Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XIII, 31 March 1900, Page 585

Topics of the Week.

AT LOGGERHEADS WITH OCR NEIGHBOUR. Is it possible that Mr Seddon really meant to pick a quarrel with Australia over that precious Federation Bill of theirs? It looks very much as if he did. For surely he could not have taken a surer method to call down on this little colony the anger of the great Austral Continent than by daring to lay a finger on that measure. The Federalists are inordinately proud of their Bill, so much so. indeed, that, as have seen when the Crown law officers took exception to certain clauses in it and spoke of amendment-, the delegates from Australia were up in arms. It would have been offering an indignity to the Australian nation, whose vast brain conceived the thing, to suppose that it could be altered for the better; and the delegates had reacned London in the full expectation and determination that the examination of the Bill by the Imperial officers would be but a formal affair. The Home authorities recognised the position in a moment, and as it would never do to be on anything but the best of terms with loyal Australia just at this moment, they have been careful to accede to the wishes of the delegates to an extraordinary degree. The scruples of the law officers overcome, the course of the measure seemed clear. What must have been the surprise of the delegates then, when, from a totally unexpected quarter, came the voice of dissent and protest, x can only compare it to the consternation of a bridegroom at the altar when, in answer to the priest's question whether anyone forbids the ceremony, there comes from the back of the church, like a thunderbolt from the blue, a stentorian “I do.” And that in this case the objection should come from their little peaceful neighbour New Zealand! I can fancy the delegates were simply aghast. Their amazement was not long in being communicated to Australia, and now threatens to arouse a strong anti-New Zealand spirit there. We are accused of being mean and adopting a dog-in-the-mar.-ger policy, and so forth. I confess I don't like the aspect of the situation at all. It would be exceedingly disagreeable if we quarrelled with Australia. Just imagine how lonely we would be here in the Pacific if the Continent deliberately cut us. There is no saying what the Australians might not do if once thoroughly incensed against us. They might forbid us their country, or treat us so distantly and rudely when we went there that we could take no pleasure in the delights of Sydney and Melbourne. I certainly cannot take pleasure in the prospect of our being regarded as the Boers of the Pacific, which we probably shall be if we do not patch up our quarrel with the Australians. Mr Reeves’ objections to the measure are urged in our interests, no doubt. He fears that Australia Federa will be none too well disposed towards outside states which did not join the Federation when they were first asked, and he wants provision made against our being badly treated. But, alas! while he may succeed in securing his object, what may he not be laying up for us in the shape of contumely and ostracism for years to come by his interference with the Commonwealth Bill.

® ® ® THE PRO-BOER SPIRIT. It fares ill with the Boer sympathiser here if he does not carefully conceal his sentiments. Even a word spoken in the interests of bare justice may lay a man open to the charge of being pro-Boer, and once "suspect” in some circles is as good as condemned. The crowd eannot endure fine distinctions. They don’t believe in the man who affects to see two sides of a question. He has no right to see anything but one, that is their side, and if he persists, like Galileo, in asserting a consciousness which others do not feel, then he is certain to share the fate of that ancient savant. Every day one conies across instances of the summary punishment of alleged proBoers by the indignant man in the street. One man, a passenger on board a steamer at Lyttelton, giving vent to pro-Boer sympathies the other day, was promptly knocked down and slung ashore by the derrick, losing his passage and his dignity together. An-

