TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4425, 3 August 1901, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE MILITARY INQUIRY. It has been arranged that LieutenantColonel Davies and Major Hawkins shall be members of the Commission of Inquiry into what has become known as th e '‘Newtown Park Scandal” in the places of Lioutenant-Colonel s Robin and Slater. The Commission will therefore consist of Lieutenant-Colonels Pitt and Davies and Major Hawkins. Colonel Davies has just returned from South Africa, and Major Hawkins, who hails from Southland, had charge of the con* tmgent which represented New Zealand at the Federal celebrations. The Commission has arranged t 0 sit at the Drillshod on Monday next. There is a great deal of conjecture as to the manner in which the inquiry is to be conducted. It is stated that no lawyers will be admitted. Presumably, as this is to be a military inquiry, such an innovation would bo irflra dig. The question arises as to how evidence is to be obtained. Mr VVilford is understood to have a lot of useful testimony in his possession, but if ho is excluded he will probably advise his principals to emulate Urer Rabbit—‘‘lie low, and s ay nuffin.” In that ca so the scope of the inquiry would be strictly limited. If the military authorities hare spied out some of the* chief offenders, and_ eject to bring them to book.tho Commission will have something to rro upon. but this method cannot' prove wholly satisfactory—first, because it would be very hard work to induce ■Uj 0 alleged offenders against military discipline who have been identified to incriminate themsolves; and, secondly, because the processionists, who are not known, are spread all over the North Island, and are not likely to exhibit any (particular eagerness to establish their identity. Of course, the fact that the Commission is a military one will preclude the general public from obtaining full knowledge of its soope; still, a great deal of curiosity naturally exists as to whether' it will include an inquiry ■ intp_ the various funeral services ” held in the camp itself as a protest against the victualling, as well as an inquest on the various “ skeleton marches” which- took place within the precincts of the oity. Curiosity is also rife as to whether th e Commandant will bo invited to justify, in evidence, the language he is reported to have used to-

wards tho Volunteers; also, if the caterer will ho called upon to .submit a statement in reference to the alleged shortcomings of the commissariat. These aro matters' about which, however, little or no information, will be forthcoming until Monday next.

DR JAMES’S EXPLANATION'. Tb e explanation which Dr James has made to the Chief HeAltli Olncor in regard to his delay in granting pratique to the Monowai, although it may be considered satisfactory to some extent from a Health Department point of view, still loaves a very great deal to be desired. The master of the Monowai may or may not have been guilty of a grave dereliction of duty in not flying a, certain flag, and lie may not have felt a sufficient personal regard for Dr James to cause him to disclose any anxiety about that health officer’s convenience. It seems that there are reaa sons which prevent quite a lot of seafaring people from disclosing any burn* ing desire to minister to the Health Officer of Wellington port- But there is disclosed in Dr James’s letter no jus. tificaticn for his action in leaving the Monowai without having done his duty. This was a case, in which Dr James might reasonably havo called upon uie captain of the ship to forthwith pro* duco his passenger. Any other medico with a less'grave sense of self-import-ance. would have probably descended hurriedly into the bathroom and in good, vigorous Anglo-Saxon reminded tho man in the tub that his conduct was not such as was recommended in standard books of etiquette. Not so Dr James. Ho simply walked overheard, stepped into his launch, went hopio to his breakfast and his morning paper—and came back casually two hours afterwards to finish his work. To punish this on® solitary, insignificant, wayward passenger, Dr James penalised all and sundry —caused monetary loss to the Union Company and quite a number of private firms, delayed the mails, inconvenienced numbers of people in tho city, and made his singular influence felt right away clown into the South Island. In view of these facts the characteristic statement of the Minister of Education in reference to this matter, that any health officer who looked on his duty as something mere than a formal ma-ter ■was entitled to consideration,’ sounds tike a superhuman attempt at humour. But, it must not bo forgotten that this is a joke at the public expense. Such “jokes” are dangerous.