan is well within the region of possibility at a not distant future. Some military expeits ha.va expressed the opinion that in the event of such a war, under the conditions at present existing in both countries, America would come off second-best. If that over happened it would be a. sad blow, not only for America, but for the supremacy of white civilisation everywhere. That President Roosevelt fears such an eventuality is pretty evident from the fact that he is urging the fortification of strategic points on the Pacific Coastto prevent the possible landing of a hostile army of Orientals. The WaiDepartment states that the projected scheme of defence works is not connected with the Japanese troubles: but such a statement merely makes more marked the great danger to which the United States are open and which American statesmen hold cannot, bo any longer ignored.

The Balkans clouds have not yet passed. The week has witnessed some minatory sparring between Turkey ana Bulgaria and the mobilisation of troops on both sides. Five millions is the sum. which the Porte expresses its willingness to accept for all material loss, including the railway. It remains to be seen whether Bulgaria will consider that an' equitable sum. If not, it would be hard to predict where the matter may end.

Australia still continues a labor stormcentre. At Broken Hill, Torn Mann presents a defiant front refusing to accept the bail condition not to participate in affairs at Broken ,Hill. The sooner h© is locked, up or exiled c'xe better will it be for all concerned, it is reported that the. arrested strikers are to be dealt with summarily. This may exercise a. temporarily steady" ag effect; but it is clear that Australian labor leaders are determined, to push on to the utmost extremes. Thei Sydney Labor Council a few days ago, in addition to passing resolutions, " the wisdom of which may be questioned, decided to open communication with, the leading industrial centres of Europe and America to 'bring about co-op c native action "to prevent labor-saving patents becoming' the monopoly of capitalists." What does that mean? It would appear to signify a desire to 23rev&nt the man who has brains tn jugli to invent a labor-saving appliance, from enjoying the monetary reward cf his ability; It would ultimately result in the suppression of the mveir.ive faculty. A Marconi or an Edison will not labor in the field cf discovery if, after all his work, he is to be robluu of his due emolument. If .out* of thefce Labor Councillors hit upon a pi-oiit-able invention, we may be stira Le would be tue last man in the world to rjart with it unrewarded.

One more proof that bravery and heroism have not uassed out of the world

is afforded by the records connected with the Republic-Florida disaster. The action of Captain Selby, of the Republic, , and of his second officer, AVilliams, and the Marconi operators, Burns and Tatttirsall, in sticking to their posts while chilly Death 'stared them full in the 'face, cannot be too highly eulogised. Selby and Burns were cheered and carried shoulder high when they reached Now York,, and the women" mobbed them and smothered them with kisses. These men deserve the most substantial reward their country can give them, and no doubt America will treat them in accordance with their merit.

For a considerable time past the owners of sailing vessels in New Zeala-id have complained bitterly of the harassing nature of the Dominion's shipping laws which lDrevented them from competing with Australian-owned tonnage. As a result of. this long-seething dissatisfaction, it is stated that some ot the principal owners have at length decided to transfer their vessels to the Australian register. This will mean a serious loss to New Zealand, if generally adopted, and it is very necessary that steps should be taken to enquire into the shipping laws with a view to making them less harassing to the shipowners.

A telegram published during the week shows that the problem of unemployment in Wellington is a serious one. Arrivals by the lonic were- met by officials of the Labor Unions and given thei discouraging assurance that the labor mai-ket was over-crowded, tlie Painters' Union alone having 60 firstclass workers on its books, while nearly 400 wharf laborers were not earning a living. Somewhat similar stories come from other centres. If , all reports on this question be true, it would appear very desirable to restrict immigration of all but farm and domestic labor, at least for some time to come.