PASSING EVENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4734, 16 August 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

PASSING EVENTS.

(From (he "New Zealand Mail,”) History is philosophy tcachinc by examples. —Thucydides. Neil ii. r mepdiers of Trades C'unneils nor /i-MK in 11 o| Kmployers arc alto, (p ticr islied with the lahciir lan s of ■ Ills coinin'. Tim representatives of labour contend I lint to rive preference ;o unionists is absolutely essential to a full recognition of labour’s claims; while to employers Urn idea of "ivinr preference to nnioiusi's as against free workmen is unfair and unjust. 'Ahy, it is a.sUed, should lionesr, well-doing workmen be I brown out of work simply becan.se limy are not ipembers of unions? And unionists argue ihat these men participate in all the. advantages union:-, have earned for kihotir without contribution; to the support of a movement by which their general conditions have been improved. There is much to be said on each side-, and it does not seem unreasonable that, labour unions should urge all workmen to become unionists, although to attempt to either coerce

lliciii into joining or exclude thorn from labour organ!wit mils is so utterly foreign to British principles Hint it. cannot In; mnini nined. Besides, those who are unionists were free to become so, and it. would ho manifestly unfair to impose Midi conditions on free workmen as were not endured by unionists Iliemselvrs wben they were beyond the pale of labour organisations. Admitting that, unions have added strength to the cause of labour, ii would rai her del ract from their influence were free workmen in he compelled to become unionists, especially when it is remembered that tv ionists themselves were free to join the various organisations lo which they belong. If l rath's-uuions have attained any advantages for workmen, and if they are capable of obtaining more, then the achievements of the past nudl the prospects of the future ought to be sufficient Lo attract all who are not yet under the banner of labour organisations. There is much to be said in favour of trades unionism, and of its power in this country there is no doubt. It would be injurious to (lie cause of labour were it enacted that, preference of employment should be given in every case to flic unionist. It is claimed that the right to strike was abandoned to secure preference, and that unless preference is obtained tile right to Strike ought to be reasserted. We are ready to believe that Llio great body of employees, whether trades-unionists or free workers, have sufficient intelligence to declare against strikes as levers to raise wages, and we are 'satisfied the evolution of the relations of labour and capital have so far advanced as to convince employers and workers of the barbaric clniraeler of lock-outs or strikes. Employers have conic to look upon the present labour legislation of New Zealand as being permanent. With this view unionists agree. This is the main thing, and tho differences on minor matters arc

doubtless capable of adjustment. As Mr Booth, 1 he president of the Employers’ Association, pointed out. the employers were not going to fight against the legislation. They had come to regard it as a mixed blessing, but it was with a desire to remedy that which was objectionable that they sought its amend-,' incut—not its abolition. On the other hand the unionists are anxious for such amendments as will give 1 benj greater power and a fuller recognition of the demands they have put forth. While there is much contention on both sides it. is gratifying to notice that much of

the mnrensoning partisanship and use-

less recriminations once >-0 characteristic * of labour disputes have disappeared Worn tho discussions of either party. There would be even less prejudice and passion displayed yvero there fewer so-called labour leaders in evidence.

