The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3877, 3 July 1928, Page 47

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1928.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquam allud nature, allud aapienlla dlxtt.’* “JUVBKXU ■'Seed nature and good aaaaa must ever JoAb."—

Defeat of the All Blacks.

Every other item of news, social and

political, is dwarfed into insignificance by. the direful tidings of the defeat at Durban of the All

Blacks in the first test match with the ■South African team. It is safe to say that this match will be fought. over in all its details in almost every. New Zealand home from the North Cape, to the Bluff, and that the reasons of so crushing a defeat will be actively and forcibly canvassed. from every possible point of view. The selectors will come in for their share of the blame, and the individual players will not escape criticism. The more philosophically minded may be inclined to attribute the defeat to that curious thing called luck, which occasionally overwhelms any combination of players; but the final verdict is found in the closing sentences of the cable message from Durban: “It is doubtful whether there has ever been a more strenuously fought match. There is only one epitaph to record: New Zealand was beaten by a better team.” The supremacy of the Dominion at the game of Rugby football has become a national tradition, and so crushing a reverse comes as a shock to that tradition. Fortunately all is not lost; there are stilly three other test matches to be played ere the South African tour closes. This initial defeat may render essential some change of tactics, and other modifications in the conduct of affairs may be deemed wise. One thing is certain, by the players themselves and by the people of New Zealand as a whole, the reverse —serious and disconcerting as it undoubtedly is—will be accepted in a true sportsmanlike spirit, coupled with a determination, in so far as it is possible, to turn present defeat into future victory.

The Opening of Parliament.

The Speech of the Governor-General at

the opening of Parliat ment is one of those customary formalities which

the general public patiently accepts, but which affords only a slight guide to the subsequent conduct of the business of the country. In the Speech the Governor-General echoes the opinions of his advisers and generally reviews the outstanding events of the period since he last met Parliament in person. On this occasion many important questions were touched upon, including such subjects as the treaty proposed by the United States for the renunciation of war, the Samoan unrest, the visit of Mr Amery, and the National Industrial Conference. The Speech contained the intimation that the Government does not see its way to introduce a scheme of universal pensions, and this for obvious financial reasons. The increasing motor traffic had prominence in the announcement that the Government will introduce a Bill rendering it compulsory upon all motorists to take out what is known as a third party insurance when paying their annual registration and license fees. A degree of interest attaches to the announcement that, according to promise, among the measures to be introduced during the session will be a Licensing Bill, and surmise is already busy as to whether this will follow the lines of the Bill of last session oi* whether it will contain new provisions.

The Unemployment Problem.

Thus early in the session it is evident

that the Labour Party intends to .play the unemployment problem card

for all that it is worth for purely party purposes. The Leader of the Opposition plainly voiced the thought uppermost in his mind when he asked the Prime Minister if he could give the House an idea when the session was likely to end and the date when the election would be held. When Mr Holland asked the question he did not expect a definite answer; naturally Mr Coates replied that the duration of the session must to a considerable extent depend upon the assistance of the Opposition in putting through the necessary business. There is not a great deal of hope in this direction, judging by the long-drawn-out discussion which followed the Labour amendment to the Imprest Supply Bill. The speeches delivered in support of this amendment served no other purpose save to advertise the opinion of the Labour Party that the Government is solely and wholly to blame for the existence of unemployment, and that, if placed in power, it would speedily find work for everyone and at full rates of pay. In short, unemployment instead of being regarded as a national problem is to be turned into a party cry. Mr Forbes, to his credit, speaking on behalf of the Nationalist and United Parties, put the matter in the right light when he disavowed all sympathy with the Labour amendment because he was not disposed to make party capital out of unemployment. So far from attempting to corner the Government on such a question, Mr

Forbes contended that it was the duty of men of all parties to attempt to find a solution of the problem, a judgment in which all wise men will concur.

The United Party.

If Mr Veitch may be accepted as an

authority on the subject, the main hope of any success at the forthcom-

ing general election on the part of the National or United Party lies'in some sort of a LiberalLabour understanding. And also, according to Mr Veitch, the chief obstacle to such an understanding is the present Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. Doubtless it is galling to the last remnants of a once all-pow’erful Liberal Party to have to follow into the lobby at the tail of the Labour Party if they wish to register their dissatisfaction with any Government measures. Seeing, however, that there seems no disposition on the part of the Labour Party te jettison Mr Holland, and consequently little hope of the much desired LiberalLabour understanding, there is another course open to Mr Veitch and those who think with him. This is to join hands with the Reform Party at the election, and by avoiding the intrusion of a third candidate and the uncertainty of a three-cornered contest, lessen the possibility. of the capture by Labour of any additional seats in the new’ Parliament.

The Arctic Tragedy.

While General Nobile, a shattered wreck,

iias neen rescued from his perilous position in the Arctic regions, it is to be feared that many

of his brave comrades will have perished in that inhospitable clime. The task before the various rescue parties was almost as hazardous as that of the original aviators. In particular, the fate of; that intrepid polar pioneer, Captain Amundsen, still hangs in the balance, and news of his safety is awaited with a degree of suspense. Whatever the triumphs of aviation in the near future, the fate which has overtaken the Italia and her crew is sufficient to demonstrate that the air offers no safer W’ay to the polar regions than does the ocean, and that explorers still have to take their lives in their hands.