The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1927.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 47

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1927.) THE WEEK.

"Nunquam allud nature, allud sapientla dlilt.” -JUVXKAU “Good nature and good cense must er er join.”—• Jhera.

The Outlook In China.

Although not providing grounds for undue optimism the situation in

China at the time of writing appears to contain a reasonable hope o'

a peaceful settlement. There is always the danger, of course, that some unwise utterance or premature abtion on the part of some irresponsible person on either side might precipitate a position from -which it would be difficult, if not impossible, to retreat. There is assurance in the thought that the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British Cabinet is Sir Austen Chamberlain, the man who covered himself with glory in the consummation of the Locarno Pact, which has done so much towards cementing the peace of Europe. In his hinesc policy Sir Austen Chamberlain has given practical proof that he is prepared to go even to the point of peril in his endeavour to keep peace in the Far East, impelled thereto not only by his traditional pacificism, but also by the thought of the disaster to Western civilisation which the letting loose of the dogs of war must inevitably bring about. Negotiations ar.e still proceeding between the British Government and Mr Chen, .he Cantonese Foreign Minister. At the same time every care is being taken to keep the Chinese authorities in Peking informed if w’hat is proposed, in order that a. settlement, when arrived at, shall be acceptable to the whole of China and not to any particular part only. It has been stated that the Peking Governmc-’t, while equally keen in the matter of national aspirations, is prepared to proceed with moderation towards the goal of its desires in contrast to the Cantonese, who, unless restrained by more prudentcounsels, are. quite ready, to tear up treaties and attempt to reach their ends by force. It may be hoped, however, that the British attitude will convince even the militant Mr Chen that far more is to be gained by negotiation than any display of forge is likely to achieve. The fear

exists that, the precautionary measures taken by the British may be interpreted by the Cantonese as an act of aggression ; a conclusion .which the hysterical outburst at Shanghai over the arrival of the first contingent of troops from India may serve to deepen. Nor is the situation made any easier by the foolish fulminations of the Labourites. While the necessarily delicate negotiations are proceeding it will be well if both press and public keep calm and abstain from "m-------barrassing those in authority by ur ise interference. Far too much is at stake for any needless risks to be run.

The Soviet Army.

An uncertain element in the situatic.n is

the extent to which the Russian Soviet .is behind the demands of Mr Chen

and the Cantonese. It is easy to imagine that if backed by the promise of the help of the Soviet Army the Cantonese Foreign Minister is likely to be much more imperative in his demands than if acting only on behalf of the section of the Chinese people whom he represents. It may also be taken for granted that the Bolshevik leaders would rejoice at any opportunity to deal Great Britain a blow which would injure her prestige in the Far East. A statement was recently published that the Soviet army is the strongest in Europe at the present time, with a permanent infantry force of more than a million and aquarter men, half a million cavalry, an air force of 80,000, and trained reservists numbering 370,000. A writer in he Nineteenth Century gives particulars of investigations made into the actual strength of the Russian fighting fo. ie. He dismisses as improbable the rumour which credits the Soviet with a highlytrained, well-disciplined army two million strong. He also questions the other extreme —viz., that this alleged army is nothing more than a mob of mercenaries, ill-armed and unable to take the field against disciplined regiments. An attempt is made to obtain a reliable estimate by going back to the beginning of the Revolution in 1917, when the ~'usr sian army as such melted away under Bolshevik influence. This condition of affairs persisted until Trotsky, appointed People’s Commissar for War, began to recreate the Russian army. By threats and persuasion he secured enlistment ,of thousands of officers of the old Imperial army, and with this as his starting point he gradually built up an efficient fighting force. He aimed at efficiency rather than numbers, and the necessary training went on apace with a population of 133,000,000 to draw upon. The difficult task of securing supplies of war material has also been taken in hand, until to-day Russia has well-equipped factories for the manufacture of all needed war munitions and is no longer dependent upon outside sources. It is estimated that Russia is now able to put in the field at short notice an army of a million men fairly well armed and otherwise equipped and all loyal to the Soviet. In all military operations in Russia, however, the question of transport must enter largely, and it is a question whether the Soviet, if so inclined, could effectively take part in a .war so remote from her sources of supply as is China.

Prospects in the Teaching Profession.

A recent discussion in the Wellington

Education Board raises the question whether the teaching profession is not in danger of becoming overcrowded, and this es-

pecially in regard to the training of women teachers. It has been stated that in the Wellington education district alone there is something like 60 teackers for whom no positions can at present be found, and it may be taken for granted that a similar state of affairs prevails throughout the Dominion. It would seem that the inducements which a few years ago were held out to young men and women to adopt the teaching profession have borne abundant fruit, with the result thsjt there is growing up a surplus of aspirants for the vacancies. Once again the vexed problem is being debated as to whether married women should be employed as teachers, and whether their places ought not to be filled by single women. Obviously this is not a question upon which a hard and fast decision can be reached. Circumstances alter cases, and in differing conditions differing answers may be advanced. The view taken by the Minister of Education is doubtless a correct one—viz., that the supply of certificated teachers can be regulated through the training colleges. If the Training College output at the present time is too high the remedy is an easy one. At the same time there is an aspect of the unemployed question which should not be overlooked. Teachers, like other people, have their likings and their prejudices. A teacher is inclined to wait for a desired position rather than accept the first appointment offering, and probably before the school year is far advanced ?on its way many of these socalled unemployed teachers will have become absorbed in the educational machine.

