NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20967, 2 September 1931, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A CONSTITUTION FOR ETHIOPIA. A formal proclamation of his granting a constitution to his subjects was madi by the Emperor of Ethiopia at his palac< in Addis Ababa, on July 16. Speaking from the Throne, His Majesty said lit had long wished to set up comtitutiona government, but had been prevented foi various reasons. Now, however, he wa: able to do so. It was his intention thai the Constitution which he was now grant ing should bo enforced. Abyssinia nuisl remain united likes a single family, anc would be governed by the Emperor ir conformity with the Constitution. Ir future everyone would be subject to the law. For many years Abyssinians hac been isolated from tho world and hac been very backward, so that it was necessary for the Emperor to govern like a father, but now such progress had been made as to make it possible for them tc take up some share of the task which he had hitherto performed alone. "It is in this spirit that we have decided, in order to enable all those who are worthy of it to take part in this work, to institute a legislative body of two Chambers. Their members will be designated by the Provinces subject to our consent." Responsible Ministers would he appointed to execute throughout the Empire those decisions of the two Chambers which received the Imperial approval. METHODIST UNION. Union of tho three great Methodist communities in Great Britain was made certain by the decisive vote of the Representative Session of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in Birmingham. The majority in favour of bringing the Wesleyan Methodist, Primitive Methodist and United Methodist Churches into a united conference next year represented 97.5 per cent, of the lay and ministerial delegates voting. Tho legal resolution presented by the Rev. E. Aldom French, was that the next yearly conference, to be held in Manchester in July, 1932, should, after ordinary business, adjourn until September 20, 1932, for a united meeting at the Albert Hall, London, of the conferences of the three Methodist Churches. Mr. French said that brethren who had opposed union recognised that it was now inevitable. Indeed, in all the circumstances most of them felt that failure to carry union would be an immeasurable disaster. Tho two other Methodist Churches approved union by majorities of 99 per cent. The Mother Church of Methodism, which raised the question of union, had now to give its decisive vote. This would be a matter of profound satisfaction to many Christians of other communions who were watching them prayerfully, and a noble end to tho controversy among Methodists themselves. Sir Robert Perks formally seconded the resolution, which was carried by 558 voles to 14. All that now remains to be done to comply with tho terms of the Act enabling the union is to secure similar approval from a majority of at least three-fourths of the Pastoral Session, which is a foregone conclusion after the vote at Birmingham. NEW WORLDS TO CONQUER. A new dock, adding 20 acres of enclosed water and over a mile of quays to Glasgow's harbour, has been completed at a cost of £2,000,000. It was recently opened by the King, who congratulated tho city on the courage and enterprise exhibited by this undertaking. " Two centuries ago Glasgow was the pioneer in the development of trade with North America," said His Majesty. " That enterprise, in tho words of best known Glasgow citizen in literature, Bailie Nicol Jarvie, was the most fortunate event in her history ' since St. Mungo first caught, herrings in tho Clyde.' Moreover, it was the first step which raised Scotland from a poor and backward country to a foremost place in all human activities. It has given Glasgow to-day tho proud position of the second city in the Empiro. Sho has been tho window from which Scotland especially has looked out upon tho world. She has been tho port from which Scotsmen have gone forth to colonise and develop new lands. For a century her ships have sailed every ocean, and there are few corners in the world, however remote, whore you cannot find a Glasgow engineer. It is a great record, but I am convinced that it is not yet ended. There are still new worlds for Glasgow to conquer. There is, for example, that southern half of the American Continent from which my dear son, the Prince of Wales, has recently returned, and which I believe will one day be bound to Britain with close commercial ties. The future lies in the hands of the men with brains, energy, and determination. These qualities the people of the second city of my Empire have never lacked. The motto of this great city is:— ' Let Glasgow Flourish.' That is at onco fin inspiration and a resolve. When Scotsmen aspire earnestly to a purpose, the )urpo.se is already half accomplished. We shall watch with cordial interest the fulfilment of that hope.".