Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XX, 19 May 1900, Page 921

Topics of the Week.

AN EXTRAORDINARY UTTERANCE. When the history of the present campaign comes to be written, the chronicler will find few of its features more remarkable than the positive furore of excitement and enthusiasm with which the news of the relief of Kimberley, Ladysmith (ami we will hope Matching) was received. Our ancient reputation as a calm, impassive, and unemotional race has been swept away as if it had never been, and the world- has seen (one imagines with some surprise) that the stolid and phlegmatic Britisher can become as completely intoxicated with excitement as "the hysterical Gau),’’ as Disraeli once called the French, not foreseeing that his own countrymen would one day seem to rival them in excitability. We have all read of many ludicrous acts committed by usually staid and decorous individuals in their first frenzy of relief and delight. But one could scarcely have imagined that the judicial mind would have been as easily and extravagantly affected as that of we poor ordinary mortals. A judge, one had thought, would,so long as he was on the Bench, have been impervious to national excitement. But this was not the case, and Mr Justice Grantham, one of the best known criminal judges in England, must be credited with assuredly the most remarkable of all the remarkable actions attributable to the exuberant. excitement roused by our martial successes. It appears that in a dispute over the evacuation of Spionkop a man had killed his brother-in-law with a poker. The trial took place immediately after the arrival of a telegram giving news of the relief of Kimberley. Said the judge: “Remembering that the dispute took place through the absorbing topic of the war, anti as we have very satisfactory news, and considering the way you have behaved, I think that, nnder all the circumstances, justice would be met by my giving you the benefit of the very satisfactory news received to-day. It. is a very fortunate thing for you that news has come in just now, telling us of the relief of Kimberley, so tha. I think that, under the circumstances, and looking

to your past good character, and remembering that this is your first offence. you may be discharged.” Save that the judge’s own words are given us (the quotation is verbatim), the story would scarcely be credible, and perhaps the most amazing thing is the casual allusion to manslaughter as a first offence, after the style of an inebriate, as if it had been quite conceivable that a man would have been several times brought up for killing a brother. The matter being set forth so circumstantially, one is forced to believe it; but had it been any other judge but Mr Justice Grantham one would have found it hard to do so. But this judge has on several occasions caused surprise by the eccentricity of nis sentences, which have, and in really bad eases,

erred so much on the side of leniency as to cause a postive feeling of consternation. Of course, it is conceivable that the prisoner deserved to get off in any case; the facts tire not known to us, but to speak of “the ends of justice,” and then to discharge a man because of a British victory.opens out infinite possibilities, both humorous and grim. If the precedent is followed , the man who wants to get rid of an inconvenient fellow creature, will add to bis other possibilities of escaping the gallows that of his trial taking place simultaneously with a triumph of British arms. ® ® ® THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMBERLAIN. I suppose the most prominent New’ Zealander who has visited South Africa recently with peaceful intent, is Mr George Hutchison, the member for Patea. It is just possible that mere curiosity and nothing more prompted the trip, as it has prompted others to that distant shore, but the story goes that George went to South Africa not merely to see, but to be seen, and that he posed, not unsuccessfully, as the civilian representative of

