HOME POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 89

HOME POLITICS

NEW ZEALAND EDITOR'S IMPRES-

SIONS.

BENEFITS OF THE MILITARY SYSTEM.

(Fboi£ Oxtb. Oww Coerespondekt.) ' WELLINGTON, January 1. Mr Thomson W. Leys, editor of the Auckland Star, was one of a number of New Zealanders who returned to the Dominion by the Athenic to-day after a visit to tte Old Conntiy. Mr Leys has been travelling for 10 months, and has greatly benefited by the rest and change. His previous trip to England was in 1900, and 'ho noted with interest how things had changed during the interval.

With the object of -securing some impressions of a trained observer a Times representative interviewed Mr Leys, whoso views in regard to Germany's attitude in international politics differ somewhat from the popular idea.

PROSPEROUS GERMANY.

" After my arrival in London I was invited to join the party of British journalists who visited Germany upon the >nvitation of the German editors," remarked Mr Leys. "We bad a very enjoyable tour, and we were amazed at the srood feeling and the splendid reception accorded to us. We saw no sign of ill-feling towards England. Germany is moving on a wave of prosperity — industrial and commercial, — and it is' quite evident that the very last thing the commercial people of Germany want is any disturbance of the peace, either with England or any other Power. .As far as we could ascertain from well-informed people, the Kaiser has no military aspirations. He is a military man, but he has also a verj great deal to do with the promotion, of his country's commercial prosperity. In any new industry or commercial enterprise he takes the greatest interest. He has been known to open a big restaurant, and he gives his attention to anything -making for Germany's commercial advancement. There is not the slightest doubt that he is entirely devoted to the welfare of his people, and that transoends any feeling- he may have of a military kind. At the same time he i 6 a- soldier to the backbone. We saw him review the Household troops at Potsdam, and nobody could help being impressed by the splendid character of the troops and the military enthusiasm of the Kaiser. By way of showing the thoroughness of the German system, it may be mentioned that every officer has to serve in the ranks, and at this review we saw the Kaiser's second son standing in the ranks. I had an opportunity later of talking- with a German officer, and I mentioned to him my impression that the commercial classes, at anyrate, were very adverse to war. I asked him. what was the feeling of the military — if it was true that they favoured war. ' Don't believe it,' he replied. 'We have every faith in our army, but wax in these days is too terrible .a thing 1 for anybody to desire it. The more you know of it the' less you want of it.* " \ '

Asked for his views of Germany as a commercial rival' of Britain, Mr Leys said they were very keen competitors. Wages in Germany had risen considerably, and there was evidence tna-t many classes of labour were not worse off in regard to wages than the English workmen. The wages of mechanics were steadily rising on account of the creation of English industries. " The be.st evidence of the amazing prosperity- of Germany," concluded. Mr. Leys, " is the fact that emigration has practically stopped. There is far more- agriculture in Germany than in England, and protective duties help the farmer by keeping up the 1 price of food.'' BENEFITS OE MILITARY TRAINING.

"My impression of England," said MrLeys, " was that the country generally seemed; prosperous, 1 , the cotton industry m particular being amazingly prosperous. At the same time the- population in the towns did not comjpare favourably with the physical appearance of the people in German cities. I think that is attributable very largely to the military system, unde<r which the people are obliged to go in for some amount of physical training. This feature of the Continental military system has made some impression in "England, and it is hoped that the new army scheme, which gives great prominence to Volunteering, will assist in inducing' mare- people to go in for a short period of military training. A deputation of labour leaders which -visited -Switzerland to see how the compulsory system would " apply to a democracy^ -was favourably impressed with the possibilities in regard to physical benefits,, but there is great hostility in England to any proposals of the sort. Personally, I think if there <was- compulsory training 1 of factory lads between the ages of 16 and 19 " for one- afternoon per week it would be very beneficial."

LABOUR MATTERS.