When Queen Victoria on mo to the Throno of Great Britain her accession did much to strengthen the friendship of European nations towards England, and unite all classes of her subjects. A few days after our late beloved sovereign became Queer., siio raised to tliu peerage Mr Moses Montcfiore, (lie first Jew, as Mr Justin Macartliy tells ns, whom royalty laid honoured “since the good old times when royalty was pleased to borrow tho Jew's money, or order instead tho extraction of his teeth.” With her reign began an extension of that religious liberty and equality that trill ever distinguish it. At. that time, too, it is recorded that Daniel O’Connor vowed that if it wore necessary lie cojild get. “five hundred thousand Irishmen to defend the life, tho honour, and tho person of the beloved young lady by whom England’s throne is now filled.” To these nationalities acknowledging the British flag and owning allegiance to the Xing, tho coronation of Edward VII. on “The Stone of Destiny” lias peculiar significance. As the Kcv. Van Staveren stated in his sermon to ids people last Saturday, that stone was tho stone on which Jacob rested his weary head in the wilderness and it was that stone after many vicissitudes which was transferred from Palestine to Spain, and from Spain to Ireland, and from Ireland to Scotland as tho result of Irish missionary enterprise. How Edward I. transferred it, from Scone to Westminster every schoolboy knows; but its story serves to connect Jew, Irish and Scotcii in a remarkable manner to tho Throno, and among all his Majesty’s subjects none are to be found more devoted or loyal. King Edward ascends tho throne at a time when all parts of his dominions are even more closely united than they were at one period of Queen Victoria’s reign; and a generation ago it was confidently predicted that, the Princo of Wales would never .succeed to uic realm of his beloved mother. All prognostications of this kind havo been falsified. 'lhe monarchy and all monarchical institsitions havo never been more firmly established than at tho Coronation of Edward VII; and the speech of tno great Irish orator finds a parallel in the felicitous utterance the other day of Lord Kitchener to an Irish Society. Ho reminded them of his having been born in Ireland, and referred tc tho joy he felt “at tho noble manner in which the Irish regiments had maintained the honour and glory of their country, ami had proved once more t hat. Irishmen were loyal to King and Empire.” Hut on every side, among all nations as well as among all classes and nationalities of his subjects, have expressions of sincere rejoicing at the King’s rchirn to health

been heard, while manifestations of loyalty to him as the embodiment ol the monarchy have everywhere been witnessed. Although regrettable. t Iks King’s illness lias not been without i*s iisefTdimss. While striking all men with the uncertainty of human existence, it has given His -Majesty an opportunity of relied ing upon the nigh and sacred duties lie has been called upon to fulfil. Flirt her, it will enhance the religions aspect of the form and ceremonies of the coronation, and minimise the occas-sion-as one of great- national rejoicing. Hoth King anti people have rejoiced, but there will he with it all a deepenin'' of the sense of responsibility on the King to do nis duty by his people who may he expected to display a devotion to their sovereign not excelled at any period of the nation’s history.

The Hansard staff is attracting a good deal of attention to itself. It consists of somo ton export shorthand writers, capable also of correcting the grammar, pointing me paragraphs, and embellishing with correct quotations, when wrong ones are attempted, the speeches of members of Parliament. The duties of the member* of the “Hansard” staff are during the session by no means light, bit they have- from eight to nine months to recuperate, and that is regarded as a fair set off to what they have to endure while Parliament is in session. The members of tuc “Hansard” staff deserve on that account the sympathy of all citizens. Although they are not dissatisfied with their pay. they seo that the colony lias been put to an expenditure of nearly £IOOO per annum reporting Royal Commissions and such work during the recess. This they think might to be distributed among (hem at 'the rate of £IOO per annum each, and that in return they would ho prepared to give their services lor the performance of such werk as is now paid extra for during the recess. -It what i-s known as the “Hansard” staff is too highly paid at a salary of from £2OO to X‘3()o a year each, but when ir, is remembered' that the salary is paid for from three to fotnr mouths work, it appears to bo at the rate of from £BOO to £IOOO per annum. Of course, it cannot be said that any member of the “Hansard” staff earns anything like that amount in tho course Of the year, yet it is possible that some of them may approximate the lower sum. since they are all free to engage themselves privately for eight or nine months in tho year. While admitting that tho rate of pay is not too high, we are inclined to the view that “Hansard” requires to undergo a radical reform. The publication of a daily “Hansard” is a matter which our legislators ought to take into consideration along with the proposal to raise tho salaries of tho reporters. It is quite conceivable that a journal like the “New Zealand Times ’ would bo able to publish along with its ordinary issue au “authorised version” of tho proceedings of Parliament of tho preceding day and up to, say, two o’clock in tho morning of the. day of isauo. Parliamentary reporting could still bo undertaken by wiiat is known as tho “Hansard” staff under the control of tho House, bub tho mechanical work could very well bo remitted to a newspaper. Then the reports could bo collated and published in several volumes at the end of tho session for' distribution among libraries. Meantime tho circulation of a daily “Hansard” in tho columns of tho “Now Zealand Times,” which would bo enlarged to twelve or sixteen pages daily during the sitting of Parliament would he a great advantage to tho country. This is the practice of publishing “Hansard” in -South Australia, and wo are satisfied it would result in a considerable saving to the taxpayers, v.Tmc it would have tho additional advantage of being thoroughly up-to-date, present “Hansard” is stale before it reaches tho people; and as a work of r. ierence it is of little use. Tho raising :f Parliamentary reporters’ salaries may bo desirable having regard to tho prosperity of tho country and tho salaries paid in other departments, but in effecting any reform tho “Hansard” men should not bo given a monopoly of recessional work, and tho publication of a daily “Hansard” ought to bo kept “steadily in view.”