New Zealand. As such he would certainly have had a great deal of attention shown him, as appears to have been the case, lie was granted passports through the country, and if he had chosen might no doubt have been present at some of the battles. I understand he did not choose, and perhaps he was wise. It would have been a serious affair if by any mishap he had fallen into the hands of the enemy. That superficial resemblance to Mr Chamberlain, which he.is said to cultivate, might have proved his ruin among the bloodthirsty Boers, to whom the very name of the Secretary for the Colonies is like a red rag to a bull. But even had his life been spared he might have been kept a prisoner in Pretoria for months. Now that he has escaped these perils he may turn his experiences to good account when Parliament meets. He will be an authority on South Africa as compared with his fellow members, and even Mr Seddon may have cause to envy his knowledge of the subject. Doubtless in future communications from the South African authorities to New Zealand “Your Mr Chamberlain” will be referred to as able to confirm or throw light on a matter. It was decidedly clever of George to think of making that trip. Mr Seddon had reaped nearly all the kudos for the contingents, and little could a mere member, ami of the Opposition at that, hope to get of it here in New Zealand. 11 is only chance was to go .straight to South Africa and gather it fresh for himself. The folks there were not likely to make fine distinctions, and any member of the New Zealand Legislature going there at this time was sure of lavish attention. When it was announced the other day that Mr Seddon had been ordered complete rest and a change, some lively imaginations concluded that the Premier might take a trip to South Africa, run up To the front, say how d’ye do to Roberts, congratulate the N< w Zealand boys en their achievements end be back in time for the work of the session It was an alluring programme, and 1 have no doubt Mr Seddon himself would have vast ly en ioved carrying it out. But apparently the thing is not to be done. Mr Seddon is not going to South Africa, and the distinction of having actual I v walked the theatre of war. trod the streets of Ladysmith. and surveyed the country from the kopies, rests solely, sn far ns I am aware, with Mr George Hutchison. ® ® ® THE HOIYHNHNMS AT THE WAR. Some weeks ago I reminded my readera that the horse had mil got anything like his fair share of credit for the part he is playing in the war. 'The deeds of the soldiers are on everyone’s lips. They are belauded in heroic prose and frequently in verse that is very much the reverse. Rut the dumb heroism of the poor roe-geo has but an occasional chronicler. Our sympathy and our gold have been solicited, ami very properly, on behalf of the valiant Tommy, but hardly a voice Iras pleaded 1 he claims of Tommy’s noble fourfooted comrade in the war. I would enlist the sympathy of my readers in one appeal that came to me from England last week, and which 1 think is well worthy of attention. Mr Lawrence Pike, of Wareham. xv ites: “Sir, Will you kindly permit me to make known to your readers that the statement made recently at a meeting at Scarborough to the effect that ‘horses, after being wounded in hat tie. are not abandoned to lingering suffering and a slow death,” is incorrect ami misleading. It is a matter of fact that badly wounded horses arc abandoned, in time of war, to lingering suffering and a sloxv death, whenever their masters have nol the tirm* nor the opportunity to shoot them; that is, whenever such action would involve risk to human life. The appemhd letter from the Under-Secretary of State for War shows that the authorities of the War Office recognise what happens on the battlefields and recommend that efforts be made to obtain the extension of the terms of the Geneva Convention to those who may go out after an engagement to relieve the sufferings of wounded animals. Among letters received from officers of cavalry regiments. now at the front, is the following: *1 think that wherever possible

