NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18298, 15 January 1923, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

..'■ THE CAPITULATIONS. Turkey's delegates at Lausanne have demanded the abolition of the " capitulations." The'"term selves to, denominate, that body ' of: treaties ' concluded, between Turkey and various\ Western Stales fixing the conditions governing the treatment, of nationals of the latter living in the'Otto--man dominions. ".'■ Among the rights '■> secured to the foreigner by the Capitular | tions are inviolability of 'persons and do- : micile, freedom to trade, exemption from i some taxes, and the jurisdiction of his i own consular court. Without the con- , sent of his own authorities lie cannot be taxed, neither can any alteration be made in the position of the foreign post offices nor the customs tariff. \ With regard to fiscal matters, foreigners in Constantinople may agree to: some rearrangement, but or. the maintenance of the right of inviolability : of person or.domicile they will be adamant, for surrender on this 'point: might, involve the registration of their children as Turkish subjects and the closing down '." of foreign schools. Furthermore, no foreigner would care to be left to the jurisdiction -of the Turkish courts. On these matters there is absolute accord among all foreign nationals in Turkey. ; : -'-■:./:/ •.. ■ ... ■ ■--, : '--- ■ • -: i ...•;■ -.; H.M.S. RENOWN. J Observing that the Battle !,; Cruiser Squadron now consists of only two ships, Hood and .Repulse, the ; Naval , and Military Record says:— the Tiger was , withdrawn last year in the interests , of economy it was intended to recommission the Renown \ upon her, return from the ' Royal tour and after she had }-■ undergone an extensive refit. But shortage of money has compelled the postponement of this work, which was to have cost | nearly a ; million, and the Renown has j 'therefore been paid off J for , an indefinite j period. ; In her present condition this ! ship cannot be considered a thoroughly effective unit, her belt and deck armour being inadequate and her underwater protection incomplete. The fact that she was specially exempted from the antireconstruction clause of the, Washington Treaty may be taken as proof of the Admiralty's intention to give; her :a thorough refit when circumstances become more favourable, , but since the Treaty was drawn up the purse-strings have been pulled still tighter, and it may be a long time before money for the > work is available. ■ It is to be hoped however,, that this v fine ; ship will, escape the. fate of her predecessor, the second-class battleship which served a commission jus Royal yacht and was never afterwards reconditioned, ending her careen, as a" training ship for stokers. : To discard a fast and well-armed battle cruiser rather than;, spend the money necessary to bring her up to the Fleet standard* of efficiency would • be , false economy while, ;_ on - the other hand, to restore her to service without first making good her armour defects would be to waste about half a million a year on the. maintenance of an indifferent fighting unit which would probably not ho risked in the battle line.., . ■ THE STATE AS. EMPLOYER. , One of . the i'} commonly-heard f aspirations of the Labour Party is, to bring about the nationalisation ,;: of industry. Among the so-called "intellectuals'Vof the party, nationalisation is a creed, based on some ideal conception of society which leaves out of account the factor of human nature,; says Engineering.' ..:'';' : : .The;. : desire for nationalisation ■; so »; ; far as ■ it :;• really exists aniong genuine workmen,; is ■ based on two ideas,;;;.both, ; relevant 1 , to ' actual facts and theyfcfore .worth examining. ■ The first :ground for the desire, is a belief that employment by the Government would mean -security of tenure, high wages and advaiK'o'Uent by s seniority rather than; by ability: and energy.: Such conditions, however,: which; .are