TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4822, 27 November 1902, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Two cable messages in our issue of today are of importance for

naval matters,

tiieir bearing on the naval defence of tlie ' Empire,

•j.f: and attention may well Do pointedly drawn to them, in view of tUo paramount necessity of keeping tlie navy strong and efficient. One Matos that tho Canadian Minister of Defence is considering a scheme whereby tho members of the Navy League in the Dominion may ho accepted as part of a naval reserve for Imperial service. The other, which emphasises tho need tor sucli a reserve being formed, consists of extracts from a blue book just laid be'foro tlie Imperial Parliament. From the latter it appears that the British mercantile marine cannot he relied upon. as it once could, to supply naval reservists in sufficient numbers. The British seaman is a vanishing quantity. Within the last ten years the number of British-bom men employed in the mercantile ’marine has decreased by 7159, while during the same period tlie Lascars engaged have, increased by 12,888, and the foreigners by 8730. ■ Apart from the question of the loyalty of these seamen, it is plain that they could not be relied ppon in war time to the same extent as seamen of British birth and breeding. It therefore becomes a matter of tlie first Imperial importance to make provision for a naval reserve drawn from the different parts of the Empire. The project under consideration in Canada is part cf a general scheme under which it is hoped to form large naval reserves in the various selfgoverning colonies. Tho British Navy League is actively assisting in this movement, • and on tho 23rd of mouth it despatched a special envoy, Mr H. F. AVyatt, on a tour of tuo oversea parts of the Empire. Mr Vv'ya. first goes to Canada, where ho’ will probably spend three months, and non then proceed, via Vancouver, to Japan, where ho will pass some weeks, in order to study Jajiauesp naval affairs.' Ho will then go to Hopg-Kong, where the Navy League has ah influential braaen. and next visit Australia, where the Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, has promised to take the chair at a public meeting in support of his mission. Mr Wyatt will then journey througn New Zealand, whore Mr Scddoii also has promised a sympathetic reception. Tnc league’s envoy will return by way of the Capo, and will address meetings in South Africa. His oliject every whore will be to urge tho paramount importance of sea power, and to endeavour to promote co-operation in the cause of naval defence. In this connection, we would urge the formation of a branch of the Navy League in Wellington, which, as the capital of tho colony, is most liable to attack from a foreign cruiser in the event of Britain being at war with a great sea Power. There is ■an active branch of the league at Christchurch, aud the Empire City opight not to bo behind in a movement so well calculated to promote effective defence. Now that the election turmoil is oyer, wo commend this important subject to ' the attention of leading citizens.

VAI/CB OP ELECTION PLEDGES.

The Parliamentary elections that have

just taken place provide some striking object lessons on the subject of the value of electioneering

• . promises and votes of confidence. Quite a dozen candidates in different parts of , the country have forfeited their £lO deposit by failing to poll 10 per cent, of the votes cast for the successful candidate in the respective districts. Notv, it is to be presumed that these penalised candidates were not such absolute fools as to spend their money in conducting a they had reasonable hopes of receiving a decent amount of support. They probably all received numerous pledges, and carried votes of confidence at their meetings; but in the end some of them did not ’receive a hundred votes. A striking example is provided at our own doors in the case of the Newtown election. ATr W. G. Tustin, who barely saves his deposit, had large meetings in.

all parts of tlio electorate —ho must have addressed over thirty iu ail, some of them attended by over 500 and at most of these ho received unanimous votes of confidence. Ho conducted a vigorous personal canvass, gave interesting addresses, and doubtless counted upon receiving many hundreds ot votes. It is, indeed, understood that he had boon promised, unsolicited, the support of various organisat ions and unions. Yet, despite everything, it was found, after tho test of the ballot was applied, that hd had received only 151) votes—representing, the support of personal friends. Is it, therefore, to be concluded that the ballot -tends to promote insincerity? It by no means follows that such is the case, and there is no necessary reflection upon tho electors who may lead a candidate to bolipvo that ho has their support and who may afterwards change tjieir minds and cast their vbtes for an opponent. Tho lesson afforded by tho incidents under notice is (hat votes of confidence and pledges of support aro utterly unreliable —not because voters wilfully humbug and deceive candidates, but because they inwardly resent canvassing and votes of confidence as breaches of the spiritiof the Ballot Act, and while treating tho candidate and his touts with politeness, vote according to their private convictions. The “ silent votes ” of those who neither sec canvassers nor attend meetings aro tho votes that tell at Parliamentary, elections. Tho rejected candidates nearly all declare their intention of again wooing tho electors, despite their present rebuff, and this is surely a proof that they do not consider themselves grossly deceived and ill-treated. One rejection need not discourage any candidate, 'll view of tho experience of. Mr Bedford, who has just been elected for Dunedin. When ho first contested a seat Up did not receive two hundred votes, yet to has just topped the poll'at Dunedin with over ten thousand.