badly wounded horses are destroyed on the battlefield. Personally I have shot, or have had shot, several, and have given orders that all badly wounded horses should be destroyed by the men, and I think that this is generally done throughout the service. Of course, there are many cases when it is-impossible to carry this out, when, for instance, cavalry have to retire under heavy musketry fire, which, I am sorry to say, is often the case.’ What is said by an officer of a cavalry regiment is confirmed by officers of artillery and transport* corps. Indeed, there is no doubt that very often in existing circumstances animals wounded on the battlefield are nol and cannot be attended to. All this would he altered if the terms of the Geneva Convention were extended. Persons who go out to attend to wounded men are protected. Why should not those who go out to care for wounded animals, to whom we owe so much, he protected also? It has been said that man is god of the horse; does not the cry come to us from the battlefield: Mv God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?*” ® ® ® COMPLETE REST.* Some of us are inclined to believe that that amazing person, our Premier, can do anything and everything to which he sets his mind, a belief probably shared by the hon. gentleman himself. Yet somehow I suspect that in a few days the hitherto indomitable Dirk Seddon. praeaieal dictator of New Zealand, will ruefully realise that a task has been set him which is greater than hr ran perform. He has been told to enjoy complete rest, and is no doubt manfully endeavouring to do so. The term ‘•complete rest” is of course a false one literally, “complete” bring merely comparative. since the only real “complete rest” is not to be secured by mortals this side eternity. But I am now taking the words as they are usually understood, and I very much doubt if Mr Seddon is finding it easy to lake, far less to enjoy, even that qualified and comparative amount of ‘•complete rest.” That Mi Seddon has a capacity for work' seldom equalled even by men who havy occupied similar positions i«+bf course notorious. We all know that be cm do the work of three, and as th. jmgilksis say come up smiling. Wv are all now aware that hr has almos' single handed “run the colony’’ f«r. several years, carrying a load of responsibility and anxiety that would have rrushed a score of strong men. But. ail this is no reason w l>y hr should be able Io rest well. On the contrary, it gravely discounts his chance of being able to do so. To work strenuously and to play successfully. is a combination of gift.-? Nature is chary of bestowing, lest iiH’ii should imagine themsclver Gods. Rest, the best sort of r<‘st a;, we know it. is of course sleep, the next being change* of eniplov inenh Gladstone, whose capacity for work excelled even that of our Premier, was a past mr.strr in both these invaluable forms of relaxation. Or sleep he himself confessed he nevr» seemed able to enjoy enough, ano was always conscious of a <!<•!ight fti ; difficultx in leaving his bed. Hov. many millions of brain workers mus. have sighed enviously to find tha* overwork is not always the slaughter er of slet*p, and that a man who smat<‘hlessly surpassed them in intclleet and over-work was yet able t# enjoy their sleep denied them hv the:, petty labours. In ability to chung. thought, and labour Gladstone w;r also incomparable. turning instat taneoiisly from affairs of State t translation of Homer, or critical co; .sideration of the book of the <la» What can Mr Seddon do in this waone wonders will he find out In? limitations in the warm airs of tin* Pacific <»n the avvnized deck of the T'utanekai. Sleep. we believe, the Premier can, but hr has accustomed himself to manage with such a modicum that it max be doubted if he can make the most of the full and generous opportunities for sleep now offered him. \ml in his waking hours has he any hobby or taste i._ which lie <-an turn to banish the usua trains of thought Io which he is ac costomed? If not (and one has next heard of them) Mr Seddon will a«* suredly not attain even comparatively “complete rest” though he will certainly escape such an amount of worry ax will restore him completely to hrahh. Probably his mind will be busy with new projects. (rest sclieines. and multitudinous improvement*. He vxil! be ever planning

conquests of the people and further triumphs for colonial legislation. At least this is what one imagines. It is not possible to picture Sir Seddon with even a translated Homer or writing cramped post cards of luminous criticism to rising authors and poets. Perhaps, however, 1 am wrong, and Mr Seddon can without these aids manage to "banish care. Any way one will hope that in his own wav hr will enjoy his holiday completely. © ® ® THE BANK CLERK’S GRIEVANCE. • Every man anti woman in the universe is proudly conscious of a legitimate grievance. Most of us indeed have several, though there is always one of which we make a sort of pet, pampering it and feeding it up and nursing il in our l>osom till .occasionally it grows too heavy for our strength and overcomes us. But I doubt, if we look at the matter from an impersonal and impartial standpoint. if we shall not al] admit that the grumble of the bank clerk now rumbling over the colony with ominous unanimity, is not the most legitimate and natura I of all. I n th'e first plr/ce he has been for years misrepresented, a symbol of a thing that is not. He has been referred to as the gilded youth of colonial society, and it has been the fashion to regard him as a sort of lotus eater who repairs daily to a spec-ies-of a Crf'stie of Indolence, at ten and emerges therefrom at four. The number of <la \ s when lie is forced to leave ills work (which has to be done at another time) has been exaggerated beyond belief, ami he has in short been set: before us as one of the luckiest and laziest of mortals, with, as the saying goes—little to do and plenty to get. How far all this is removed from the truth those of us who have familiar acquaintance with the species know. It is true that there are in this colony an abnormal and perhaps excessive number of hank holidays, but as I have hinted these do not afford any real release from labour. It merely means the work has to be done at another time, and nine out of ten of the bank officials will tell you that they would far rather not have the holiday, the overwork before and after being too big a price to pay for “a day off.” 'The holiday is therefore we see no holiday, ami is as much a delusion a* the popular belief that the average clerk , gels down to work at ten anti leaves at four. In no office, and in no business have clerks heavier hours. Nine to fixe is the lightest, and aw everyone who has passed through town knows these are merely nominal, and that five nights out of the six or thereabouts, the unfortunate clerk is forced to return to work till ten, and on occasions even later. If the pay were in any way commensurate with the work there would yet be cause for complaint, but as a matter of fact the salaries are utterly out of keeping, not only with I he work demanded of the unfortunate employee, but (especially in the case of tellers) with the responsibility and risk which attach to that work. Sojne years ago when things were bad in the banking world, several of the largest and wealthiest banks reduced the salaries of all their employees, except the managers. Com mepting <m the matter at the time I remarked on the meanness of cuttingdown <salaries already too low, and the business iniquity of paying dividends out of the pockets of junior servants. and one also surmised that in the event of several fat years succeeding those disastrous lean ones, there would be a forgetfulness about the raising, or even the reinstatement of the reduced salaries. Well, we have had some admittedly good banking years of late, and dividends are high, but I fear few banks can contradict me. when I say the salaries are still as they were. The patience and humility of tin* bank clerk has been phenomenal, but it seems us if hr were now at the end of it, and several of our n< w members have anii ninerd their intention of taking up his grievance*- dining the next session. After all if we h gishii»‘ to protect labour of one sort we should do so for another, ami the bank clerk, underpaid ami over-w ork<*d, is equally entitled to protection with the factory hand. (• ® © (H R O\ ER WORKED PREMIER. No one who knows Ihe work Mr Seddon has !»<*<• n doing since he unsullied the Premierwhip will be aurprised to hear that he in suffering from the severe strain or hi* powers. Strong men frecgurntljF imagine that no lalKmr ran wear them out. How one envies the robustness of consti-

