THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. DECEMBER 12, 1959. THE ARMAMENTS PROBLEM.:

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20898, 12 December 1929, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. DECEMBER 12, 1959. THE ARMAMENTS PROBLEM.:

Judged from the attitude, so far as it has been disclosed, of the Continental Powers that are concerned, the prospects that the Five-Power Naval Conference next month will achieve a great deal in the direction of the limitation of armaments can hardly be considered .very roseate. The French view, as interpreted by the Paris correspondent of The Times, is that it will be a waste , of time for Great Britain and the United States to attempt to impose their wishes on other Powers, whose needs must be considered independently and that ah Anglo-American agreement would only be a stumblingblock to progress towards the general objective. The claim of Italy to naval parity with France, if persisted in, may in itself be sufficient to render the search for a. general agreement abortive. On the other .hand, the Powers that will be represented at the conference are not only signatories of the Kellogg Pact, under which they have pledged themselves to renounce war as an instrument of national policy, but, save the United States, are members of the League of Nations and subscribers to the League Covenant, with its obligation to refrain from war except in the last resort. If the Powers are to honour the obligations which they have accepted, the possibility of their coming into armed conflict with one another must be remote, or • at least must be liberally discounted. Yet it is only on the assumption that they may find themselves at war that the question of the comparative strengths of their naval armaments possesses any practical importance. It is necessary to conclude that this assumption, or something approaching it, is a far stronger factor in the international situation than signed undertakings in pursuance of which the Governments are pledged to observe a particular line of conduct. It is as if a number of individuals, accustomed to go armed and to draw upon one another in quarrel, agreed that there should be no more of this fighting, but still declined to lay aside their swords and pistols. International agreements to refrain from war obviously have not created international confidence in the impossibility of war. Fleets and armies are still maintained by the nations, and each one justifies its poliev in this matter on . the ground, of the requirements of defence. The indications are that France and Italy are not displeased to look on while Great Britain and. the United States reduce their own fleets if they think fit, but that, while they arc willing to participate in the coming conference, they arc not greatly interested in it as a means to a possible reduction or limitation of their own naval armaments according to ideas that may appeal to Britain the United States. The fact that navies constitute but one aspect of armaments does not render the task before the conference the easier. There is also the circumstance that the character of armaments is subject to change. What would it profit if a nation gave up its navy, agreed to the abolition of submarines, and started to disband its army, if the impulse to such measures was discoverable in nothing more helpful than the eonvic-

tion that it must concentrate upon the creation of an air force of irresistible strength? It does not follow, however, that the naval conference does not represent an effort worth the making. The burden and competition of armaments can be largely reduced if only the nations can agree to bring their practice of going armed more into accord with their professions.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA,

China is once more in the throes of civil warfare. Her disturbed condition seems to refute rather conclusively the claims that a Government has been established which is in a position to speak with authority for the whole of China—-a consummation which the Treaty Powers have been awaiting before admitting the justice of the Chinese demand that they should finally abandon their rights of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The active opposition which began.to take shape against the Nanking Government in September represents a .fresh serious trial of its strength, and possibly the most dangerous which it has yet had to face.. Combined against the Government are General Chang Fa-Kwei, who has been stationed with an army known as the “ Ironsides ”-at Ichang, on the Yangtse River, in Hupeh province; the disaffected Kwangsi troops; General Ferig Yu-hsiang’s army, generally known as the Kuominchun, and the socalled “ Reorganisationists,” the Left Wing of the Kuomintang. Between Generals Feng Yu-hsiang and Chiang Kai-shek there has been strong personal rivalry, and a few months ago the Kuominchun generals issued a scathing denunciation of the National Government, warning the Powers not to have anything to do with it, and threatening a drive on Nanking. Rebellion in that quarter was, therefore, not unexpected. The issue at stake in the present campaign has been described as primarily centralisation versus decentralisation, or unified rule of China under a strong Government versus military feudalism. Among many of the Chinese generals there seems to be an ineradicable leaning towards regionalism, or a state of affairs in which the provinces will exist as separate and independent entities each with a military over-lord. This the National Government and the Kuomintang, with their declared policy for the concentration of powers, are bent on resisting. The view has been expressed that if the Government succeeds in the present conflict the last military threat will be removed, and that it will thereafter be impossible for any single military clique or any grouping of factions to challenge the power of the Nanking authority. Some of the earlier anticipations that the war which is now in progress would not assume serious proportions have, however, been falsified, and the, latest cable messages suggest that the position of the Government is regarded as somewhat critical. The position became complicated when the Left Wing of- the Kuomintang threw in its lot with the northern militarists, and the revolt of bodies ■ of Nationalist troops now constitutes a factor in the situation which cannot but contribute to the concern that is being exhibited by foreign residents at Shanghai and elsewhere, and by the representatives of foreign Governments, in consequence of which British, American and Japanese warships have been despatched to the threatened Yangtse ports to ensure the protection of the foreiern settlements.

