NOTES AND COMMENTS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The Reform method of defending the local navy scheme illustrates in a rather striking way . the insinccrit- of tho ministerial newspapers’'assertion that tho Opposition has “ rl ra ,T<T ed naval defence into tho partv arena.” The reply to criticism of the Hem James Allen’s unfortunate police is the loud repetition in various forms of the statement that Sir Joseph Word suggested five years ago that the Admiralty should station warskips in Now Zealand waters. Apparently the Reformers imagine that bv this direct appeal to • the party spirit tliev can stifle discussion of Mr Allen’s proposal to commit the dominion to the construction of a local .navy. If thev were consistent they "ould refuse ‘to seek shelter behind a public man whom they condemn in season and out of season in unmeasured language. If they were frank they would admit that there was no parallel between Sir

Joseph’s suggestion in 1909 and Mr Allen’s proposal in 1913. But consistency and frankness havo no place in the party game as somo of the Reform organs play it. Happily, the public arc not likely to bo confused by the attempts to distort the facts. Sir Joseph Ward will be judged by the way lie handled the naval defence problem when he was in office, and his record in that respect is known to the people of tho dominion. The Reform policy, in any case, must stand or fall upon its own merits, and the electors will not fail to notico that tho ministerial jonrnals aro particularly careful to “abuse tho other side,” instead of putting forward arguments in favour of the local navy proposal. The attacks upon the Liberal leader aro an attompt to distract attention from the real issue.

Tho Dunedin “ Star,” a newspaper that the Reformers havo been very fond of quoting against the Opposition lately, has been outspoken on the subject of tho local navy policy. “Mr Allen took impetuously a lino of his own,” it says, “and other Ministers followed him in so irregular a fashion as to suggest that loyalty and recognition of tho value of an appearance of cohesion had struggled with personal views or convictions. At the rear of this lino was tho Minister of Marine, whose public utterances agreed so ill with Mr Allen’s that the latter’s partial recantation at Lawrence came not a bit too soon to prevent Cabinet differences on this matter being whispered of. And on Friday night came the Prime Minister’s official seal on the revised version published at Lawrence.” Tho “revised version” is that New Zealand’s naval policy, is dependent upon the decision of tho Imperial Conference next year. If Mr Allen went to that gathering as this country’s representative he might be as little amenable to reason and expert advice as he was when he interviewed the Admiralty authorities in London. Happily the electors are likely to take tho matter into their own hands at the end of this year.

Just what Sir lan Hamilton meant by “ keeping the serpents out of this paradise ” he knows best himself Although he remarked that the people of New Zealand would bo able to interpret the phrase for themselves few of them will care to hazard a speculation. Ho may have meant the antimilitarists, but as the anti-militarists aro here already and as ho is, in a sense, an anti-militarist himself, that interpretation must be unsound. He may have been thinking of the Yellow races, and taking ono consideration with another, ns the librettist says, this seems a likely key to tho > enigma. But if the average New Zealander used such an expression lie would mean by tho serpents all those insidiously tempting arguments that tho monopolists and the exploiters use to commend their schemes to a too trusting public. Xho original serpent in tho original paradise it will bo recalled, used his eloquence to commend the attractions of the natural products of tho country, and although Milton described the forbidden fruit as a “ crude apple,” he was writing in the light of afterevents.

The poot lacks his customary dignity in the passage in which ho speaks of “tho crude ,applo that diverted Eve.” A crude applo is an unripe apple, and it would havo brought swift punishment in tho shape of colic. The sufferings caused by the enjoyment of the forbidden fruit, on tho other hand, wero more lasting, and it is certain that if New Zealanders ever listen to tho persuasions of tho serpents they will involve their descendants ns well as themselves in tlie consequences. The tempter always holds out the prospect of immediate enjoyment, and one needs no very close or extensive acquaintance with politics in the dominion to realise that already there aro politicians here urging the present generation to enjoy all the good things around it at the expense of posterity. The serpent, in fact, earns pretty early into this paradise and is still here, but happily ois fame preceded him and now he makes small progress except when the Adams and Eves are apathetic. Tho chief difficulty is to recognise tho tempter when ho appears, and unfortunately Sir lan Hamilton changed the subject just when he seemed about to give u.. a valuable hint.

