THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 29

THE WEEK.

" Nunouam aliuii natura, ahuii sapientia dixit."— Juvznil. "Goou nature and good ionse must ever join." — Popk.

We are profoundly disappointed at the subservience of the members oi A Record of the Government party and Shame. of some of the Ministerial

journals in the matter cf the hideous scandal now attaching to the name of. New Z. aland in connection with its lunatic asylpms. It is to them, rather than to the Opposition and the Opposition press, that the country has to look for the hope that this disgrace may be removed from it ; for to drunken with power has Mr Seddon become that he now openly flcutu and jeers at the most earnestly pressed necessity, no matter of what public kind, if it happens not to be brought under hia notice bj a person of the right " colour." His idea of government is the gathering-5n of votes ; and ifc seems to be really threatened that through lotg practice and vicious iudalgence he is becoming positively incapacitated from perceivicg any other possible interpretation of the realities of. statesmanship. To such a depth as this has the practice of politics come at last, after long years of " Liberal " professions ; to such a depth are certain of our statesmen degraded by constant pandering to the lowest prpjudice?, that they will actually stoop to rave in Parliament about the "palatial buildings" occupied by the men who give their lives to the unending labour involved in the control of our asylums, in the hope that class hatreds may be thus excited and their own callous beartlesaneea be passed over, while the ipnorant go in full cry after the " luxurious " medical superintendents. We have sever read in the records of Parliament speeches more utterly contemptible than those recently made upon this subject by the Pi-emier and the Minister for Lands. It is easy, indeed, to see that the poor unfortunates whose inevitable miseries are so fearfully aggravated by their now intolerable crowding, have no votes. Let only a Shearers' Accommodation Bill, for instance, be brought forward by a private member, and Btraightway eveiy member of &be

Ministry is figuratively kneeling on the bare ground with hi 3 cap in hia hand, exclaiming in horror at the enormities perpetrated upon freemen in the ccuntiy by the possessors of sheep, and effusively promising whatever may bs demanded in tha way of new " inspection " and the services o£ the police. For all we know, there may be good reason for such a bill, and we do not at any rate oppose it ; but we do declare without hesitation that iE there are employers in the country who exhibit towards their shearers, who can very well take care cE themselves, a tenth part of the sneericg ca!lou=neso which two of our Ministers have lately shown to hundreds of! poor huddled lunaticp, who cannot, then we should hardly think ib too great a punishment were such employers compelled by law in fu'ure to provide every individual shearer with three acres and a cow. The explanation is only too clear. Shearers have votep, aud must have rooai ; lnnatics are franchiseless, and need only what space they can stand up in. The fTppanfc cynicism — to use no harsher term— of threatening to interlace the bedrooms of lunatics and warders with those of the wives and daughters and little children of the very men whose duty ofteu compels them to incur the iurious hatred and besotted plottings of the maniacs they coutroi, would be incredible if it were col down in black and white in the records of Parliamentary proceedings. We do not envy that man against whore same it stands ; wo would fain believe that there is no other name in the countiy against which it could stand, And though the other threat, to make dormitories of the little spaces set a&ide in the asylams for such miserable " recreation " as it is possible to allow the insane indoors, is almofet 'as heartless and fully as weak and paltiy, we admit at once that it is in finitely lesß hateful, and we would even, but for the hopelessness of party considerations, condescend to discuss it, were we not well assured (hat even that is a false and hollow excuse for a determination based upon far other considerations. And so the country's disgrace and the imbeciles' murderous wrongs are maintained by Parliamentary msjorifcy, and "in strict accordance with coßsiilutional usage."