possible so long; as Government employees constitute only a , small fraction of the population; could not possibly bo; maintained if -the Government controlled all industry. There would inch be no outside J : funds from which ' inefficiency, could .'; be' subsidised,, and as' 'State management .' could never so efficient as that of private employers trained in their business and dependent for ■■ their livelihood upon its success, the surplus, ayaflaole ■; for the , wage fund of the workers would be less than under present conditions. ' Somebody would have to bear the cost of inefficiency and . incompetence of management, arid the persons upon . whom the burden wouldfall-most heavily would be the ,■; manual workers, /'who in Russia are now existing in a state of, practical slavery. Furthermore, ;: the /labourer//and manual-worker would find themselves at the mercy of tyranny from which /there; would' be, no appeal. .To-day the Govern-, merit:' can be invoked an independent arbitrator to hold the scales fairly between employer and; employed, Tbut\were the . Government:.,the. .sole > : employer, it;. would be in the position both of judge ■ and jury.-:'": ' ' THE WORKERS' SHARE. ' .;'.! Engineering suggests that the most gen-, eral ground for desiring nationalisation ■ of industry /.is belief .that under the present -■ system.. the .worker - is ; exploited. ; There is. no doubt, that such views are very prevalent V among' the industrial classes. They lie' at'; the -root;';.| of the policy of restricting production, ; as this is merely the reaction-of. the natural man to the belief that he is working to-en-; rich somebody: else'who has .no right to profit by his labour.; Such opinions may. not : be ignored, if industrial contentment and peace are to be secured. Thousands of workmen hold 'them - honestly and strongly, and they; are preached continually in workshops and lodges. ..But it has to be admitted -even by the - extremists' that; for industry to/ exist, . capital, .in the form ; of buildings ' and machinery, i. must also exist, and as . capital is .the sav- , ings of-thrifty men it will not be available -• unless; some-• inducement ?>to; thrift, in the form of interest on savings, is available. ; The State can acquire capii tal only/by.staking/ iffrOm the i t population, and if no capital .could be" held by private individuals, thrift would ;'"■ cease and the sources of taxation would dry : up. If, then,; capital: has to: ej;ist ; and . to earn sufficient, reward., to make ; up for its losses and to renew its wastage, it ' does, not really matter to the workman whether it is owned by. State jp* 1 by; a ■•' . private employer. I All that he is con- :■ cerned with is whether he himself, as , the user of. it, is; deriving a; fair share of the profits accruing from his labour.; - This is the whole point, and it must be • met by /ensuring that ' the workman's ~ share actually is a, : ,fair one..and/that' he ' understands that it; is so". Upon the pos- ' sibility of this hangs the entire question ■ of industrial peace, and orderly economic progress..., . • ;,' '• ;'•'■■ 0 ■"'■ ■.■'.•?'•:.'''■, ■ ■■/?;; .'■ .' \'f'-'-''.'<' '!■:>:'!. ''.;■;'■.. ':/""';,;:/;:-';i-^

":~^fy : A ,:/,j ; ;7 r : . l -.. /''/'"v--v : ---i -;wrT:---/ : , : /.;-;/-/'- I -:v/;;-'-//-/^y- : 11 LOCAL AND GENERAL HEWS: I ■ '■'■ ■'■ . "' ■'-<&- ' ■''"'' '■/ '•' ' | Two '.i>xpresses•■ left Auckland; for Wi'l- , "Tngtori"-.iasl 1 . 1 evening. The 'first, at 7.10 Ouddek; ..' had practically every seat "; re- ' I sewed arid carried about; 300■ passengers. The second, at 7.40, Was not so fully :. booked, and carried [ about 400 passetitiers- many :of whom were for I'ukekohe, Mercer, or Frankton. ~ ' ;•'' ; - Impressions of the '■ Queensland . bowlers' tour of New Zealand were summarised by Mi'.