The latest cablegrams regarding the race for the America Cup, which is to take place in September, indicate that Sir Thomas Lipton is preparing for light winds in the great contest. The huge mast, dwarfing those of previous challengers, which has been stepped in Shamrock IV. and the single headsail of immense size, certainly point in that direction. The craft’s sail area evidently will be much greater than that of previous challengers, and the hoist of mainsail and dimensions of mainboom will bo something at which to marvel. Sir Thomas’s designer apparently has done his best to provide against the light airs which baffled more than one challenger in the past, and the Britisher’s sailing-master will probably bo able to spread an expanse of sail such as has never previously been seen on a cutter-rigged craft. The substitution of ono big headsail for the usual jib and foresail —or staysail, as Now Zealand yachtsmen are nocustomcd to call it—will not only simplify the handling of the yacht’s canvas, but will be an obvious advantage in light or moderate winds. The less the sail area is cut up the better is an axiom of racing the truth of which all yacht sailors appreciate when the wind gentles. Of course, a sudden squall would tax the abilities of the smartest crew in the handling of such huge sails. Sir Thomas, however, has profited by many a .luckless experience in the past, and no doubt he and his designer have substantial reasons for the innovations in the Intest Shamrock, and Britons the world over, whether yachting enthusiasts or not, uill wish him good fortune in his dogged fight for the trophy which America has held so long.

The Gum Land Commission which is sitting in the North Auckland country is making somo discoveries that ought to interest the land-tenure reformers and the land tax apostles. In the Mangawai district, the Commission was informed by witnesses that for the last quarter of a century three farmers had held 1800 acres, on the whole of which not more than .fifty head of cattle and sheep were running. The explanation given was that the owners of the land let it on royalty to kauri-

gum diggers, while they themselves spent their time digging on the adjacent Government gum resrve. A royalty ranging as high as £8 per acre was paid for the gum rights on a considerable area adjoining the reserve. The people of the north have been accustomed to the sight of huge areas locked up in this way and not properly utilised by the fortunate men who got in early. The quality of the gum land is of course not comparable with the land to bo found in Canterbury, but it can be cultivated with profit, and there is no better fruitgrowing soil in New Zealand. At present the kauri fossil resin is its most valuable crop, but the time is at hand when no man will be permitted to keep usable country locked up in this fashion, and no doubt the Commission will have something pointed to say about this aspect of the gum industry and northern settlement when it presents its report to Parliament. In any case, the matter must right itself before very long, as the kauri gum deposits are approaching the point of exhaustion in the old digging districts.

Mr Seebohm Rowntree, who has done so much to clarify opinion on social problems, lias devoted some attention to the lot of wharf labourers in his latest book. His description of tho Belgian dockers, who stay at home and cultivate profitable little gardens when work is slack on tho wharves, recalls some of the plans that have been propounded for improving the lot of tho workers in New Zealand’s ports. " The Antwerp docker,” says Mr Rowntree, ‘‘travels to the dock from tlie country early in the morning. If he sees there is little prospect of work he does not hang about all day as does the London docker, but immediately returns home, using his cheap workman’s ticket for the purpose, and spends the day working in his garden or small holding.” Now Zealand has something to learn in these matters. The Lyttelton wharf labourer, for example, must wait around all day in case he is wanted, and just at present he is prevented from waiting in the hall provided for his use, owing to some difference or misunderstanding with the Harbour Board.

The men who will be called up to explain their share in the Canadian shipping disaster are being tried in advance by the newspapers in a way that is obviously unfair. The captain of tho Empress of Ireland seems to be suffering a very grave injustice. Even if the charges now being hurled against him were all capable of proof they ought to be reserved until the whole circumstances are being investigated by a proper tribunal. But tho American newspapers are not particular in these matters, and unfortunately tire London Press displays a great deal less restraint than tradition used to require of it. It would bo foolish and unjust to pass judgment upon anybody on the "evidence” that the cablegrams are presenting day by day. Quito probably tho utterances of the chief actors in the tragedy are being distorted grossly by eager reporters in search of the sensational "copy” they are expected to provide for American readers.