OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 4

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

January 8. The Imperial Programme. POLITICS die harder than anything else, as we were reminded early in the week by the interview with the Prime Minister published in the "‘Lyttelton Times'’ and sent broadcast over the land. Just as if the poor man had never seen a session of Parliament or passed a sleepless political night. Nevertheless, the whole country has been canvassing the interview, and many admit that the statements of Sir Joseph have opened their eyes to the greatness of the work performed during the late session. For my part, I meet with several who think with me that Sir Joseph made two mistakes in the interview aforesaid. (1) He gave pride of place to the financial measures; (2) he was remarkably moderate in his proofs of the comparatively sterling character of the session. The first week was an excess of modesty very becoming, but to be set right of necessity for his own sake. The second wa« an error of moderation easily rectified. The financial measures are very important certainly, but the pride of place belongs of right to the Imperial division of the Acts of the session, and that division represents, or, rather, is the outcome of. some very masterly conduct on the part of the Prime Minister himself. No oversea statesman has ever enjoyed the same honour, or achieved the same prestige in London. No one has ever succeeded so well by his personality. As smoothing the way for the Imperial programme now being carried ont so vigorously by the naval authorities and Lord Kitchener, the •work of the Prime Minister in London was supreme. His modesty impelled him to give the second place to the consequent Acts, but they are epochmaking measures entitled to pride of place, and not to be deprived of it because the Prime Minister chooses to keep himself in the background. A Comparison, As for the relative importance of the session beside the other sessions of our long list, Sir Joseph might have east his eyes over the whole with a bird's eye view for the benefit of that interviewer and the enlightenment of the intrviewers readers. Let us just coneider it for a moment. The first session of the list stands remarkable for the establishment of representative government after a memorable struggle. Between that session and well into the ’sixties, the points of mark were of Maori wars; then stands prominent the first loan (consolidated) of six millions, and self-reliance gave a special note to one of the sessions of the ’sixties as did the celebated “Memorandumiad” to another. The Public Works policy of Sir Julius Vogel burst into flame in 1869. giving a tremendous mark to the session of that year, and the mark was repeated by the details and alterations of the policy, and the establishment of the first great Publie Works Department —a truly wonderful performance, considering that it had to be created, together with its twin sister of Immigration, out of nothing, by men of no experien. e. One marvels at the success that, attended their efforts, and one wonders thankfully that they did not make more mistakes. Legislative Events. Between these years and 1875 the sessions were made remarkable by the passing of the Land Transfer Act and the establishment of the New Zealand Government Insurance Department, two measures of most important and beneficial character. In 1875 came the Abolition of the I’roviiK' - with the Counties Act and the Provincial Machinery Act. a batch of measures which gave vast thought and trouble to the Government, and were vastly important in their effects. 187 G saw the Education Act, by which we all swear to this day. Four years later we got manhood suffrage, and then came sundry tariffs, a big one in I&>2, and a bigger one in 1887, with the

spectacle of the Opposition marching every time into the Government lobbies to save the Government measure from the Government followers. 1890 saw the change of Government; it was the first year of the Liberal regime, which has endured to this day, with a promise of indefinite further endurance, and it saw the change of the incidence of taxation long promised. That alone makes that session for ever memorable. The Land Act of 1892 made the session of that year memorable; the Land for Settlement Act and the Advances to Settlers Act did the same service for 1894, and who will ever forget the sesnsation in that session provided by the Bank of New Zealand Act? In the deeade of the nineties, the Labour Acts in their big sheaf made many sessions important and memorable. In 1899 the first Imperial note was struck with the South African Contingents, and men felt a new departure in the building of the Empire of which we are all proud. Woman suffrage in 1892 left a big mark on that year's session, and the Licensing Acts, beginning with 1893, left some other marks of importance. In 1908 there was the great consolidation of the biggest division of the law. A Record Session, ' That makes a good long list of measures, show ing bright all along the course of our Parliamentary history. But one sees at a glance that the plums were divided very widely. At most the allowance of them never exceeded three in any session, and seldom reached that height. The contrast of the session just over is, therefore, very great. That session added three great divisions of measures to the Statute Book, amounting to some dozen Acts of importance, many of them of the very first, such as the Imperial division and the financial division, the Native Land Act, and the social division, all of which were detailed in this column last week. Literally, there has never been anything like it in our history. There has been more noise and more resounding, so to speak. No doubt also there has been a higher level of importance with single measures. But such a big programme has never been carried through at such a high level. The political work of the year was not in the least degree injured by the postponement of the session. The Prime Minister was right to speak of the importance of the session, but he might have put it much stronger, and he might have been more just to himself. Food for Mirth, Mr. Vile is the cause of another reminder of the eternal iasisranee of politics. He has been writing to the “Spectator’ of London. In his letter he said many things, chief of which was that he knows absolutely that many of the ’State tenants feel themselves obliged at every election to vota against their convictions. He has been denounced accordingly as a traducer of his country, and challenged to prove his assertion, if only with a single case. He replied without accepting the challenge, simply denying that he had done anything wrong, and repeated the assertion, leaving the public to make what they like of it, just as be had left the readers of the ‘"Spectator.” Now, Mr. Vile is the editor of the journal of the Farmers' Union, and therefore claims to speak with authority about the feelings of the farmers, and amongst them are the State tenant*. There is, of course, only one meaning in his statement to the “Spectator.” It is that the ballot is under the thumb of the Government, and that every State tenant who vote, against the Government at an election is in danger of harassment, even to the forfeiture of h's lease. It follows also from this that the ballot being open to the Government, all men who vota against the Government at elections, if thev are in any way connected with the Government employ, are pnni«hed by loss of privilege and loss of position. To us in this country such a statement is food for mirth. But to the readers of the '‘Spectator,” who know nothing about our affairs, the inference from Mr. Vile's stateaient is a terrible thing, implying all the evils I have attached to it. As above, Mr. Vile pleads that ho only sail that the tenants are of a certain opinion, not that they were