The chief incident* in connection with labour matters which occupied attention during Mr Leys's visit to England was the threalK of a gigantic railway strike, which would hive disorganised the industries of the country to an appalling 1 extent, even imperilled the food supply of London. The attitude of the railway directors in refusing to recognise any representative of a trade union was generally condemned, and the ground the directors stood upon was so weak that they .found even many of the commercial class against them. The railwaymen's leader (Mr Richard Bell, M.P.) is a very strong trades unionist, but not a, socialist. His entire action in the matter was an assertion of legitimate trade union principles, and the settlement was a triumph for him. " The principle of conciliation was accepted by the railwaymen and tne directors," remarked the pressman.

'HOW IS IT REGARDED IN

ENGLAND?"

" Many of the trades union leaders are still very hostile to compulsory arbitration as restricting the powers -of the unions," replied Mr Leys. The conversation naturally 'turned into a discussion of the new Labour party, which at the last general election made its appearance as a. tangible factor in English politics. Mr Leys was of the opinion that this new element has considerably altered die relative position* of the two great political parties — so much so that it does not seem improbable that the splitting of votes between Liberal and Labour candidates will' loose the Liberals a good many, seats, and even brinff about their, defeat "A ta« next general electioiii

THBiRISH QUESTION. " One of the chief difficulties in the way of the Liberal party is the question of Home Rule," continued Mr Leys. "There is no doubt that Mr Birrell's bill had the approval of the Irish parliamentary party, and it would have been accepted bst for Mr Redmond's discovery, upon attending the convention in Dublin, that it would have caused a serious split in the National party. Its rejection makes it extremely doubtful whether another Home Rule bill will be introduced by the present Government. One of the chief difficulties Mr Brrrell had to deal with In framing his measure was the fact that a large number of Liberal memiera had given distinct ,pledges that they would not vote for a measure which would establish a separate legislature in Ireland, -and some of the leading members of the Cabinet are decidedly antagonistic to legislative home rule." PREFERENTIAL TRADE. " Preferential trade is the principal colonial question occupying atteation in Great Britain just now," said Mr Leys. "It is extremely hard to form any conclusion as to the balance of opinion on the subject, as you find the most ardent Free--traders-in the most unexpected quarters and active Protectionists even among the Liberals. It is certainly a live question at Home, but there is very little prospect of *ny concession being made by- the Ijiberal Government, which is deeply pledged 1 to Freetrade." NEW ZEALAND'S OPPORTUNITIES. "The market for New Zealand produceappears to be almost inexhaustible," declared our subject, " and from conversations I have had with people from the Argentine the competition which New Zealand fears so very, -very much from that country is probably being a little overrated. At anyrate, so far as mutton and butter are concerned, we- have nothing to fear, for they have a lot of trouble with stock disease. "Very great interest is manifested in New Zealand affairs. I heard of an amusing incident, which illustrates thi3. A leading member of the English Cabinet, finding himself nexif to a prominent New Zealander -at ■ a great State function, plied the colonial with so many questions,' particularly about the working of our Arbitration. Act, that at the close of the banquet he had only an ' impression that some very delightful food had passed his lips, but he could not recollect what he had had for dinner." " One thing which struck me very much in going Home on the Tongariro and returning onvjihe Athenic," conoluded Mr Leys, " was the progress which has been made in the means of communication, with the Home Country. When I came to New Zealand 44 years ago it was, in a ship of about 900 -tons,- belonging to the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. There were between 35Q and 400 emigrants closely packed in her 'tween decks. Now we are able to travel -Home direct in. a steamship as fine as anyone could desire. We have something Jike 600 immigrants on board the Athenic, all of a very fine class, and this of iteelf is a sign that increased attention is being paid to New Zealand by the masses of the people in Great Britain. It may also be taken ag a proof of the good results arising from, the system of assisted passages and the efficiency with which 'the system. is> being administered by the High Commissioner."