tution and the exuberant vital Energy that alone can beget such supreme confidence. But the human frame, though a wonderfully tough machine, is not. warranted to last for ever, and is as certain to break down speedily under inconsiderate usage as a steam engine that is not oiled and constantly driven at top speed. If there is one thing certain in the province of New Zealand polities, it is that the office of Premier is no sinecure if the duties of it are discharged as Mr Seddon has discharged them. No doubt many of these duties are selfimposed, and it would be perfectly easy and much more reasonable that they should be discharged by subordinates. But Mr Seddon has fallen in with the custom of his predecessors of attending to details himself, and lias gone much further than even they did. so that the pressure of multifarious tasks that bears on his shoulders is greater than any previous minister has stood or fallen under. Outsiders have little conception of the work the Premier gets through in the six or, rather, I should say the seven, days of the week', for every Sunday is not a holiday for him. There is the ever-recurring calls of departmental business to be answered, the thousand outside requests and complaints to be considered, legislative problems to be pondered, speeches to be thought over, personal letters to be written, functions to be attended, and over and above, and in between these, the interminable deputations. Speaking of the last, Lord Palmerston used to say that he looked on deputations as his relaxation. I imagine Mr Seddon must take much the same view. Yet deputations must seriously clip his time, necessitating much harder and longer work to get through the other duties of the day. Arduous as is the Premier's life at any time, it is doubly so when Parliament is sitting and the session throws its additional burden on him. Then his existence is literally one of work, morning, noon ami night. After breakfast he is in his room, and there he sits until the House meets at 2.30, snatching often but few minutes for lunch. The afternoon sitting ended, most members betake themselves for a walk, and then have a comfortable dinner. The Premier has no time for walks, and dinner is invariably a hurried meal, there being more work to do before the evening sitting. At the close of that the ordinary member looks for his bed. The Premier, however, in numberless instances, seeks his desk once more, and gets through one or two hours' worn before he claims his well-earned sleep. Imagine this sort of thing, with a plentiful admixture of worry and anxiety, going on for three or four months, and there you have what the session Is to the Premier. Nor does the rising of Parliament bring leisure to compensate in nnv degree for this continuous overwork. During the recess Mr Seddon has his hands full. r l he wonder is that bis health has so long held out under this unnatural strain. That nature was bound to protest before long has been prophesied for the last two years. And now that prophecy has been fulfilled. Nature has protested. the doctor has protested, and the voice of the colony is protesting, too. i.et us hope Mr Seddon will give some heed to the triple appeal.