other individual at the Bluff, having developed symptoms of Boerism, was requested by his fellow employees to put on his coat and begone, advice which he thought best to follow. In Auckland a country resident was fined a pound and costs for using language —pro-Boer language—calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. And the master of a public school near Christchurch has been reprimanded by the Board of Education for endeavouring to prejudice the children against the British in connection with the present war. To these examples might be added many others of a similar character. The abundance of instances would at first suggest that New Zealand is the abode of innumerable Boer sympathisers, if not the Australasian headquarters of the Afrikander Bond. Some years ago it was rumoured that the Anarchists, seeking peace and seclusion for the preparation of their playful schemes, had decided to make this colony their place of abode; and for a time some nervous people went in terror of secret mines below and bombs above. The apprehension in regard to this being the headquarters of a Boer league is as unfounded as that cherished respecting the Anarchists. It is not that the Boers have more friends here than elsewhere, but that we New Zealanders are more pronounced in our loyalty-. We have sharp noses for anything anti-British, have we Britons of the South, and are quick to resent the least exhibition of disloyalty. I am afraid indeed that our zeal often outruns our discretion, and that we become somewhat tyrannical in exercising a power to suppress the legitimate expression of opinion where we have no right to do so. No doubt many who have had to suffer for their alleged Boerism were judicially minded individuals, who desired to give even the devil his due. But that sort of justice has never been popular, as witness the indelible black in which the Prince of Darkness is invariably painted. And even Britons, boast as they please of their sense, of justice, and, as a rule, more deeply influenced by considerations of justice than most races, are often grossly prejudiced.

A TEMPERANCE VICTORY. The victory of the temperance party in Auckland city with regard to early closing is more complete and decisive than even their most optimistic friends and supporters could have dared to anticipate. Every one of the five seats has been gained by a man pledged irrevocably to the ten o’clock closing scheme, so that a reversion to the old closing hour is assured. In the last number of the “Graphic” I remarked that I imagined ten o’clock closing would cause st certain amount of inconvenience, but that if it were the will of the people their decree should be loyally accepted, and the law strictly enforced. It is to be trusted every thinking "moderate” will lend his earnest endeavour and hearty co-operation to this end. No doubt the proper authorities will do their utmost to prevent any relapse into the old farcical arrangements, whereby ten o’clock closing meant “any time” closing. But the authorities, or their understrappers the police, cannot do everything unless helped by the really moderate man and the better class of hotelkeepers,. An unfair choice is often thrust on the hotelkeeper by thoughtless patrons. The topers and boosers he rids himself of without difficulty. He will not, indeed, allow “hard eases” or “soakers” into his bars, knowing that such nuisances keep out more custom than they bring in. It is the more or less moderate, genial, hospitable soul who is the chief danger in the path of the publican, and who will perhaps cause some trouble in his reduction to order. Though not given to real intemper, anee, or at all events intoxication, this individual is none the less an admirable customer, one who besides puncturing business hours with adjournments for refreshments, may frequently patronise his favourite house of call for luneh or dinner. It is this man—not the soaker, or the man on the spree—who is responsible for laxity of the law and the temptation and fall of publicans. He probably considers himself a privileged person. He will make a demand for a drink after ten, and the unfortunate landlord, with the full knowledge that

there are unscrupulous hotels. must either run the chance of sepdiqga good customer elsewhere, or breaking the law in his favour. All that is really needed is solid co-operation fin the part of hotelkeepers, and stringent watchfulness on the part of the police. If it once is made plain that no man, however good a customer, however influential a client, can possibly repay the risk of law breaking, ten o'clock closing will be as strictly observed as eleven is now. As 1 l last week, theatre-goers may suffer some inconvenience, but on the whole, if one conies to think of it, very few people absolutely do want a drink nfter the theatre, and those who do can either wait till they get home, or are really better without it. Must people after the theatre are too occupied in getting home to think if the hotels are open or not. Those who do remain, remain to drink, and they will probably find themselves better in mind, head, and pocket for the enforced abstinence. Ten o’clock is, as I have stated, to my idea a somewhat early hour to stop the sale of alcoholic refreshment, but it is the will of the people, and it has undoubtedly its good points. Working men. young fellows in offices, etc., whose duties take them early afield, will be all the better for being packed off home an hour earlier from their chat, their cards, or their billiards. In the great majority of eases none of these enjoyments are really carried to excess under the present rule. The colonial youth may spend an hour or so chatting or playing a game in an hotel, but he rarely if ever drinks heavily. Still, he stops out perhaps later than is advisable, with work to be done, so in his case early closing will probably be for good. In any case, to once more emphasise the matter by repetition, it is the desire of the people, and therefore it is the duty of everyone of us—whatever our own opinions may be—to see that the law is properly carried out.