We do not suppose that there can exist two opinions, either inside the An Ministerial party or out of it, Apt Pupil, with regard to the meritß of the cannir.g political swindle which was perpetrated on the Audit Office on tbe 28th oi June. Tho Government party collectively is exceedingly docile, and the individuals oJ which it is composed have long ago adopted very generally the prudent maxim that in view of the next general election (which, under our triennial system, never gets quite below the vUible horizon) it is not worth while to obtrude any opinions which might give offence to the Government, while tending to the advancement of merely colonial interests. But we have always believed, against tbe superficial evidence to the contrary, that they do entertain opinions all the same. They are like Galileo, who, under stress of clerical threats, recanted publicly bis " damnable her«sy "' that the earth and its raoon vevolvo round tbe eun, but after a sonorous " An>en " rniuteted under his breath, 4 E pur si mvoce" (Neveii.he-less, they do move). It they, through any accident or any spasm of provocation, blurt cut a 11 heresy," they compensate for it as the lady in reduced circumstances did when she cried her wares in the street, and -immediately added in a shocked whicf er :— " I hope to goodness nobody beard me. " It will be observed that in these instances, in spite of the perfunctory denials, Galileo did possess opinions (and correct ones), while the lady with the barrow actually had the succulent bi-valve and the luscious trotter concealed therein. Similarly, it may be taken for granted that even a dumb dog is not always mentally vacant as he may seam ; aad hence — to return at laat to where we began — we assume that no one in Parliament really doubtß that the £84,000 transaction was a barefaced trick Bucb as nobody above the political rafck of the mere trickster would dream of descending to in ord6r to defeat the law and practice of the country. While we are all trying cur best to assume a duly horror-struck expression over the sly-grug enormities of the weak, we might do worse than remember that theie is such a thing as the sly-cash business as well, and that it is susceptible of bigger illicit bags than the most cunninglymanipulated ginger wine establishment ia all Clutha. Mr Scddon's illegal annexation of a huge sum of public money, though the amount was no doubt devoted ultimately to ordinary Government purposes enough, is an instance. It was a gross breach of his trust as Colonial Treasurer and a politic il crime of the fust magnitude, as well as being afterwards sustained by a shameless misuse of the Treasurers special powers as Premier. The iule which was thus flagrantly broken is plain enough. The financial year for which appropriations are niade ends on the 31st of March. In order to allow fnll time for the making up of returns to present to Parliament, and for the preliminary work of Parliament itself, it has been provided that the services of the country may be carried on until the 3Cth June — and no longer— by the issue of moneys on the same scale as was laid down in the just expired Estimates. After stating this rule, it would be an insult to our readers' intelligence to elaborate the point that the "collaricg" of £84,000 for undisclosed purposes on the last day but oue of tbe allotted time is very much in the nature of such a transaction as giving a cheque for any turn — say, for instance, £3 1, 000 —\ ha day before the balancing of a public company and taking it back the next. The last Government used to be called the "Continuous Ministry." There seems to be some reaßon for referring to Mr ScoMon'a Ministerial position as the " Cor.t insout. T;sssurcuship."

A strong weapon of the anti-prohibition party is the " hard " swearThe Sly-grog ing which has now become Worm. an inseparable characteristic of licensing cases, and for which Clulha is gaining an offensive notoriety. It is surprising that so few prosecution's for perjury have hitherto resulted from the frequent instances of patent false-

hood given as evidence on oath. Perhaps tins is due to the fact that the magistrate already has his hands full with his circuit, perhaps to the fact that so little reliable evidence can bo obtained to substantiate auy charge whatever in connection with the liquor laws. Many of this witnesses called in sly-grog cases seem to be "professional" swearers, whom the fieedom from apprehension has emboldened beyond the bounds of common prudence. Case after case has brought forth absolutely false evidence — false on the face of it to the most unperceiving — and it is sad to see that *he enforcement of the law and the surreptitious modes of obtaining irJ'iH"ii'JiohS Lave brought many of the people, in their animosity to the law, almost down to the moral condition of deliberately countenancing what they know to be perjury. The levity in which the solemn oath is held h Lmentable, aud the fact th.it perjury has so long been connived at by the people and apparently ignored by ti:o U\v is bringing it to pass tlvit the oath \vili .soon be a mere form. As it is, the law of the land does not provide for a great deal of huiiour in litigants, and there is ahcady evidence that in .sly grog cases a price can puicda«e the honour of witnesses. Mr Hawkins has now promised to piosecute promptly in cases of manifest perjury. The mere threat is not likely to prove a very efficient deterrent where there is such an animosity against, and contempt for, the law as is rife in the Clutha. But it is just this stamp of people, without the moral backbone of ordinary men, which one conviction will most effectually deter, through fear, from infringing the lav/ they profess to defy by celling their honour as the price of a bribe. When perjury has received a smart check, sly grog-selling will be checked pavi passu, for the latter only exists with the aid of4.be former. This achieved, the administration of the liquor laws will find greater favour both with the people of Clutha and with the prohibition party.

