TOPICS OF TUB DAY.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8621, 27 March 1897, Page 2

TOPICS OF TUB DAY.

(By "The Admiral.")

We are still on the tenter hooks of suspense concerning the Premier's intentions in re the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen. One can easily understand that the question presents some difficulties, but under ordinary circumstances they would be easily orercome. The circumstances in this country are not ordinary just now, for there is the unknown of a new and untried

Parliament; there ia the illness of his first lieutenant, Mr McKenzie; and there is also the growth of public opinion, which in the absence of the chief apostle of Seddonism, might grow into a stronger feeling- of oppo- | sition than it has already done, which is not inconsiderable. But I think that the Premier should play the bold card of meeting Parliament in a short session with a fair and square statement of the position of the country— financial and otherwise—and trusting to the loyalty of the majority of the people to his party, go as the honored and trusted first citizen of this not unimportant portion of her Majesty's domains.

X X X. The majority of Britishers admire boldness of spirit—pluck, as it is called—and I am sure that no more harm would be done to the interests of his party by the Premier going to take his place amongst the dignatories of the Empire thau would ensue by his not going, more particularly if people thought—as they most certainly will think—that his not going has something to do with the state of the country's affairs. The illness of Mr McKenzie should not be sufficient to do with the state of the country's affairs. The illness of Mr McKenzie should not be sufficient reasou to proj vent his going, for surely in a party numbering as many followers as his does, there are mere than two men capable of taking the lead and carrying on the affairs of the country in a satisfactory manner, for not only six months, but six years if need be. The personal feeling of the Premier in this matter, while it should not be ignored, should not be allowed to stand in the way of this country . being represented at the most august function of the century—a function which is, and is likely to remain, unique in human history.

oountrj, where the road to power is open totdl classes, no one can hope to succeed unless he possesses abilities above the average, and though our Premier may not possess all the culture and'refinement which we look for amongst the citizens of the old countries,* yet I am sure that the same indomitable will and robust commonsense which has enabled him to dominate the counsels of this countrj for so long, will carry him successfully through any duties which may devolve upon him during the jubilee celebrations in which he is expected to take part. Therefore, it is to be hoped that he will put aside all f earsomeness, and resolve to go, and, like Caesar, he may be able to write, " V*ni Vidi, Vici."

X X X But while anxious tkat th« Premier should be present at the jubilee celebrations, I do not think it is at all necessary that he should be accompanied by samples of our population in the shape of a body of men raised to defend us in time of war. Why not take also samples of our own make of parsons, school teachers, aye, and boy's and girls too ? But it should be taken as granted that what our fellows in the Old Country are in respect to selfdefence and capability of learning the art of war, such are we. We are chips off the old block, and as New South Wales showed during the Soudan campaign, when the necessity arises we will be lacking neither in men nor means of defence. But to cart a hundred men round the world just to show that we are capable of learning drill and such like seems to me very much like folly. It might be allowable for one colony to do so, but for each Premier to reckon that he must be attended by a corps of men-at-arms is an unnecessary tax on our faith in their wisdom. This criticism does not, of course, apply to a rifle, cricket, or athletic team going Home to compete with their compeers of the Empire in all manly exercises. These may be productive of much good and should be encouraged, but in matters of drill, &c, it goes without saying that the colonial troops must suffer in comparison with the regulars of an army so famous as is that of England. And even were this not the case there is nothing to be gained by sending Home samples of our war material.