® ® ® HOLIDAY LAND. To an unprejudiced mind, it is perhaps not altogether surprising that ;v certain number of business and professional men in this colony, are beginning to show signs of restiveness over the matter of extra public holidays. It would be a task both unwise and ungrateful to assail the national custom and the national taste of this colony in proclaiming bank and public holidays for any or every event of importance, or unimportance, from a British victory to a local football match or race meeting. But it is just as well to note that rightly or wrongly, justly or unjustly, there is a growing tendency to reaction in certain quarters. Strangers too seem to form the very oddest idea of our habits in this respect. It was only the other day the writer received a call from a mystified traveller from busier quarters of the globe. He had the fortune to reach the Wellington wharf on the morning-, and at the moment that the news of the relief of Ladysmith was announced. It will be remembered that the lumpers forthwith flung their burdens on the wharf and departed, and hiring express waggons to patrol the town, spent a most praiseworthy day in the outpouring of patriotic songs and sentiments, and the consumption of beer. Shops were also shut at noon, and employers usually austere and grave, gave largesse to their clerks and hade them be off, and drink deep the honour of Lord Roberts and his victory. -The emotions of thes tranger were most profoundly stirred. Here was a land overflowing indeed with loyalty, a glorious land where selfish sordid desire of gain was not for a moment allowed to interfere with the pleasure of the populace. What mattered the inconvenience of having one’s heavy luggage left undelivered. It would be a curmudgeon indeed who would grudge expressmen their holiday on such an occasion, and after all a shirt could always be purchased. A perambulation of several miles of streets proving this last assumption to be a delusion, the stranger still smiled approval. "Not one mercer so mean as to sell a shirt on such a day; not even a barber to shave one either.” he murmured with enthusiasm, as he turned, somewhat footsore into the hotel. “What,” he said, “is easier than to get a shirt washed after all.” It appeared that as a fact almost anything else would have been easier. Not a laundry in the place would do a job on such a day. "Brave girls! Staunch Chinamen ! ! ” murmured the admiring stranger, but lie packed his hand-bag somewhat thoughtfully as he set out northwards. Breaking the journey at Wanganui he found banks, public offices, mid shops observing close holiday on account of

the-races. Going to New Plymouth and Up to Auckland, he found a public holiday for swimming races at the one, and for the departure of the Contingent at the other, and finally left for ’Frisco firmly convinced, that as a holiday land. New Zealand was unexcelled in the world. So, it unquestionably is, but so far as our banks are concerned at any rate,lcannot help thinking the ostentatious announcement that Race Day causes the stoppage of business, is scarcely, well shall I say—discreet. That banks arc doing their best for the interests of their shareholders and the morals of their clerks, in making a virtue of race going, is naturally incontestable! But some people have such silly old fashioned ideas on this subject, that I fancy some reason of equal importance might be arranged for, and anncu.iced. A domestic event of interest and delicacy on the part of the bank’s tauby cat, with an added bulletin that all were doing as well as could be expected, would meet the case, and if cats were found after trial not prolific enough for the necessities of a New Zealand Bank's holidays, guinea pig.: might be kept for the purpose. To drop fooling, however, there really does appear to be a good deal of discontent over the number of holidays recently granted to public offices, and considerable loss and inconvenience has been felt in certain quarters. A correspondent bitterly complains of the closing of the Deeds Office on the licensing election day, and it is certainly rather hard to see how the reason lor site ■h a ] iroceeding- could be justified. Holidays are all very well, but for some time past even the most ardent holiday makers have felt that with one thing- and another we are prone to overdo the extra holiday business ii, New Zealand.