“ THE WORKING CLASS PARTY.”

A. resident on the West Coast has forwarded to us a circular, issued by the Communist Party in New Zealand, the terms of which we publish elsewhere in this issue. What the strength of the Communist Party may be in New Zealand is problematical: in all likelihood it is very small for, although it describes Itself as the working class party, the majority of the industrial classes too well informed to have any sympathy with it. And the description of the revolutionary publications, for the possession of which four Communists were punished a few weeks ago in Wellington, as “working class literature” is one that will cer-‘ tainly not be accepted as accurate by educated working people. The conviction of these men was, we are asked to believe, “ just the beginning of boss class oppression.” And since the Communist Party asserts that “ it must not go unchallenged ” it may derive some encouragement from the fact that only last week the Otago Labour Council expressed its indignation over the conviction. But the Otago Labour Council apparently deceives itself if it imagines that it is representative of the workers, for the Communist Party claims that it offers the only hope for the working class, the Labour Party and Trade Unions being composed of “hypocrites” and “traitors.” The Communist Party' certainly takes itself seriously,—more seriously than it will be taken by the miners among whom its circular has been distributed and from whom it demands a one day strike as a protest, against Capitalism and, all the wickedness with which Capitalism is associated.

Burglars were again active in Dunedin on Tuesday night. Yesterday morning there was evidence that the new premises of Boyd’s Motors, Ltd., in Crawford street, had been broken into. Entry to the building was gained through the large Crawford street door. The company’s office was the objective, a search having been made among the contents of several drawers. It was also disclosed that the safe had been turned over, and an attempt had been made to open it with a pocket knife and a screwdriver. It was reported that nothing of any value had been taken.

In extending the season’s greetings to the members and the staff of the Education Board at its meeting yesterday, the chairman (Mr James Wallace) stated that there was not a happier board than theirs anywhere, and that this was brought about by the respect they all had for each other. He expressed the hope that these happy relations would always continue. Mr J. Mitchell reciprocated the good wishes on behalf of the members. Arrested at Hamilton, Leonard Parkes, alias M‘Kay, alias Lyle, alias Van Brunt, was admitted to probation (says a Press Association telegram from Gisborne) for two years for obtaining goods by false pretences from a garage proprietor.