- R. J Archibald when/ acknowi! lodging the civic ' welcome tendered to ' 'visitors" on Saturday evening/ /They ■'' viewed the city of Wellington ; with great admiration,' he, said, .and then journeyed to Christohurch, where/they felt, they were living in the atmosphere of Ola England. Then to that -grand old settlenient which the : Scots carved out7.for: . themselves. ; At Palmerston , North they were greatly; impressed with the advance made ■in laying out a wonderful ; city. Rotorua was to them one of the wonders of the world, and: its attractions .had entranced them. They felt ;, they I would like to live in Rotorua if, it were not for the aroma. (Laughter.) However, /he understood Rotorua/ was /regarded as ,;M safety-valve for the ■ district. .., Last hut not least they had come to Auckland, the Capital of the North Island at any rate. ' (Laughter.) '"I f hope I have not made a mistake," Mr. Archibald said, "but at any rate I meant no reflection on Auckland.''' (Renewed laughter.) They regarded Auckland as being the climax ot ' their/visit; and ■:■ believed the best was* yet , to come as far as scenic : beauty was concerned. ~/ '-i ■':"'■/ '• :■■"■: The young tigress brought from London by the steamer- Port Elliott,, now at King's Wharf, ! . was/born; in the London Zoological Gardens. It has v been sent td Wellington in exchange, for,two. kiwis. The-/ animal, which is a; fine -specimen, is under the charge of < the chief officer of; the Port Elliott, and doe s ; credit to its temporary keeper. i It has grown considerably during .; the weeks' voyage, and looks the ! picture of health; Sailors are noted for making pets of all animals, and the tigress is no exception, as it*will allow the chief officer to stroke and • pet it to a certain extent /through the bars of its cage. It is fed once a- day,''."'every. evening,' with an allowance of ,61b. of raw meat from the freezer. A fire occurred at about 2.3(J on Saturday v morning in 1 a wash-house, and outhouse at the rear of the residence of Mr. James Thompson, 3, Ranfurly Road, Epsom. The two buildings' were practically destroyed, but the Remuera ;;.ahd; Pa<rnell Fire Brigades managed to save the house. The place is owned by Mr. F. O. Irving. * There was no insurance: on the two buildings destroyed. A gorse fire in Kiwi Road,/in'an outlying part of Devonport, - necessitated the, attendance on Saturday .= at about 9 p.nu of the Devonport, Fire Brigade. The ; outbreak was extinguished; before / any damage had been done to the houses on either side of the blaze.;" ■ . - '< , The consent of the Governor-General to the raising of loans by the following local■-,, bodies has been ■■;:.■ gazetted:-—Auckland City Council, £500,000, as a consolidated loan; .Mount Soskill Read Board. £4000, for water reticulation; Northcote Borough Council, £3250, for extension of water mains; reticulation,;. and additions to pumping plant, and £5000 for assisting ratepayers to instal drainageconnections. ; The philanthropic efforts of the Rotary Club in providing: Christmas gifts for 1000. Auckland ; children ' have not 1 borne/ good fruit in one particular instance. One small boy received a ; penknife for his present, and on his way home ';. from the Town Hall : tested/ the capabilities of the weapon on a motor-tyre, and in ? the en counter the tyre appeared, to come off .worst. The sequel::to the incident occurred on Saturday when the. boy ... was .charged, /at the ; Juvenile Offenders Court -.with/having wilfully damaged ; the tyre/ to the extent of £7 10s: : The case . was* formally adjourned for 12 months, the father being ordered to pay for the, : damage during that period: ; -J'\ ' '■' i .'■■{■' ■, ".'■ -■"''■ " ;■"'■' ; "Before actually replying to this wonderful: welcome may .; I•; be permitted to express the pleasure of the 4jtioenslariders at the high; honour of i.C.if.G'i bestowed on you," s#d Mr. R. J. Archibald, president of the Queensland Bowling .Association, in addressing the Mayor, Mr. J. H. : Gurison, at the civic reception on Saturday. J\" Naturally, ; sir,'';he .continued, "we are unaware of ■your, doings ,i.A the "past but the honour is evidence that your life ;has: been one of service rather. than ' self. I.treasure the!hope that before yoa lay down your office you wjll yet be hailed as the Lord Mayor of Auckland, ,an honour you will worthily uphold.'