TRAVELLING MEN AND TRAVELLING MANNERS. It is a subject, of every day remark that the world is after all a very small place. One is constantly meeting’ the very last person in the world one expected to see. in the least possible of places, and is still more perpetually finding- out that a chance fellow passenger in a bus or tram on one side of the globe is the best friend of some far distant and ungetatable friend whom we met in yet another improbable locality. Whenever we make one of these discoveries we renew the remark about the world being a very small place. We might as a fact go further by observing that there are very few people in the world eft her. It is amazing- really if one comes to take observations and think of it how extremely few types there are in the great human family. The fact is brought more clearly before us when travelling, because a convenient fragment of human nature is then so to say broken oft* for us, a fragment in which almost every component part of the whole is represented. and which is placed before us in a manner and under circumstances peculiarly favourable to observation and analysis.

As a general rule men and women show themselves in their true colours when travelling as on no other occasions. Quite half the various and varying restraints wh*ch society of all grades puts on itself for the easier reduction of friction in everyday life are disregarded or dropped from the moment a journey of any sort whatever is commenced. The natural instincts at once rise to the surface and are allowed an ungoverned play wh’ch would simply amaze one on other occasion We allow ourselves and accept in others a license which’obtains on no other occasion. You will notice this from the moment you enter the railway station or step up the gangway to your ship. Usually in life we take some trouble to disguise our natural selfishness. In travelling we use all possible means to advertise if. Every fellow traveller is for Ihe nonce an enemy, and our endeavour to get the best of him or her is so op<*n and is so frankly returned that pari of the offensiveness of the whole thing is lessened. The people we meet are always the same, as has been remarked. They may be different imlivhluals but their personality is exactly the same on every occasion. Let. us take railway travelling first. Have you ever got into a carriage where there was not the man who covers a whole Aeries of seats with .vlonks, sticks, etc., etc., as if for a large party, and stares with insolent, self-satisfaction at the unfortunates (usually ladies) who vainly wander round in search for seats,

nn<l finally depart to be outrageously ■squashed in au overcrowded carriage, while he when once the train has started calmly dears the unused seats anil uses them as a sofa. Such behaviour under ordinary circumstances woidd arouse our violent indignation. When travelling we not only tolerate its selfishness in others, but imitate it to a greater or less extent ourselves. Then the person too with the multiplicity of parcels and packages with which she overcrowds the carriages. Have you ever started on a journey when she was left behind? The man who talks at the carriage and looks around for admiration of his lies, or for laughter at his stale anecdotes, is there a day in the week when he is not bound for your destination? The argumentative man, the well-informed man, the grumpy man, the nincompoop, and the unmitigated cad. does one not always meet them, and they do not always say and do precisely the same things and betray their natural characteristics in identically the same manner? And on ship board. Have you ever been a voyage without the genial gent who comes aboard drunk and remains so consistently till he is disembarked? Was ever a voyage made without the man—detestable personage—who declares that sea sickness is all nonsense, or with the still more offensive person who has a certain and incredibly nasty cure for the same, which always fails and creates thoughts of manslaughter iu the bosoms of his victims? The man who has a perpetual grievance; the distressingly active party who always wants to be doing something, and the very dreadful grass widow who carries on so scandalously as to be universally tabooed by the rest of her sex on board? Have you ever been a longish trip without these and half a dozen other well-known personalities? Most certainly I never have. Have you ever noticed, too. how travelling begets a desire for confidential communications usually of a domestic nature, which the majority find it utterly unable to stand against? You will remark invariably that half the people who at the beginning of the day's journey were intensely hostile (apparently), and who would do unheard of things to achieve their own comfort at the complete disregard of their neighbours, will after an hour or sobe-chat-ting to that \ery neighbour—a complete stranger —on the most private incidents of their family history, domestic arrangements, or business prospects. The peculiar part is that once off the train or boat they (usually) immediately resume the antagonistic stranger attitude, and glower and fight over luggage as if they had never exchanged confidences, which, under other circumstances, would be reserved only for the most privileged and intimate friends. But perhaps the most curious of enrolls traits brought out in travelling is that so much of the selfishness displayed is purely of a combative nature, if one may so express it. I have seen inconceivable acts of rudeness, roughness, selfishness and greed committed in the struggle for supremacy in say the matter of railway carriage seats, in the allotment of berths, in the choosing of seats at the saloon table, or the placing of deck chairs, etc., etc.; I have seen cultured. educated, well-bred habitually courteous men and women forget the commonest rules of civilised society in the struggle for these things, but once they were obtained, once the exciting if illmannered struggle was over. I have noticed an almost invariable return to the usual forms, ceremonies, and restraints of the polite world and have seen the privileges so grossly struggled for. g-ven up with a politeness, a generosity, anil a self denial aS striking and (curiously enough) as natural as the meanness, rudeness, anil rapacity manifested in their acquirement.