Estimating before the ripening season the probable grain yield of the The colony is a ridiculous pasInfluence of lime for Government Si-r-Estimates vants, and the public who Upon Yields, will put any faith in such an estimate is as gullible as the official who can satisfy himself he is hitting anywhere near the mark. This year's estimate is an example. Although the official who prepared the estimate declares that Le can specifically account for the four bushels per acre of difference between the estimate and the actual yield, he does not thereby make his work any more reliable. Those who have an idea of the method of making estimates and calculating yields, and knjw on what basis both are formed, only laugh in their sleeves at the simplicity of a Government which tries to conjure with the jesultant figures. No one, of course, can take exception to an essayed calculation of the colony's production after the grain is ' actually produced, but it seem? to us that a general report on the state of the crops in the brairding, shooting, and ripening seasons would be a much more satisfactory and commonsense method of bolstering up popular confidence in that department at Wellington w liicli dispenses the elements for the agricultural industry than the system of premature estimates at present obtaining. To come to the returns themselves, Otago can congratulate herself on the result of the season after all the vicissitudes of the year. But it is to be regretted that most of the very satisfactory wheat yield was produced 'in the southern districts/ where the climatic conditions render the giain too soft and light for export purposes. In the piesent season ■ this has not been so severely felt as at oth'jr j times, for the fact that Olago wheat is not suitable for export has undoubtedly saved j the province from what must have proved i a season of great scarcity. As matters aie, ' the scarcity of grain is much felt in many districts, and it is a fact that even the most j favoured districts of South Otago, with the phenomenal yields which have been obtained, are now experiencing great shortage of feed. To this is due in a large measure the magni- 1 tude of the trade in sheep for the Canterbury freezing works. Although it is also a fact that thousands of sheep are being wintered in Tokomairiro and Clutha, this is now making an appreciable shoilagc in the Teed stocks of those districts. These are all conditions a hopeful people expect to see changed nest year. Meantime Otago can ponder the returns with satisfaction, and many districts congratulate themselves on a record yield.

Unity is the feature most aimed at in the consummation of Imperial-

Hare We ism. Cynics have been led an Empire; for this reason to say' that we have no empire simply because time and experience have not yel solidified aud welded into one corporate mass the great Mother Country and iis offshoots. Although this is rather an unpatriotic and misguided expression, it must be admitted in extenuation that the time has arrived when the colonies should more fully enter into the brunt and burden of Imperial defence, and pay .some fee for the precious gift of liberty and empire which is their heritage. The people of these colonies have already had brought home to them their complete helplessness, and-no one would attempt to assert for an instant that, with the Mother Country's aid withheld, we could stand alone and defend our homes and commerce. For practical purposes the maintenance of the Australasian Stni.ulron is little more than a figure. Ifc is not, l.irgo enough to be defensive, not sufficiently self-supporting to be colonial. Yet this is no reason why we. should not be proud of it as the nucleus of better things. The question arises, though, whether we should slop for breathing space, as it were, after one «tcp before proceeding with another. lYrhaps, as children, we should. But the breathing space since the Australasian Squadron was commissioned has been sufficient. The object, of the deputation which the other day waited upon the First Lord of the Admiralty is a very fitting one for the colonies to support, and there is hot the least doubt that they will willingly f.nd proudly do so. Naval authorities in England have frequently deplored the insufiiciency of recruits for manning the Royal Navy, and if this is the case now how much more so will it be in

the course of a few jpaj-ai I>;e 75,000 fishermen whom &t, Urni H.<r Mulock instanced as being itiuWjie in Canada only give an idea of what cuuM ! >r expected throughout the colonies. Iho ».•>■ tablishmcnt of tiaining ships would be a jireliminary expense, but the advantages < t having reserves in all the colonies to draiv upon in war time for manning the navy would quite compensate the outlay, and it would be a decided achievement for Imperial unity to allow the colonies io feel themselves co-equal with the. .Mother Country in th.s lespecL.

The liopcld'siuos of the naval ,i<.piratioii v of

our rivals &eems to lu\e been lsOurXninl fairly wheeled home by the -Supremacy naval programme of the Waning; Fi^t Lord of the Admiralty,

presented io the h'ousc lastv,wk, combine! with the cqiuuiimity with vhicli press. P.wli uni-iit, and people received it. At any late the many can lead in the alleged bidden curtailment of Russia's programme a recognition of the hopelessness of competition, and an abandonment of counter steps in the meantime. It is comfortable to dxaw this inference from ilussi'i's action, it' it .should prove a misconstruction, it is comfortable to view the action itself without troubling about deductions. But relief at Russia's inaction is not born of any fera 1 o£ her action. Par from it. The people of the colonies are fully salWfied — this satisfaction is the root of many of our own defensive negligences— that Britain h always prepared and able to counteract at a premium any foreign activity, and with every step of Jorivals to place herself not meiely on an equal footing but still further iihiwl. A I least for many years this has been the tendency. But miiitari&m is extravagantly expensive. Were it not so it cannot be conceived to what extremities the bent of nations would take them. And out of this circumstance we find satisfaction at Russia's action. There rirre many people who think that Britain's integrity will be imperilled as soon as her naval strength shall bs exceeded by the combined strength of any tw<> powers. This is sufficiently shallow reasoning ; but accepting it as a hypothesis, and accepting, moreover, that Fiance and Riwsia actually are her rivals, can the million possibly imagine that she will be alone V Such an event is absolutely impossible. Ii it will take a century for England to fall from her position as a naval power, it will rertainly take another to bereave her of the many staunch allies she now has, although the affection of some is hidden behind the rivalry of commerce. Our national Ishmaelites, the alarmists, moy hope by that lime to bo safely laid in a grave, and piobablv their successors may pee friends where goldblinded eyes can only discern enemies.