Wheat and Flour. '

The decision of the Minister of Customs 'to check the imports of

flour from Australia by imposing a dumping duty coming at the same time

as the decision of the Privy Council sustaining the appeal of the combination known as Distributors Limited against the New Zealand Government raises anew the vexed question of the supplies of wheat and flour for Dominion use. From the public point of view there are two significant facts —viz., that in a land where wheat can be plentifully grown the

supply tends to become more and more inadequate to the demand: also that with milling power far more than is needed for the domestic demand flour in considerable quantities is coming into New Zealand from Australia. Not only so, but with the object of staying the operations of a combine allegedly infringing the provisions of the Commercial Trusts Act, the Crown finds- itself mulcted in exceedingly heavy damages for which the taxpayer will be jailed upon to foot the ' bill. It is a ease in which all the parties concerned are fighting for their own hands and in which the consuming public seems destined to be worsted. The farmers complain that they cannot profitably. grow wheat unless they are guaranteed a high price for their crop, even before the grain is sown; and even then they have to run the risk of a poor harvest. The flour millers object to pay a higher rate for the wheat than that at which they can impo. t grain from Australia; and to strengthen an almost impregnable position, and to prevent pricecutting, they deal with the bakers only through Distributors Limited. On their part the bakers, protesting against the alleged tyranny of Distributors Limited, see their hopes of the abolition of that organisation dissipated in the decision of the Privy Council. And on the top of this medley of conflicting interests comes the decision of the Acting-Prime Minister to impose a dumping duty on Australian flour, despite his statement a fortnight since that such a duty could not logically be enforced. In the face of this confusion of theory and practice the average man will feel inclined to give up as a bad job the problem of wheat and flour.

Having read in the Auckland Star the report of the diamond wedding of Mr and Mrs Shepherd, of Te Atatu, which was-' claimed to be the first diamond wedding of a native-born New Zealand couple, Mr John Wilson, of Manunui, writes: “ . • . I think I can beat them, for both my wife and myself were born in Auckland—myself in the year 1843, in the raupo whare at (no houses at that time) Lower Queen street, and my wife in 1849, in William, or at that time, Chancery street, or lane. We were married by the Rev. Bruce on July 31, 1865, and we celebrated our diamond wedding on July 31 last.” A return has been prepared for the Auckland Hospital Board . (reports our special correspondent) showing the number of cases of' desertion for which relief was granted during the year ended December, 1926. The chairman, commenting on the figures, said it was appalling that in a young country like this nearly 200 wives had been deserted in Auckland during the year, and about 600 dependents left unprovided for. He was glad to say that in the country districts there were practically no desertions, and all cases could be accounted for in the city and suburban areas.

Speaking at the annual meeting of _the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association, of Otago, held oir Friday, the president (Mr James Brown) said that ho wondered whether members fully appreciated the association; whether they realised its true value. Commercial travellers were essentially engaged in a competitive livelihood, but membership of the association took away the sting of competition. They were given a common outlook, a common interest, and they were able to speak with one voice, to bring united action to bear on any matters which they considered ought to be remedied. The association also gave many material benefits, such as the mortuary fund, the accident and sick fund, and there was the official organ, The Traveller, - and there was the club. Could they conceive anything of more benefit to members than their well-appointed club? All these things had been carefully thought out in the interests, of the members. But there was more than that. Part of the founctions of the association was to build up character, and to inspire members with the highest ideals of commercial honour and integrity. Travellers’ organisations throughout New Zealand bore a high reputation. A high authority, in the person of the late Prime Minister, had publicly stated that he placed a very high value on commercial travellers’ organisations. Apart from the benefits which they conferred on their- own members and the community generally, they stood for constitutional law and order, and presented a solid front against the seditious, revolutionary doctrines that were being promulgated even in the Dominion. Commercial travellers, said Mr Brown, had as a body to maitain that position. There was only one way to do it —by every member of the association making a firm resolve to further its interests.

A new picture theatre is to be built in Christchurch (reports our special correspondent), and it will handle practically all British films. Yet nothing definite as to the building has been announced, but it is believed that it will be built where Tattersfield’s Horse Parade now stands. The man at the head of affairs is Mr John M’Donald, of Dunedin, and it :«• understood that he also intends to build theatres in Dunedin, Oamaru, and Ashburton. Arrangements have been made by i’;o Tourist Department for the immediate replacing of the huts at Sandfly, Milford Sound, destroyed by fire on Wednesday. The necessary timber stores will be sent from Bluff. The manner in which property in the city of Auckland is constantly appreciating in. value (reports, our special correspondent) is illustrated by the fact that this year the rateable value of the property in the city is £2,270,047 —an increase of £139,339, or 6|. per cent, on the total for last year.. The number, of assessments this year is 26,344. being an increase of 1259. / - Twenty bankruptcies; 10 .in each island, were notified in last week’s issue of the New Zealand Gazette.