TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11000, 12 February 1914, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

"NO MONEY FOR WAR."

Tho purchase of a Brazilian Dreadnought by Turkey with money borrowed m Franco at an extravagant rate of interest, while the salaries of the unfortunate Turkish officials are left four months in arrears, is a danger signal which merits the attention of the British said French Governments (says the '' Daily Mail"). The '' Temps'' has appealed to Mr Lloyd George and C. Caiilaux to close the British and French money markets to Turkish loans, the object of which is evidently to finance an attack upon Greece. "No money for war" should be their order, and with the force of public opinion behind them we cannot doubt that it would be obeyed. This is 'an opportunity for "dollar diplomacy " to speak with no hesitating voice. THE BLACK MENACE.

The temper of the average. New Zeaknder is strongly against the industrial and social complications whicli may be inseparable from the admission into New Zealand, says the Wellington "Post," of considerable numbers of Indians or other Asiatics. The Government will not have to wait long for evidence of that mood., and therefore the Premier should hasten.to make preparations for a needed amendment of the law. Ministers admitted during last session that action was necessary, but nothing was done. The Imperial authorities may exert all possible influence- to have drastic proposals modified, but it. is not likely that they will prevent this country from having a real '' White New Zealand " policy, in place of the present defective 6cheme, which can be a mere mockery of a protective measure.

BRICKS AND BREAD. The success of State enterprises in Now South Wales formed the subject of comment by Mr W. A. Hoi man. Premier of the State, whilst in Auckland (Kays the "Herald.") "The State makes all the bricks it requires for its own works at a cost of 80s pel' 1000," he said, "whereas, before Ave entered into the business tAVo years ago. avg Avere paying no less than 4os per'looo. We'have now como to tho stage when the entire Government demand for bricks can be met, and are in a position to sell tho surplus. As the business grows, Ave are bound to be able to reduce the cost to below 30s per 1000." Mr Hohnau added that the State had its OAVn blue metal quarries, its lime quarry and cement Avorks, nnd its .-joinery works, Avhile it had just decided to enter the bakery business. Alt those businesses were started for the purpose of supplying the Government needs alone, but as these needs were overtaken the surplus would be eold.

LLOYD GEORGE'S METHOD. Mr Lloyd George's method of preparing his speeches does not differ very materially from that which he pursued in the earliest days of his Parliamentary career. It was then his habit to make very full notes of the speech he was to deliver in the House or on the platform, but he did not use these notes when it came, to the actual delivery of the speech: fliey were then discarded, and a few lines scribbled on some scraps of paper perhaps on the back of nn envelope, were enough to serve him. Nowadays, when he has ph.r.ned fully the general scheme and the main heads of -an important- speech, he dictates it to a typist. Then he rend':) through, the typewritten copy nii.i alters or amplifies it. Finally, lie cuxlenses it into a short note, consisting only of the cl-f«u-esl: " head lines,'' for up* on the platform or in the House of Commons, as the case may he. and in the end it has been observed, he delivers the speech in almost exactly the form, of his first; complete draft. LEAGUE OF POLITENESS. In New York the first steps have been taken to form what is called n "League of Politeness." which will have ramifications throughout the country, ft is recognised that American servants, tram conductors and even a large section of the general public are

somewhat lacking in the externals of courtesy, judged from the European standpoint, though it must bo admit tod that thore is a wealth of trno politeness; in the United States unexcelled h.v countries of older civilisations (writok a Mow York correspondent). The new league does not seek to make waiters, tram conductors, attendants in subway trams, and policemen servile, Init t<> encourage them to speech and actions in their relations with the. public mnio consistent with tins standards of good breeding. Members of the league will wear a badge and are expected to show ;\. good example in everything relating to acts of public and private, courtesy. Little books, on etiquette and posters with hints on courtesy will he distributed broadcast, A special object of tho league will be to discuss tho practice of spitting on the pavement and of gum-chewing, the latter a vice, which tends rather to increase than to decrease, especially among shop girls and typists. According to the principles of tho League of Politeness it is just as bad manners for men to chew gum and distort their faces in the twopenny tube of New York i\K for a lady to'smoke cigarettes in a tramcar. PREFERS TfiE AIM, A- Whangarci resident who was conversing in Auckland with Hammond, the aviator, tells rather a good yarn about the man. They were' watching some motorists cutting out high speeds on the track at Alexandra Park, who Hammond remarked that he would not take on racing for £IOOO a ride. " Give me up above, where you cannot hit anything," continued the aviator. "What about the ground?" queried his companion. " Oh, no fear of that; and even if I did it would only he once, and bad luck at that," cheerfully concluded the man whose feats have made- Aucklanders stand open-mouthed and stiff-necked.

RHODES AND RADIUM. Reference to the experiments for the treatment of cancer by the application of radium was made by the Hon ft. Heaton Rhodes (Minister for Public Health) at the inaugural meeting of the Australasian Medical Congress. Tho Minister said that the time might come when it would be necessary for tho State to initiate a radium institute, for the treatment of cancer. However, tho development of the research had hardly progressed far enough at present to warrant New Zealand entering into experiments in research on anything like an extensive scale. The dominion must be guided by the experiments of older and wealthier countries;. "But," re*marked the Minister. " once they are past the experimental stage, and what proves a cure has been discovered, it will be our duty to procure that benefit for the people of this country."

AN ANOMALOUS POSITION. Says a Westrolian paper:—Mr Richard Denis Meagher, now Speaker of the Legislative Council of Now South Wales, is climbing to high places in public life. A telegram states that it is understood that no is to be elected next president of tho Political Labour Conference. That is right enough, but Mr Meagher's elevation recently to the, Speakership is somewhat surprising. Of course, ho may have honestly atoned for bis early faults, but still he rests in an extremely anomalous position. As Speaker he is the first commoner in the State, and the guardian of all the honour, dignity and privileges of Parliament, and as such should be regarded as a man of unimpeachable integrity. ' However, the Barristers' Board does not apparently think so, for it has repeatedly declined to readmit him to the brotherhood, and still refuses to do so. Surely Mr Meagher is good enough to be permitted to defend a burglar or a drunk in a conr.fc of justice? If he isn't, the standard of honour among barristers must be exceedingly high, or that of Parliament must be abnormally low. Which is it?

KEEPING THE CRADLES FULL. In the course of his speech in acknowledging the presentation made to him last night by. the members of the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Chtb, Mr George Harris referred to an important matter—tho necessity for population in a young and growing country. Mr Harris recalled to the members of the club a social evening held some years ago when he addressed the boys of the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club on the same subject. "Every child in the country.''' Mr Harris went on to say, "is worth a lot, and every child born will become either a swimmer or an athlete of some description. Therefore I say again, though I remember that on the previous occasion there was some jeering at my remarks, that a large family is a thing that, every man that marries should go in for—T don't, caro who he is. He does the best for his country, and he assists, though at his own expense, and at a very large expense, to keep tho country growing and continuing in prosperity. If it had not been for the large families in Canterbury you would not see much of Banks Peninsula. I feel very strongly on this point, and I hope'you 'will bear with me in what I say. On February 13, 18S9, I was married, and a. week later another citizen of Christchurch was married; he has had twenty children and I have had eleven—that is thirtyone- between the two of us."