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Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 4

of 'Rtjssin. "First Bulgaria cnm<?i completely under the Ton tonic spell aus kin-, is now in proems of committing national suicide with a lack of i'oivj thought that is truly iivigic. Then i (ireeco lias dropped Iter ablest statesmen and is giving oar to the alluring hut deceptive intrigues of the Cent ml Powers. But with events moving with great rapidity in the Balkans she cannot procrastinate lor long. Bulgaria has returned a. negative answer to Russia and has despatched an ultimatum (o Serbia. Grceco must therefore decide, and decide quickly. Perhaps she k waiting on Rumania to move, but that country, like other Balkan States, appears to have* an unlimited capacity for bargaining. Her position is l>y no means welt defined. The whole situation is pregnant with big events and we should nob have to wait long tor the final solution of a very complicated problem in diplomacy. At Pahiatua recently the Rev F. Benuett, a Maori clergyman, made a plea for limitation in the number oi Maori recruits accepted for active service. To a member of Parliament the j plea lias conveyed the idea that the speaker had set out to discourage recruiting, but anyone knowing the Rev F. Bennett will .scout the suggestion. The politician and the Native clergyman approach the problem from opposite sides. One is naturally anxitfus that the Dominion should do its utmost in this crisis. The other is equally patriotic, but he kuows what lies ahead, and is anxious to do his best for his race. In Taranaki, and later at Rotorua, the Rev F. Bennett has worked for years for the benefit of his own people, and he has accomplished much. He knows that the race is a dying race ; that it must ultimately be absorbed in tho whito race; and he is working, as are many other Maori leaders, to ensure that the amalgamation of the two people siia.ll be'on the highest and not on the loftest plane. This is no little problem, and. considering it carefully, one can realise the j feeling of these earnest workers at the j thought of losing in a year or two the j pick of the young Maori people. And we are suro that Mr Bennett, knowing as he does tho difficulties that confront his people as a people, felt it his duty to suggest a limitation of numbers as applied to the Maori contingent. It implied no lack of patriotism, but really was a plea that the polioy of tho day should not bo carried to an extent where it might inflict en irreparable injury on the Maori race. The Maoris have done good work in tho field, and many unable to go have assisted the various funds with true Native generosity. The Minister of Defence, by accepting the services of young men from Jsfuie and Rarotonga, has improved the outlook considerably by enlarging the recruiting area, and many pakehas will find it in their hearts to hop© that tho members of tlio Native contingent will return in force better fitted to serve their own people and the Dominion, because they answered a call to duty in these times of national stress. The Cost of Living Bill is the National Cabinet's answer to the insistent demands of the House and of the country that something should be done* to prevent the exploitation of the people. If the measure is to be discussed out its merits then the idea of closing the session to-morrow must bo abandoned. This is an important Bill and it should bo carefully considered. At first glance it is difficult to see how the government's proposal oan succeed. A board is to be established to consider '' any complaint with regard to excegsivo prices and any other matter affecting the trade, industries and commerce of the country." Mr Massey will preside over the board and it will include two members appointed by the Governor. Mr Massey is a very busy man these days and the task of combating the increase in the cost of living is no little one. It will need constant study, probably make necessary much travelling anc! altogether make dd- j mands upon the time of the Prime I Minister in excess of the time he is ! able to afford. And, if the work of j the proposed board must wait upon the j conveili&nce of the Prime Minister, j then its usefulness will be impaired. I No member of the Cabinet to-day, let alone the Prime Minister, could find the time necessary to do this work thoroughly. Much of a detailed and highly technical nature must be studied by the board, and, as it will be in the nature of a court, although not possessed of the powers of a court, great care and deliberation must be exercised bv its members. Tho board consist of experts solely. If the membership is to be strictly limited to three—j and we think that number reasonable—i then there is room for art economist, a j business inan and a man versed in the I law. We see no reason why any politician should hold a seat on the board, and if such a course is thought desirable then tho political member should 1 be free to devote practically all his time and attention to the work. The Royal Commission appointed to consider the cost of living proved practically useless. Its methods were too cumbersome. Now it is proposed that the Board of Trade should report to the Governor upon any complaint. This can only spell delay and that is exactly what the country wants to avoid. The solution of the difficulty is to give the proposed hoard more power. The country does not want a board just to study these problems. It wants some individual or board armed with power to deal with them.