The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1911. HEROES OR HEROICS?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 21 July 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1911. HEROES OR HEROICS?

The new scheme of diluted compulsory military service is having a useful effect in "drawing" some very amusing persons. It has, amongst others, brought to light the quaint little man, Mr. W. S. Bedford. Mr. Bedford is in New Zealand at the present moment because some very 1 excellent soldiers, both regular and volunteer, made it possible for his immediate forefathers to settle in it. As a born logician he will admit this. He couldn't possibly have been the distinguished ornament to the country he unquestionably is if it had not been for soldiers. New Zealand wouldn't have bacn a British country if it hadn't been for soldiers. Mr. Bedford recently grasped the honest hand of a man who was proud to have assisted his son to break the law in not registering as a territorial soldier. In that action this little gentleman from Dunedin showed his utter contempt for everything that has given him his place in this country. He became emotional about this boy who refused duty. He thus laid it down that it is wrong to be strong enough to protect the women and children of New Zealand, wrong to swing a blade for Mr. Bedford, wrong to bear arms for the King, without whose influence (and all that it stands for) there could be no British New Zealand. It is noted that these protesters must protest where the limelight will shine on them; that they flaunt their heroic attitude; that they advertise. The person who insists that a great wrong is being done to young New Zealanders by training them to discipline and selfrespect have no real place in New Zealand. They belong to a separate kind of human being who should live in a place where they will not be constantly annoyed by the doings of nine-tenths of the population. The hero's father in this case said he "would rather see his son in his grave than serving as a representative of Royalty." Yet this gentleman permits himself the agony of living in a dominion that says it is as loyal and royal as any on earth. If he debases himself bv living under the vice-regal rule of Lord Islington, the Commaniler-in-Chief of the New Zealand Forces (who can call on him if need be to grasp a gun), why should he worry about his son taking orders from one of the. Commander-in-Chief's sergeantsmajor? Mr. Bedford (who. of course, would pull a trigger if a foreign helmcted head showed itself over liis garden wall) called the boy "a hero" for refusing duty, Mr. Bedford would therefore regard as heroes all the young men who on the approach of the enemy immediately surrendered because they hated military service. This would be the moment for the women find the little

children to take a hand with the rifles the "heroes" were afraid to use. Mr. Bedford made the astounding statement that "the new Defence Act \ was a class measure, go framed that a boy could not rise from the ranks!" This is quite untrue. Almost without exception the members of the staff corps (excepting Imperial Army men) have risen from the ranks and the territorial officers in most cases have been retained. There is now nothing to prevent the bugler boy from rising to be a citizen officer, and from thence to the staff corps. The Imperial Army is, in fact, open to the citizen soldier, and at least one man who 15 years ago was a private soldier is now commanding a brigade in Britain. These objectors to a very fine system seem to regard it as an indignity to do those things that have made and kept the Empire. They refuse to see that armed strength is necessary for peace and that the chivalry which is sadly lacking in New Zealand has a better chance of growing in the new soil than the old. It !b but a matter of time when the person who refuses to take his share of the burden—thus adding a burden to his fellow citizens—will be no longer greeted as a " hero," even "by Mr. Bedford. It is only a question of soldiers being really needed to change the ideas of the "heroes." i

INDEPENDENCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES. Tke Presidential election in the United States next year is likely to have an important bearing on the future of the Philippine Islands. The Filipinos havi been promised independence as soon as they can satisfy the American Government of their ability to manage their own affairs, but if the Republicans remain in power the satisfying process probably will occupy a long time. The Democrats, however, are against the maintenance of colonies, and if fortune favors their campaign next year the Philippine Islands soon will be flying their own flag and carrying out theii owa system of Government. The uncertainty of the position appears to be retarding the progress of the Islands. This is the view taken by Mr. E. H. Clissold, a prominent British merchant in Manila, who was interviewed in Sydnew a few day 3 ago. He says that the land in the Philippines is remarkably .fertile. There are innumerable tobacco plantations, the production of sugar is increasing rapidly, the islands are exporting half the world's supply of hemp, and the copra industry is attaining large proportions. But the islands are capable of infinitely greater progress than they are making. Though there are immense forests available the timber industry is at a standstill, and the Philippines are importing more rice than they are growing. Mr. Clissold believes that if the maintenance of American control were assured, white men would be glad to invest capital in the islands, and their development would be rapid, but he fears that the independence of the Filipinos would mean the ousting of foreigners. This, he says, would be a deplorable change, as the natives would not be capable of developing the wonderful resources of their country. The United States Government has pursued a progressive policy. Boads and railways have been constructed in lavish fashion, and particular cstre has been exercised in the provision of educational facilities. The Filipino boys and girls are being well tutored by American teachers, and experts in agriculture are assisting the operations of the rural population. But at heart the natives are indolent and pleasure-loving, and if the controlling hand 'were removed the inarch of progress would be stayed.