WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 13, 5 December 1914, Page 3

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

SO long as the British Empire maintains its present integrity, and so. long aa-Australia continues a loyal portion of that Empire, so long, will a White Australia remain a mere dream—more poetical than practical. The British Empire is a parti-coloured Empire—more Black, Brown, and, Yellow than White. The Imperial White cannot maintain and endure without the support of the dependent Black, Brown, and Yellow.— Sydney "Truth."

We can imagine what would be the feelings of Robert Louis Stevenson, if he could return, to. know that the Union Jack now floats over the place that he made his home. How splendidly he would have told the story. We are glad for several reasons that it has fallen to a Colonial force to do' this particular piece of work. As we have already seen, it has allayed, any anxiety that America has felt as to Japan's activity in the Pacific.— Westminster "Gazette."

Maoriland, which established no local sea force on the ground that anything of the sort would be contrary to its imperial traditions, admits reluctantly that the existence of the Australian squadron, even if it wasn't a very big one, probably saved Auckland and Wellington from plunder or destruction. Maoriland is raising troops, but being the same old thriftless, easy-going place, it has decided that a wartax in unnecessary, and that it is ondy needful to float an extra loan and charge the bill for the patriotism to the infant.—Sydney "Bulletin."

The wave of calumny against Sir Joseph Ward, which nearly overflowed the country at last election, has expended itself, and he stands in New Zealand ,to-day head and shoulders aboA*e the rival leader, Mr Massey. We believe that at the coming election he will be returned again to power by a substantial majority. — Ohristchurch "Spectator."

Judging by the way the war is wolfing up the world's accumulated wealth, it is extremely doubtful whether heavily borrowing countries like the Dominions will be accommodated with money in London at all, after the Imperially guaranteed loan is used up.—Christchur-ch "Sun.'

The First Lord of the Admiralty once observed that "No greater insight into political and strategical points has ever been shown by a community unversed in military matters than was exhibited by New Zealand when she gave this ship to the Empire. — Gisborne "Herald."

The great atrocity is the war itseflf, which, by .- simply existing causes a sum of suffering that makes incidental individual brutalities seem trivial. War probably never has been or ever will be waged without them, and troops that occupy an enemy.? soil will, of course, be most prone to them. A realisation of this fact has probably led the Kaiser to a step which is calculated to inflict the greatest pains on the invader for his trouble. —Tauranga "Times."

When all is said and! done, the conclusive battle will be decided,, not by the artillery, but by the infantry . —Christchurch ' -'Sun.''