The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 51

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1928.) THE WEEK.

"Nnnquam Blind natura, allufb eapientla dixit.* -Juvhksi,. -“Sood oat are and good sense tr.ust ever loin."-" rev*.

Mr Fortes and the Political Future.

It can hardly be averred of Mr Forbes when he delivered his

maiden political speech to a Dunediu audience that he camo, he saw, and he con-

quered. The audience was satisfactory in regard to numbers, and those present accorded the leader of the Nationalist Party an attentive hearing; but the speaker failed to arouse even the semblance of enthusiasm, not even when

he declared with a show of conviction that the Government was doomed. Reading between the lines, it is evident in what manner the doom of the Government is to be brought about, owing to the tactics employed by Mr Forbes and his supporters. Mr Forbes asserted that the mission of the United New Zealand Party Political Organisation was to build up in Parliament a strong Opposition to the Government. Seeing that the Nationalists will have no dealings with the Labour Party, it follows that the only source from which Mr Forbes can hope to recruit is from the ranks of th e Reform Party. If, therefore, Mr Forbes is able to succeed in his avowed intention of putting up a candidate in every electorate in the Dominion, the obvious result will be to play right into the hands of the Labour Socialists by splitting the vote which otherwise would be given to Government candidates. In the extremely unlikely event of Mr Forbes receiving sufficient en couragement to persevere in this endeavour, the only possible outcome would be to strengthen the ranks of the Labour Party. Thus the activities of Mr Forbes are calculated to afford Mr Holland considerable satisfaction, but in the ultimate they can bring to Mr Forbes himself little else besides disappointment and chagrin.

The Gravamen of Kr Forbes’s Complaint.

For what, after all, is the gravamen of Mr Forbes’s complaint?

Merely that the Government, largely because of circumstances over which it

has little or no control, has failed to accomplish the impossible. Certainly Mr Coates has made mistakes, and to-day he is undoubtedly suffering from the backwash of the wave of popularity which carried him to so sweeping a success at the last election. It is not enough, however, for a critic of the Government to point out mistakes and shortcomings—he must be able to propound a remedy. Challenged ta state the policy of his party, Mr Forbes, after some hesitation, declared for a vigorous land policy, reduction of borrowing, reduction in the cost of Government, less interference with private enterprise, and a reduction in taxation—qualifying the entire programme with the significant words, “if possible.” And in those words ar e crystallised the entire political situation. Were Mr Forbes and his party in office to-day they would find themselves confronted with exactly the same economic and financial difficulties with which the Government is handicapped. As a matter of fact, no real political principle divides between the Reform and the Nationalist Parties in Parliament; the differences are solely those which expediency suggests and compels. And Mr Forbes would be well advised if, instead of embarking upon a political enterprise which at best can only bring grist to Mr Holland's mill, he were to join hands with Mr Coates and strive to make the Government stronger and more efficient. In tins way the onrush of Socialism and Communism may once more be effectually stemmed, and progress and prosperity in the future be more soundly assured.

Perils cl Aviation.

Last week was peculiarly disastrous in the

tragic death of Flightlieutenant Kinkead and the abandonment of all hopes

of the safetv of Captain Hinchcliffe and the Hon. Elsie Mackay—in one case a victim on th e altar' of speed and in the other a result of almost criminal recklessness. As a corollary, two decisions are recorded in aviation circles, the one that the attempt to beat the speed record must be renewed, the other that adventures in crossing the Atlantic, whilst fascinating, must be put a stop to.’ From New York the opinion is expressed that hazardous flights which do nothing to further the scientific side of aviation mustbe repressed ; indeed, one American naper bluntly declares the ” stunt ” form of Hying is a setback for commercial aviation. In the matter of speed opinions appear to differ. Manifestly the attempts are attended by considerable danger, and indeed no less an authority than Sir Samuel Hoare would seem to approve of the attempt, when he said in the House ot Commons “ he feared that the way of progress must be strewn with sacrifices.” But is the attainment of a hmh rate of speed essential to the development of aviation? With the railway engine and with the motor car the limitations of speed are in accordance with the requirements of safety. And to the observer it would seem that some like principle should apply m the matter of aviation It is somewhat disconcerting to 'hear I dec ? arin 2 tha t will not be to beat the Italian record and to be told that another attempt will be made by the Royal Air Force to regain the speed record. Surely no actual service to he cause of aviation can be given by an attempt which, after all. is only a sop to national pride, and which must involve an almost certain loss of valuable lives.

The Ibsen Centenary.

Ihe controversy which raged in the

nineties over the performance of the plays of Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian dramatist, is recalled by

the centenary of the playwright’s birth, which falls to-day. Ibsen, whilst in revolt against the conventions of the narrow society in which he was brought tip, dropped a bomb into civilised society when he championed the cause of woman and secured for the sex much of the freedom which they enjoy to-day. Not only so, but he was the pioneer in the dramatic movement towards realism on the stage, as against the romantic method which had hitherto held sway. It is safe to say that but for the influence of Ibsen. Mr Bernard Shaw would not have scored so great a success as playwright, and this despite the ban under which some of his work has suffered. A declaration made by Ibsen to a friend is worthy of remark : ‘‘ Everything that I have written has the

closest possible connection with what I have lived through, even if it has not been my personal or actual experience. In every new poem or play I have aimed at m’y own spiritual emancipation and purification—for a man shares the responsibility and the guiding of the society to which he belongs.” This gives reason for the limitation of thought, under which Ibsen undoubtedly suffered. The themes with which he dealt, and the types of character which he drew—above all, the mood of life which he reflected—all came within definite compass, the compass of a narrow Norwegian environment. Ibsen has been compared to Shakespeare, but he lacked tbe universality of that master mind On the other hand. Ibsen gained from his concentration on a few chosen themes and his influence in certain directions has been all the more lasting. If it be claimed ttiat the aims of Ibsen were in the main destructive, it must not be forgotten that the destructive criticism was al] the more needed to destroy and drive away the mists of self-complacency and smugness in which society was at that time smothered As one observer has pointed out, all that Ibsen had the strength t 0 do, he did well and truly, with dauntless courage and honest purpose. And his work was chiefly that of preparing humanity for the reception of new and better ideals