The Wellington College Board of Governors has (says a Press Association telegram) received a letter from Mr John Gallic, of Kelburn, advising that he had paid to the Public Trustee £IOOO to be invested in the common fund, the amount of interest derived to be paid to the board for the establishment of a college bursary to perpetuate the memory of his two sons, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. They were Captain Oscar E. Gallie, D. 5.0.. M.C. (R.F.A.' and Captain Victor J. Gallie, M.C., Croix de Guerre (R.F.A.). The donor expressed the wish that the board might be long spared to award the bursary, and his desire was that it might stimulate the . recipient to emulate his sons, both old boys of the college, in patriotism and devotion to duty. The gift was gratefully received by the board. Coloured rain fell at Studholme Junction yesterday morning (says a Press Association telegram from Waimate), and was’collected in a basin by a local resident. The colour was a pale red. with a yellowish tinge. Two Canterbury hotels have changed hands (says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch), the Chertsey, near Ashburton, for £20,000, and the Phoenix, at Papanui, for £25,000. Following upon the investigations made at the Chief Post Office, .Auckland, by two departmental inspectors into the .allegations of betting by operators during the Takapuna Jockey Club’s meeting on November 30 and December 2, an inquiry is. to be held in the Magistrate’s Court next week, (says a Press Association telegram) before Mr E. K, Hunt,‘S.M. The inquiry, which, will not be open to the press or the public, is expected to last for several days. In his annual report covering the operations of the Boys’ High School, which was presented yesterday to the Board of Governors, the rector (Mr W. J. Morrell) pointed out that the sixth form of the school last year had contained no boy of more than a year’s standing—a thing which had not happened for at least 40 years—and that it was, therefore, not surprising that none of the school’s.. eight candidates had gained , a University Entrance Scholarship. At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday morning the chairman (Mr James Wallace) told a story of what had happened at the jubilee celebrations of a South Otago country school. The various toasts to be honoured had been written in different coloured chalk on the blackboard. Mr Wallace remarked, with a smile, that the chalk used for writing up the toast' of The Education Board was blue. As it turned out none of the hoard members was able to be present, and one of the persons present thereupon moved that the toast, be not honoured, and that the writing on the board be erased. This course was at once adopted. Small yardings of fat stock at the Burnside sales yesterday resulted in an allround advance in prices. The sheep entry was much smaller than usual, only 860 head being forward. There was a sharp rise of 5s per head in the first thtee sales of wethers, but the sale then took an erratic turn. The last sales showed a reduction of about 2s per head on the opening rates. The quality was well up to the average of late yardings, and all prime wethers and ewes were sold under keen competition. The prices obtained for prime quality mutton were equal to about 5Jd per lb. Prime quality ewes sold on a basis of about 4Jd' per lb. The lamb entry was also smaller than usual! and all prime sorts were fully Is per head dearer than the previous sale. The prices obtained for prime lambs were equal Lo about o}d per lb. The fat cattle entry numbered 176 head. Very few prime cattle were forward, but the yarding met with good competition, and prices were in advance of those realised at last week’s sale. The usual yarding of store cattle was offered. The entry included several pens of good quality steers, and these were sold at satisfactory prices. The pig entry consisted; of 96- fats and 57 stores. The supply was sufficient for requirements and prices showed little, if any, change. Prime porkers sold on a basis of about 9d and prime baconers about 8d per lb. - The, programmes for the Macandrew Bay and Broad Bay regattas were ap proved by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association at a meeting, held last night. . It has been known for some time that the Dominion Observatory will, soonei or later, have to leave its present unsuitable site in Wellington, and it is very ■probable that the new,base of operations will be somewhere in the South Island. “ The search for sites is still going on, so that when we do make a move there will be . no: mistake about the site,” said Dr Marsdcn, director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, when the question was referred' to him in Christchurch on Tuesday night. He could say nothing definite yet about the choice of site, but it was quite probable it would be in the South Island. His own idea was that'pure astronomy was a study iu itself, and that it should be divorced from meteorology and other allied studies. He was also in favour of the new observatory being placed under the control of and run in conjunction with ond of the university colleges. Under the new arrangement this would probably be done.

A visit to the South Island is to be paid next month by members of the Main Highways Board. They will arrive in Christchurch from the north on January 12 and, after visiting Akaroa, will proceed to South Canterbury, Oamaru, and Dunedin, returning northwards on the 23rd. The object of the trip is to inspect and meet representatives of local bodies with whom highway matters are to be discussed.

Mr P._ Moss, of Portobello, owns a cutter nearly 100 years old, and he is wondering whether it is worth while repairing the venerable craft. It is the powder cutter Otago which is used for carrying explosives to various parts of the harbour. Its origin, beyond the fact that it was a ship’s cutter, is unknown to the present owner. About 70 years ago it was the Customs launch aud sailed out to meet incoming ships. Afterwards it was owned by the Harbour Board and used for the lifting and laying of moorings for channel buoys. Matthew Dickson acquired it from the Harbour Board about 18 years ago and sold .it to the present owner. The cutter was built of oak timber and fastened with copper nails. The nails now require to be renewed below the waterline, and it is doubtful whether the cost of refastening all the bottom planks would be justified in view of the general debility of advanced age.

There are still some hard-bitten yachtsmen left in Auckland (says the Star). At one time it was thought the internal combustion engine would entirely oust canvas. Old yachtsmen with salt water in their veins used to grumble, “Lads are not what they used to be.” But the harbour on Saturday and Sunday proved that there are still ipany young fellows who cannot forget that they belong to an island race. Returning from the weekend cruise, the yachts made a sight to gladden the hearts of the “old school.” A stiff westerly was blowing, and it was pretty to see the white-sailed craft beating up against it. Most of them were reefed down, their sails were wet halfway up the mast, and the spray flew from their bows as they fought they way up the harbour, against wind and tide, which nowadays, since the tide deflectors were built, runs like a millrace at certain stages. The scene on Saturday afternoon was most animated, as the racing yachts, from the big keelers down to very small fry, went booming down with spinnakers set or criss-crossed the harbour on the beat back to the finishing post. The way the boats were handled showed that the old-time yachtsmen who gained the port so much renown by their prowess at the helm must have left some descendants or youths who worthily followed their example. 1