. / : The;popularity of the Auckland Zoo- ; logical Gardens would seem to have been ; definitely established. The City Council commenced ; making a / charge : for admission oh \December 17. Since that date; up to Friday last, 9071 adults and 4603 chil- ; dren had" paid to visit the zoo. -The total takings for the period' amount -to £511 Is 9d. f . ._ ..■ t A/little boy had a narrow escape from drowning at Cheltenham-Beach on Satur- ; day afternoon. While lie/ was bathing a "short distance from the shore he was seen by a woman on the beach to be in difficulties. •■ The observer^ called' out to a/young man who was shimming in; the vicinity and directed his attention to the - boy. The' swimmer hurried to'the rescue, the lad disappearing beneath/the ; water antl rising again is: lib made toward: him. ; The rescuer was in time ;to prevent. the lad sinking again and soon, had Mm ; in shallow water, whence : the ;■: child wan able to; wade ashore..' Beypnd a fright he was none the worse. forexperience, . but onlookers state that 'lie .was, lucky to have had his plight noti&di,; : The Dargaville 'Racing Club's /meeting, held at 'Ellersiic on i Saturday, attracted an attendance of over 11,000. and.it passed off successfully;- ! The leadirfg^event,; the Dargaville Cup, was won by, Mr. J. Wil- : HarrisonV four-year-old horse I ' Loyal Irish.. : ;The,:;totalisator; investments - for the day ■ amounted to £50,617. ■ < • ~ , ; i The Queensland bowlers, ; on- leaving Rotorua for Auckland, declared they had ! IrieVer had such a;/hospitable reception, '' 'They went: all the: trips, ; and sbmeHried: 'their luck at fishing. , The thermal won- '" "dors : and the /splendid virility /of / the Maoris; were the theme of most favourable : comment./ The/ Government gardens and grounds greatly impressed them, and, Mr. : R. J. Arohibafd, president, of the Queens- ■ land- Bowling; Association, expressed it: ; "Wo leave, thirty -ambassadors of commerce, to tell■";of/New/;Zealand wonders '■ to the people of Queensland." j■■_'• , ' The first meeting of the,.year of the War Funds Council will be held: on , February 1 at; Wellington.;, The fund 3" under 'the: administration of the council have ■'■ steadily 'increased,-, and, ; now" total ; a ; con--' . siderable amount. The; Auckland, mem- - bers of "the council are the Mayor, Mr. , J.iH. Gunson, and Mr. V.'J. Lainer,_ With regard to the change of venue, by • which certain one-day totalisator- clubs ;: operating in the Auckland district; ' this season-'permitted to hold; race meetings: on courses other /than, their own, •it may be explained that several of. the clubs were last pressed so hard financially that '■". it - was deemed advisable, to assist them in the direction named. ...It may be ' further explained that the,:whole (jf the ■ profits of the several-meethigs are ; to bo pooled, and , divided equally" among -the eight clubs, forming the combine,/ That , the financial position /with/ /country , clubs will be eased by the increased ;turnover is certain, but the Government ; will also reap much additional,taxation. '"''•■■ The total j amount/"deposited-in the <■■ P O Savings Bank 'in ,-. the September • quarter, 1922,' was ■ £6,902,755,' compared >" with'-' ; £7,531,891-in ,-.thcv''-corresponding »'■ quarter of' 1921," a deorease. of £729,136. •'■' The amount withdrawn in the November ' quarter, 1922, totalled £6,948,683,. as - against £8,087,725 in the corresponding »; period" of 1921, a decrease of x£1,139,042. - The excess of withdrawals oyer deposits lin 'September quarter. 1922, amounted : ■ :to £45.928 and in the September quarter, : 1921, to £455,834! ' ,\ .: \^.''_' '[%"]y. ■ -~ ,:'■.■.■..■; , v,.. -.., •:■,... .-■. ; ... -: ■ ..-..A •:. .-. i i ■,:■;-■' .■',//. ;/:;/'./.''■-;S;;,/ ; ; •"'% ;. : -/;-;';";•;,■;:.-'/ ■/";--:--/■;'