NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18929, 29 January 1925, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE WORLD CONSERVATIVE. All over the world the signs arid symptoms of political and economic convalescence are unmistakable, says the London Daily Express. In every continent there is visible a definite swing toward settled order and constructive stabilisation. The period of chaotic despair and anarchical indifference appears to be Hearing its end in all parts of the earth. The tendency to resort to violence and force seems to have spent its momentum. Everywhere the tide of revolution is ebbing. Mankind is in a conservative mood. It is mors anxious to conserve than to destroy its resources. Probably this world-move-ment is mainly due to the natural recuperative instinct of humanity. The world is recovering from the shell-shock of the war. Its faith in itself is reviving. The tragic lesson of Russia has been learned by every people on earth. The sterility of anarchy has been demonstrated so irrefutably that in every country the anarch has becomo unpopular. The elections in Great Britain sounded a note of sanity which was instantly echoed in the United States. The American elections, like the British elections, put the lid on subversive and explosive policies, and gave commercial and industrial enterprise a guarantee of fair weather for a long way ahead. The German elections have made it plain that the German people are not outside the new frame of mind. France, on her part, has vigorously manifested her determination to exterminate the virus of Communism.

A TEST OF MANNERS,

As a means of curbing the tendency to the use of coarse language, the Manchester Guardian has commended the provision in the Manual of Military Law, to which attention was recently directed by its production for the defence in a court-martial. "Allowance," remarks the paragraph gravely, "must be made for coarse expressions which a man of inferior education will often use : as mere expletives." It is nicely put, and it got the culprit off; and, perhaps, when he considers how gently, but firmly his deplorable failing has been ascribed to ignorance rather than vice, he will think with some contrition of the need for mending his ways, says the Guardian. There was a time—indeed, the Act is still unrepealed—when civilian "cursing and swearing" in public was regarded in rather the same way. An unskilled labourer, from whom little delicacy was to be expected, got off with a small fine for his misbehaviour, a "gentleman," charged with the same offence, had to pay more stiffly for his imprecations. Even now there is in some cases a distinction between actionable slander and vulgar abuse, which again serves to remind us that the law tends to regard profane oaths and indecency as proof that the swearer is a low, uncouth fellow rather than a deliberate knave. There is much to be said for the view, and some may be helped to curb their tongues by remembering it. HONOURS FOR CRAFTSMEN. Honour is to be paid to French men and women in every category of labour who can claim to be the best workers of their trade, says the Paris correspondent of the Morning Post. A national labour exhibition will take place every year, from results of which will be given the title of the "best craftsman in France." The bestowal of the.insignia of the Legion of Honour will be one of many tributes that will bo paid thus to the successful competitor, while, other distinctions will be awarded to those who are proved to be the most competent in each of their particular trades. The first formal step in this connection was taken when between 40 and 50 young women, selected from the most skilful of premieres mains employed by the great Parts dressmakers, assembled for the purpose of undergoing the first test in their particular trade. Each girl was furnished with materials and a sketch of the dress to be created therefrom, according to her own taste. The dress designed and created by the winnir of this competition, together with successful works from similar regional competitors all over France, will be exhibited in Paris. From the exhibits thus gather together a jury will decide to whom of their creators shall fall the proud title of the "first workwoman in France." The successful works from all the French industrial trades will form one of the leatures of the great International Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Art, which is to be held in Paris from May to October next.