PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 18 July 1924, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. SINGAPORE AGAIN. It is evident that Britain s Labour i Government, although it made up its j mind some time ago concerning the ; Singapore base, is losing the courage of . that- opinion. Lord Haldane has an- • nounced that the Government is pre- j pared to stand or fall by—not its de- I cision to leave Singapore undeveloped • as a base for capital ships, but some- ] thing not quite so definite —a foreign, i policy that in general aims at making ‘ the world better. A noble aim, and, in party politics, a comfortably safe one 1 Who with clear conscience could vote against making the world better r But, so far from makir«g Singapore any longer a test question, the Government is not standing still—with its back against the wall, it is to be understood. —but exploring the situation.—“ New Zealand Herald,” Auckland. the London Conference. Although it is hardly conceivable that the Inter-Allied Conference assembled in London to examine the Dawes report and seek an acceptable solution of the protracted impasse in connection with the payment of reparations and the readjustment of Interallied indebtedness, must fail if the United States does not actively participate, the viewpoint discussed by Mr Noyes, former United States Rhineland Commissioner, in a letter to General Dawes, is worthy of the earnest consideration of the American people. Mr Noyes predicts the doom of the Dawes report and a continued deadlock between France and Germany unless the represents.tieve of the United Sc-ates at the London Inter-Allied Conference is instructed by the Government to inform France that the United States desires - 0 . v. . .id renounce her independent policy in the Ruhr.— 1 “ Timaru Herald.” SENSATIONAL ATI!LETICS. Wherever athletics are'discussed men have been expressing wonder at tne Olympic record of Nurmi, the Finnish champion. Nurmi is evidently a freax in a community rich in long-ciistance runners. He is one ci those men to be found in every walk of life who have a staying power so much above the average as to be marvelled at by ordinary persons. Sometimes this capacity goes with a physique that is unimpressive to the eye, though a doctor might be able to point cut that the equipment, of lung and heart power is quite exceptional. Nurmi, it is worth noting, won a longdistance event at the last Olympiad, lour 3-ears ago. There have been several sensational long distance contests in the twenty-five years of modern Olympic history, but perhaps nothing so remarkable as the way in which N unr.i outdistanced the world’s best runners in this year’s 10.000 metres race, run in sweltering heat.—“ Star,” Auckland. FADING MEMORIES. In Britain, men who had been execrated for failure to show sufficient enthusiasm for a victorious peace now r:t in Parliament. In some instances they hold high Cabinet rank. France has made a move which is even more significant. Despite violent opposition the Chamber of Deputies has made 1 enough progress with an Amnesty Bill to pass the portion rehabilitating M. Caillaux and M. Malvy. Tnose two names have fallen far out of sight except in France, where each has been a. factor, even if a passive factor, in politics for many months past. It was long ago predicted that it the parties cf the Left proved successful at the polls against. M. Poincare and his Bloc National, the} r would speedily grant an amnesty to both these men. The prediction has not had long to wait for fulfilment. Yet it seems a very little while since both were held up to universal execration as traitors to France and the Allied cause.—“ New Zealand Herald,” Auckland. PLAYING OUT THE FARCE. The latest division in the House of Representativos suggests that a position of stalemate has developed. It does not prove that forty-two members are in favour of the present Government t but that forty-two are opposed to an alliance of the two Opposition elements in Parliament succeeding Mr Massey on the Treasury Benches. There ure probably a doise:- or fifteen Reformers who have little more time for the Prime Minister than they have for _Mr Wilford, but this little counts for sufficient to give Mr Massey all the support lie requires. It was just possible that the member for Timaru might have decided to throw in his full weight against a Government he believes to be unsatisfactory, but apparently the alternative is even less satisfactory to a man who, since the rupture, obtained a title to independence from his constituents. Men of moderate opinion but progressive instincts must long have abandoned hope of anything useful developing from Parliament as at present composed. Their one hope is in a general clean up when election time conies.—“ Southland News.” SHIPPING AND COAL. Britain's dependence on her merchant marine makes her position as a shipowner in the world vitally important, and the figures just published by Lloyd's Register direct attention to some significant movements. There has been a decrease in the world’s tonnage during the last twelve months, due largely to vessels being broken up, because it was net possible to work them profitably, and of this diminution Britain accounts for one-fourth. Her position as the greatest sea-carrying nation in the world is not seriously challenged, but it is noticeable that in comparison with her rivals, her margin * of superiority is not nearly as great as it was in the pre-war days. The immense rise in American tonnage 13 more apparent than real. Tn 1914 the United State total of 1,837,000 tons was largely active; to-day the active figure is probably not more than 4,000,000 tons, allowing the Americans a liberal estimate.—“ Southland Times.” THE DEBATE ENDED. The Address-in-Reply debate has ended. It began on July 2, and had lasted a fortnight. Mr Wilford’s amendment of no confidence was moved on July 3. Some faint gratitude may be felt towards Mr Holland tor not moving another motion of no confidence on his own party’s account, which might have prolonged it still further. If the House is to do all the work which usually is required of a middle session it is time now that it got on to serious business. Mr Massey has promised that tho Financial Statement will be brought down earlier than usual ■ this year—perhaps at the beginning.*: r«yt week. Last year, when the session began a fortnight earlier than usual, it appeared on July 3. The year before that it was produced on August 15. Considering thaifc the financial year ends 011 March 31, the earliest- date on which it can be presented will nnf be ... so on “Dunedi