The average layman is not. greatly interested in heresy hunts. To most men a charge of heresy against a clergyman is absurd. When men are Two to interpret the truth as they find it contained in the Old and Now Testaments there is hound to bo differences of opinion. A picture looked at from different angles and in varied hghts dees not present tho same appearance to the beholders, and there are always two sides to a shield. Yet although tho majority of men and women are unconcerned about heresies, many are interested in what are termed “tho eternal verities,” and arc ready to learn something of tho latest aspect of truth that is disturbing tho learned expositors of theology. In tiio case of Dr. Joseph Agar Beet, Professor of Systematic Theology at the Wesleyan College, .Richmond, to which our cablegrams have alluded, there is much to interest and instruct. Wo are informed that Dr. Boot’s views respecting the doctrine of eternal punishment are net orthodox. Tho debates on tho subject havo been lousr and violent, and it cannot bo expected that truth will bo much advanced thereby. It is not claimed by those who attack one of the most learned theologians of this day that ho is not an earnest Christian, nor is it believed that his broad views have in any,,single instance induced Wesleyan students “to wander into tho wilderness of doubt.” But “conditional immortality” is a subject on which quite a number of Wosloyans hold varied views, but its acceptance as “a sound theory” lias been greatly in favour among those who are styled of the higher critical faculty. In one of his hooks, “The Last Things,” Dr. Beet discusses the problematic character of future eternal punishment for tho unrepentant, and this caused quite a number of leading Wesleyans to prefer a request to the eminent scholar to modify his views in a subsequent edition. This Dr. Beet did, but in a more recent work he returns to the subject, and restates with greater force his previous theories and contentions. He protests “against a doctrine which during long centuries has been almost universally accepted ad divine truth taught in tho Bible, but which seems to mo altogether alien to it in both phrase and thought, and derived only from Greek philosophy.” Thus it would seem as if Dr.

(feet has upset tho doctrine of the immortality of tho soul. It- would appear as if ho ascribes the thooi.v of immortality to Plato and that of incorrnptihilii v” to Christ , with eternal life as the reward of the righteous and dost ruction the destiny of the wicked. This is sufficient to rend the veil of orthodox Wesleyanisin, and is calculated as much to shock their faith as did thit contentions of Professor Robertson .Smith and Hr. -Marcus Hods that of tho Preshyti nan connecunn. “Advanceu clergy of various denominations have rushed to Professor fleet's assisV --.ce. Hut the camp is divided, and many clergy hold him guilty of disseminating dangerous doctrine. Hr Hods, liowever, considers it would be doing We.sieyamsm au injury were its clergy to supersede Ur. licet and they themselves would make a serious mistake. Some years ago in Dunedin a similar hue and cry was raised against Professor Salmond, who advanced a similarly disturbing theort. The Professor, however, recanted, and little has been heard m this eoiuntry since of “conditional immortality.” It cannot bo denied, however tnat inanv clergymen are to-day imbued with a'like belief, hut for the most: part they expediently refrain from disconcerting tho faith of others by a pronouncement of their views. It may become, however, a question wln.wier so much expediency in a day of so much intelligence is a manifestation of clerical wisdom. We shall see. [Hr. fleet was elected to the professorship by a substantial majority.]