PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14704, 8 June 1908, Page 7

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM SATURDAY’S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) DR OH APPLE’S VICTORY. Dr Chappie displayed ability of a somewhat remarkable kind in his speeches during the campaign, his explanations of up-to-date Liberalism being characterised by much freshness and genera! power. As to the future, the fact that the new member for Tuapeka is a warm supporter of the absolute majority principle will not affect fcho decision' of the Government, wJjo must immediately. decide on the course they intend to adopt in regard to effectively dealing with the representation of tfie majority, and they cannot get rid of their responsibility in this connection. seeing that they stand pledged bo no member being returned by a minority of the electors hereafter. As Dr Chappie drew the hulk of his support from Lawrence and the localities contiguous thereto, districts that will merge into the Bruce electorate at the general election, wo shall riot ho surprised if he should bo found entering the lists against the sitting member for Bruce, nor shall wo ho the least astonished if, hi that contingency, the Ministry find it advisable to adopt him as the standard-bearer of progressive Liberalism.—Dunedin “ Star.” THE TTJAPEKA ELECTION.

Tho result of the polling yesterday constitutes a remarkable tribute to the ability and energy with which Dr Chappie, tho successful candidate, conducted his campaign. It is in every Sense of tho tern) a personal triumph for him. Though he enters Parliament as a Ministerialist, lie had throughout tho contest to fight against tho influence of the Ministry.—“Otago Daily Times.”

DEFENCE AND CONSCRIPTION. Mr M-'Nab said that the Government exhorts the men to take advantage of the instruction offered them. Those who are able to do so will do so, but those who ore not will not, unless the Government does something to enable them to overcome tho passive resistance of their surroundings. A small measure of compulsion would be sufficient to make all the difference between, tlio hopelessness oi tho present and: tho ideal system we all wish for. The very name of compulsion always raises the bogey of conscription, but- the Swiss people have proved to an admiring world that there can be compulsion without conscription, and the Australians are about to do the same thing. —“ New Zealand Times.” DR CH APPLE. Though the voting strength of parties in the House remains unchanged. Dr Chappie's return moans a distinct addition to its debating power. The late Mr Bennett was one of the silent members of the House, but his successor will be among tho most fluent. Eager, ambitious, eloquent, and endowed with an attractive address and a knowledge of affairs which is by no means confined to the ordinary range of his profession, Dr Chappie enters the House as a politician of exceptional promise. The temperance party will be especially glad to welcome so powerful air accession to their somewhat attenuated political ranks, but outside this one question he is politically a somewhat uncertain quantity, and his development during the coming session will be watched with exceptional interest.—“ Evening Pest.” OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

. Wo shall never get a thoroughly wellgraduated practical scheme or education, linking the kindergarten, the infant school and tho standard school with the secondary school, and that with the University, ono in which the claims of elementary, higher and technical education are all recognised and judiciously harmonised, until our ma-. chinory is recast by Parliament and the whole thing placed in the hands of a' council of education, representative of nil the interests involved and of schools of all grades. Tt should include town teachers and country ones, elementary and high school teachers, inspectors. directors of technical principals’of training colleges, representatives of education boards, school committees, boards of governors and professorial boards, with certain ex officio members, the Chancellor of the University, the Inspector-General, the Secretary for Education, the chairman of tho Parliamentary Committee and tho president of tho Now Zealand Educational Institute, the Minister of Education being naturally tho official president.—” New Zealand Herald.” ZOLA’S GREAT WORK.

Tf it had hot been for the. noble and self-sacrificing efforts of Zola, Dreyfus would never have regained his liberty and his rank, and Dreyfus standing by the grave of Zola was the best witness that could have been summoned to hear testimony in honour of tho dead man. It is significant of the change of public feeling in France that the mob which a few years ago howled for Droyfus’s blood now tides to lynch his would-be murdoror, and it is a striking instance of “ poetic justice ” that Dreyfus’s brother should protect the foiled assassin from the vengeance of tho crowd. Dreyfus is now secure in tho confidence and respect of the French people and the army, and the peril which ho so unexpectedly has had to face only'serves to mark more clearly the greatness of the work that Zola accomplished for justice and for France when he made his’ eloquent appeal to his fellow countrymen on. behalf of the persecuted Jew.—Auckland “Star.”