NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16606, 18 July 1914, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Mr Massey seems to b© very angry u-ith the Liberal leader for having ltd that taxation was higher » 1913, when the Conservatives were in charge of the country's affaire, than it was ,„ 1911 when the Liberals were in power.

Sir Joseph Ward's point is that when Mr Massoy was seeking votes at the last election ho told the people they wero over-taxed and that if the Reformers got into offico tho "burden" would bo lightened. The Year Book proves that the taxation per head of the population in 1911 was £4 lis lid, and in 1913 it was £5 7s 2d. The per capita "burden" was thus 10s 3-J heavier last year. Mr Massey's defence is that his Government " has not increased Customs taxation by one penny." But that does not help tho right honourable gentleman out of his dilemma any more than getting annoyed about the matter will assist him The cold facts remain that the Tory leader promised to reduce taxation and that taxation is higher than ever.

• Mr Allen does not appear to have been in any better humour than his chief when this subject was briefly discussed in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Tho Minister of Finance had to be called to order by the Speaker for an improper reference to Mr G. W- Russell, who had made the very truthful observation that tho Government had gone back on its promise to reduce taxation. Mr Allen—who ought to know—said that " last year was not an opportune time for reducing taxes." Neither, in the view of the Government, was the previous year, and there is no indication that the present year is considered an opportune time to lessen the " burden " pf taxation. Ministers may be quite right in taking this view. 'They are in charge of tho exchequer and are responsible for making both ends meet, and when they say the time is inopportune to give relief to the workers and the producers they may bo speaking strictly by the book. Tho trouble is that this is so different from what they said at election time.

Mr Massey has stated to a deputation from tho Municipal Conference in regard to the question of superannuation that a Bill has been prepared to amend the National Provident Fund Act. Of course this means that an extension of tho scope of the Act is contemplated, presumably in the direction of providing means for local bodies to construct superannuation schemes for their employees. This is a move in tho right direction, though the exact proposals cannot, of course, bo considered until they are produced. The whole question of giving opportunities for working people to provide against destitution in old age is one that deserves tho most sympathetic and statesmanliko~~treatmeiit. It is a large and difficult problem, no doubt, but that is no reason why the subject should be neglected. So far as it goes, the National Provident Fund established by the Liberals is excellent in principle and in practice, but is capable of very useful development.

An anxious organ of Reform has discovered that tho new Labour organisation contains members who previously were adherents of the United Federation of Labour. It has also learned that" a prominent member of the old body, in assenting to its disappearance, said that "altered circumstances " had made a change necessary. A nervous Reformer requires no more evidence than this to convince him that tho dreadful "Red Feds" are plotting dark deeds. "Tho Federation, in short," says tho ministerial journal, "is still the Federation which was responsible for the Waihi and watersiders' strikes. The Semples and Hickeys are temporarily withdrawn from the front rank, tho preamble is changed, and a few minor alterations have' been made, but thero is not an atom of difference in the spirit, character, and purposes of tho organisation." This foolish tirade, which disregards entirely the fact that the moderate majority of tho Labour party is now in the ascendancy, lends itself to paraphrase. " The Conservative party, in 6hort," a truthful critic might write, " is still the Conservative party, which was responsible for the obstruction of progressive.legislation during a quarter of a century. Thero is not an atom of difference in tho spirit, character and purposes of the organisation." But then tho Massoys, Aliens, Herdmans and Bells have not been withdrawn, even temporarily, from the front rank. They have merely been provided with a very flimsy disguise of democratic fervour.

An analysis of tho ages of the nine new Legislative Councillors shows that the latest batch of Lords cannot bo a'ceused of not having attained years of discretion. The youngest of tho honourable squad has very nearly reached tho period of life at which the State pensions off its employees as incapable of further active service, and a rough average gives sixty-three as the mean age of tho nine. There are two gentlemen of seventy-seven, the Hon John Fisher and tho Hon R. K. Simpson, and one of seventy-two, the Hon Gilbert Carson. These three havo arrived at an age when most men are wearying of the vain gamo of politics, and the others are close at their heels. is charitable to express the hope that their accumulated legislative wisdom may run in proportion to their talo of years.

It should not bo very difficult to discover a fitting motto for tho City of London, a problem which a cablegram states is exercising the London County Council just now. Mr Bernard Shaw's breezy suggestion that "hell is a city much like London,'* is apparently intended to set the Council cleaning up the metropolis in more senses than one, but there is abundance of material from which to draw a motto of a little nioro complimentary character. "The Times" suggests "Sweet Thames Runs Softly," from Edmund Spenser's " Prothahuion," a "spousall verse," as the poet described it. It was fitting enough no doubt in Spenser's time, when he "walkt forth" to ease his pain, " Along tho sboare of silver streaming Thoinmcs; . . Whoso rutty bancke, the which his river Was painted all with variable flowers, And all ihe meadea adorned with daintia gemmes, Pit to deck -nardena' bowres, And crown their paramours Against the Brydalo Day, which is not long. Sweete Thcmmesl run softly till 1 end my. Song." Bracks and mortar, however, have covered great areas of the Spenserian flower-decked meads, and the Thames is scarcely as sweet a stream, perhaps, as when it went gliding down to the sea in the Elizabethan days, j

Nevertheless the quotation is a pleasant one, and "The Times's" idea may gain official approval. It is at anyrate preferable to a stilted Latin motto.