THE WORLD'S PRESS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 176, 31 August 1914, Page 4

THE WORLD'S PRESS.

AUSTRALIA'S DUTY. We must, therefore, be loyally aitd willingly prepared to serve Australia and the Empire here and elsewhere, -every class of us and every man of us withotit-exception, to the extent of individual forute-s- and eapacitj'-. Before the war broke were parties and classes in Australia. be no such divisions and distinctions" ~~~-~ now. One danger fronts us all. One people should resist that danger till it disappears. And there should-, be no spending of useful effort in futile or frivolous activities. —"Age." THE SPIEIT OF CAPTAIN.COOK. But does Captain James Cook need a monument to keep his glory untarnished? Does not the example of his undaunted enterprise and indomitable courage fire the soul of every British schoolboy who pores over the pages of his fascinating "Voyages?" The spirit of Captain Cook truly lives cin unchanged in the Navy to-day, for it is itself the spirit o&the Fleet, of Nelson, of Scott, and of Shackleton—"Daily Mail." AT KIAO-CHAU. The Germans' proclamation of martial law at Kiao-chau and their order to British and other foreigners to leave the protectorate is a harsh step, seeing that at the time it was taken there was no question of war with Great Britain. Had there been, it is improbable that Germany would have been able to hold the place against the force that could have been brought against it. This, it will be recalled, is the territory over which Germany obtained a hold by ostentatious flourishes of its "mailed fist."—"Daily _ Telegraph." NATIONAL, NOT PARTY, LEGISLATION. There is a strong popular demand in the constituencies just now for the Initiative Referendum. The people wantit because they desire to enter into closer touch with their Parliament and to supervise its actions. They want to be aide to put any great question to a national vote and have it decided by -the whole people instead of by a party maforJiv ~~°f members in Parliament. Jn brief, National instead of 3'arty' legislation; ami-government of the whole people by the whoTc^t'ecple J Hnstead of government of. the whole 'people by half the people. Look at this {proposition how we may, we must cou/fess it is a straightforward piece of'pure ."and unadulterated democracy.—" Age.''-