Up till last night £103,000 had been collected by the City Corporation of the £285,000 due in rates for the year ending March 31, 1930. The amount received represents 36 per cent, of the total to be paid, so that 64 per cent, has to come in by Wednesday next, the last day for payment. Rates not paid on Wednesday are subject to a penalty of 10 per cent. At the end of November £50,086 had been received, compared with £48,870 which had been collected at the end' of November last year, when the total to be collected was £276,000. The percentage of rates collected at the end of November for the past two years is 17.7, showing that the money is coming in at’about the same rate this year. A decision which may be taken as a precedent was given by Mr Justice Smith in the Children’s Court of Appeal in Auckland yesterday (says a Press Association telegram). A boy was charged with stealing a substantial sum of money and was convicted on his own alleged admissions. which were unsupported. His Honor upheld the appeal against the boy’s conviction, but ruled that .he was sitting as a Children’s Court in, the appeal and therefore the circumstances of the case could not be published. The circumstances, according to the boy’s alleged admissions, are of peculiar interest.

The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, -Viscount Craigavon, and Viscountess Craigavon, who arrived at. New Ply-mouth-on Friday, were given a civic welcome. In. the course of his reply to the speeches . of welcome, Lord Craigavon said: “In regard to your dairy exports to the British Isles, no matter-bow hard tEe times may be and what temptations may appear on the surface, always maintain the very highest level in the goods you export. 1 am speaking as a true and loyal friend of yours. Living, as I do, in a position to observe the keen competition'that takes place, I say that ■once, you have got hold of the market, as you have, for your splendid goods, never allow them to deteriorate. Never allow the trade mark to go down.”

Dealing with the prison system in New Zealand in an address at a meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club, Mr B, L. Ballard, Controller of Prisons, said records prior to 1880, in which year control - was centralised under Captain Hume, were more cr less vague. Some criminals were detained in military barracks and other* in hulks. The last prison hulks at Otago Heads were not abolished until about 40 years ago. Captain Hume, in his first report to the Government, in 1881, advocated the separate confinement of prisoners; he maintained that the system of endeavouring to educate the prisoners was a mistake, that imprisonment should .be deterrent—then it behoved others to undertake the work of reformation. Year after year in his reports he had pointed out the iniquity of sentencing children to imprisonment. "It is- a serious blot on our administration,” he said, " to find as many a; 40 children under 10 years of age having passed through the prisons during the year.” It was during Captain Hume’s regime that the First Offenders Probation Act was passed, and later the Habitual Criminals Act.

As the result of being attacked by a rooster some days ago the IS-months’-old daughter of Mr and Mrs A. J. Riley, of Hawera, died in a private hospital on Thursday last. It has been ascertained that death occurred from infection arising from two small wounds inflicted on the child’s head. On Thursday the child’s mother, hearing - her screaming, reached the yard where, the child was playing, and saw a large rooster standing by. The wounds on the child evidently were inflicted by the rooster’s beak. No immediate ill-effects were then noticed, but on the following morning unusual symptoms being apparent, medical advice was sought, and the child was removed to the hospital, where, despite care arid attend tion, she died. In view of the medical opinion that, although the injuries were not the proximate cause of death, they were a contributing cause, no inquest ia necessary.'

It was incorrectly stated in the Naval and Military Notes in - yesterday s issue that officers, were asked to meet at the Officers’ Club to-night at 8;30 to bid farewell to his Excellency the GovernorGeneral. The date should have been, stated as Monday, December -16, at- 8.30 p.m. - ■ . - _ This evening a public welcome will be tendered to Bishop, Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, in the Art Gallery Halil The Bishop of Dunedin will preside, and Bishop Bennett, who is the first Maori to be raised to the episcopate, will speak on the church’s work amongst the Maoris. An Electric Kettle makes an acceptable Christmas Gift. All sizes in stock.—Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd., Princes sheet.— Advt.

Christmas presents—shop early and secure the pick. We buy direct from best French'and English houses. Cameras a speciality from 10s t each, with full_ instructions. Soaps, Perfume Sprays, nippy Concrete and Face Powders; quality and service guaranteed.—H. L. Sprosen, Ltd., Chemists, Octagon, Dunedin. —Advt, Those desirous of having electricity installed in their houses-should consult tho Stewart Electrical Company, 171 Rattray street. Time payments arranged from 2a 6d a week. —Advt.

W. V. Stumer, G.A.0.C., D. 8.0.1., optician. Consulting room. 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Most modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt.

A. E. J Blakeley and W. fi. Begley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359.—Advt.

Christmas Jewellery.—Compare our values. Just landed, large selection Diamond Rings. Reliable Watches, Jewellery, and Silverware.—Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians. 490 Moray place, Dunedin,—Advt.