PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9254, 5 June 1908, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

« FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) THE FRUIT TRADE. Tho ready reply to these- complaints ! is that it has already been admitted on behalf of New South Wales that disease is so prevalent that it is almost impossible to gather fruit which is not within a mile of infection, and that fruit may be apparently perfectly clean when it leaves Australia and yet be found subsequently, when too late, to harbour disease. As to the threat of " impossible guarantees," the Sydney " Herald " appears to have quiteoverlooked the fact that New South Wales at the present time absolutely prohibits the landing of New -Zealand potatoes in that State because of the outbreak of disease among our c7 - ops a year or two ago. — ''New Zealand Times." ARBITRARY ARBITR ATION. The whole process of saddling the employer with the collection of moneys due by the labourer seems to us objectionable and likely to breed between employer and labourer a new and continual irritation. Since many labourers will obstinately evade payment in the future as in the past, the Labour Department will have to spy and intrude frequently if the process is to be made efficient. We see no need, of such a departure- from the ordinary procedure to enforce a civil verdict of which tho Cabinet is now apparently desirous of shirking the responsibility. Doubtless the Blackball miner who permits his chairs and tables to be seized by a bailiff rather than pay out of average wages of 15s per day one day's wages or jess as his share of the Union fine, will not be likely to vote for the Government, but -after-alLis, the law to bo administered with an eye to the votes it can. bring to administrators? — "Evening Post." THE ELECTORAL LAW. As a matter of fact there is no genuine demand on the part of the public for the amendment of the present method of voting and of counting the votes. It is a system which has obtained in Great Britain and in most of tlie British colonies practically since the establishment of representative institutions, and it has never given any serious ground for complaint. It is recognised that under it a very fair representation of the feeling of the electors is ensured, and it is very doubtful indeed whether the adoption of either the absolute majoritj' system, as favoured by Mr M'Nab, or the second ballot system, as favoured by Sir Joseph Ward, would produce any appreciable alteration in the results of the elections as ascertained under existing conditions. — " Otago Daily Times." THE TWO HOLIDAYS. It is well for our British harmony that there should be an Empire Day kept by all the self-governing States as a popular celebration of their political freedom and their Imperial unity, and it is unwise to sink the lesser in the greater, to set the thought of an individual Prince, however worthy, above a great national and patriotic sentitr.ent, which by long and exceptional process became intimately associated with and finally incorporated with the old " Queen's Birthday." With all respect to the honoured but not inviolable custom of observing as a public holiday the birthday of the heir-appar-ent, which, in the natural order of events, becomes the birthday of the reigning sovereign, we would urge tho adoption of Empire Day as a national holiday, but if this is not the feeling ot the public, and the inclination, of the Government, then let us unite in observing June 3. — " New Zealand Herald. 1 ' THE KNIGHT COMMANDER. It is laid down by the generally accepted authorities that a belligerent must prove his claim to neutral p-o---perty before a properly , constituted Court, and that if he cannot secure its trial and condemnation " the continued custody of it by the belligerent is unlawful, and its destruction an outrage." In defending the destruction of tho Knight Commander Russia is thus running counter to the practically unanimous public opinion of the civilised world, and it is much to be regretted that she should still refuse to compensate the owners of the vessel or to submit the whole case to an independent Court of arbitrators. But the whole episode us movst instructive, as showing the immense importance to Britain of a clear understanding about the rights of neutral commerce, and tho necessity for defending her commercial interests against the aggression of powers prepared to ignore the clearest utterance of international public morality whenever it suits their convenience.--" Auckland "Star." j