In short, life as we see it when travelling is merely life tinder the microscope. There are very few people, as 1 said, and we see them act precisely as they really act in the big world, only we see them more closely and can observe them more clearly. At the start of a journey one sees perhaps the worst side of human nature. As it goes on. it is strange if even in those who seemed worst, we do not notice fruits which make us ashamed of our own shortcomings. In the journey of life I think we find the snme thing. During the struggle we may deplore the savageness of greed and ill-feeling which chiirac-

terise life, but as it draws to a close I think we all say with Wordsworth: Alas the gratitude of men has oftener left me mourning.

® ® ® THE CRAMMING SYSTEM. The Chief Inspector of Schools has shown excellent sense in his remarks on the overcrowding of the syllabus in our public schools. He cannot too frequently strike that note, for it indicates the point in which our education system is fatally weak. It is high time everybody recognised that cramming a child’s brains with countless facts, no doubt very valuable in themselves, is in no way equivalent to educating him. 1 fancy that most people do recognise it, but in our educational methods we have become so much the slaves of the examination system that we hardly think of regaining our freedom. The examination system is, in a large measure, a mistake from top to bottom. At the top it flourishes mainly because it provides a definite test of individual fitness. It is not really the most reliable test, or even a very efficient one, but human character is a complex thing, and, to judge of a man's faculties and adaptabilities for one thing or another is very far from easy. The perfect test of these that could be immediately applied and would register the result with an infallible accuracy is among the inventions of the future. The apotheosis of the examination system, though unsatisfactory enough in its broad results, has not wrought any great evil where the brains coming under its operation are mature. The men who go up for the Indian Civil Service Examinations, the stiffest to be encountered, go through the preliminary cramming and forget most of what they have acquired for the purpose of passing, but the work, if it does not add to their culture. scarcely detracts from intellectual vigour and accomplishments. It is very different, however, when immature and unfurnished minds are subjected to a similar ordeal. The strain is often too much for the young brain, and even where that is not the case the real cultivation of the mental powers at the most important period of life is sacrificed to.the superficial acquisition of multitudinous scraps of knowledge. Time and health, and vigour and faculty, are all offered up to the Examination Moloch. And what does he give his most ardent votaries in return? The passing satisfaction of beating their comrades in the annual competition. As for furnishing their brains in any real sense, that can never be looked for from him. Neither wisdom nor abiding knowledge are to be had in that way. The knowledge acquired by cramming for examination purposes is like the flower of hot-house growth. Stimulated to bloom with unnatural luxuriance, it is all very beautiful to deck an examination paper with for a single day, but it quickly fades away and is gone. How often has one noted the career of the examination room hero, and how frequently has he disappointed the hopes reposed in him? When one meets him in after years—the boy or the youth who carried all before him at the examinations —you find him the intellectual shadow of his once mighty self. 1 have felt diffident in approaching the man who had a distinguised record at school, thinking that he must have gone on developing in the same marvellous ratio as the examination seemed to indicate he was doing then. But time and again I have discovered that I had no cause for alarm. There hail been no development. In general intelligence the erstwhile prodigy was very much in the same stage as when he left school, and of his stores of knowledge he had barely a stiver to show you.