right. But that it the thinness of oddities. He wanted the readers of the “Speetator” to understand that this in a country very much over ridden by its Government, which gets knowledge from the ballot boxes denied to every one else. He has held the Dominion up as an awful example of the tyranny of Liberalism, which is Socialism and demagogism rolled into one, and when confronted with the only possible explanation of his words, refuses to do anything but repeat them. Nobody takes him seriously here, for every one knows him to be quite harmless in playing with the«e issues. But for the ••Spectator” letter there is an idea that an official exposure ought to be sent to the journal. But there are people who differ. To them the whole affair is so absurd, as put by Mr. Vile, that before long the readers of the “Spectator” must see for themselves that there is nothing in it. Mr. Vile's wild, outrageous statement is curious, as showing the extent to which prejudice can blind men in the Dominion. Educational Conference. The teachers are in conference, and they have been busy. “ Inter alia,” discussing the address of the president. Of ail the pessimists this is the worst. It appears that the physical training of the school children is a myth, that 90 per cent of them, having bad teeth, are past praying for utterly; that the school buildings are for the most part filled with infection which they disseminate broadcast in all directions: that home influence has arrived at such a state of evil that all children ought to he clapped into boarding houses, and attended to by the State; that the air space in the schools is shockingly inadequate in most of the schools; that the private schools are doing a vast deal of harm, and ought to be at least put under the inspectors forthwith; and that there is little or no attempt at imparting anything worthy the name of agricultural instruction. After that farrago we must be thankful to learn that the inspectors and the teachers have got on friendly terms, and are doing real good woork. Really, one finds it difficult to realise where we are educationally, aid still more to reject the conclusion that the entire generation is on the eve of perishing, of bad teeth, bad air, bad instruction, had drilling, and bad home influence*. Public opinion is not wildly disturbed. One thing is endorsed out of all this pessimism. It is a fact that if we export, this season, twenty-one or twenty-two millions of value, three-quarters of it will come from, the man on the land. An interest that represents some fifteen or sixteen millions out of twenty-one ought to be better catered for under a system of education that professes to fit all youth for the struggle it has before it in life. We spend money to enable boys to make themselves lawyers, doctors, clergymen, artisans, mechanics, what not, but anybody who wants to become a farmer, if he eannot go to Lincoln, must hire himself out as a farm labourer and pick up what rule-of-thumb farming he can, and put up with it even if half is hidebound with ail sorts of ancient prejudices.

The Wool Sales. ~ Wool is wool this year, and the sales have begun briskly therefore. The old controversy has arisen, as it is bound always to do at such times, “Is it better to sell in the local market, or will it pay better to send, the wool to London!” We have all the ancient arguments on both sides. The representatives of the London brokers declare that they can guarantee a better price per bale. The buyers who have come out so far insist that they have brought out all the necessary competition for keeping up the in* terest and the prices. Those who know, the wool markets declare that if we only knew how prices Were going to rule for some months ahead, we should have soma certainty about the matter. At present, however, it is certain that the money from the local sales is prompt, and there is no chance of having some day to cas'j up. Prices being what they are, the producer takes this advantage, and feels, moreover, that it is not necessary to gamble for a rise, which is unlikely, and may take the shape of a drop. So it is probable that some millions’ worth of wool will change hands this season before getting afloat. There is a very broad smile on every country face one sees just new. To the owners “Happy new year” is a thing very real and substantial. More Strikes. No eonner is it announced that Greymouth strike remnants are settled than another strike loom* large. This time it is the slaughtermen of the big meat companies, who have observed the law, by giving fourteen days’ notice of their intention to retire from employment unless their terms are complied with. There is much excitement in the street. The law is clear enough on one point, however. It is that the ffiatter must be dealt with by the Conciliation Commissioner, to whom the employers have appealed. The Commissioner is, moreover, bound by law to appoint as sessors to act for the men, wno have failed to do so for themselves. The point is that the men, like the Greymoufh colliers, have no intention to recognise the Conciliation man at all. and the law. will have to make them. It is disconcerting to the men who have pezauadoj themselves that the strike trouble had been scotched, if not killed, in laws. After eighteen months, the Arbi fra ticu machinery, as amended in 1908, is on*e again on test. For my part, I have little doubt it Will win through all right. Nobody ever pretended to have found perfection in 1908; but everbody acknowledges that the improvements of that year have reduced all the difficulties. The Coming of Kitchener. “The devil to pay and no pitch hot.” This ancient remark I heard from the lips of a local soldier who was discussing the coming of Lord Kitchener. He added that the noble lord had made, and Was making, everybody “sit up” in Australia, and would end by making us go throng’ the same process here. My friend i one of those who wants to see the whol>cf the forces of this glorious country concentrated —the word has a militarysound, and reminds him of Napoleon—-

capital or somewhere as convenient. The Government, I understand, however, shrink from a programme which K— of K. might upset in the twinkling oL an eye. Moreover, they do not like io face the dislocation of industry that such a wholesale concentration certainly would cause. We may take it for granted that there will be local concentrations at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, the places the coming visitor has mentioned in his ■itinerary. He will do the rest himself every morning at 2 a~m. I say to C. 0.3, ‘‘Heat plenty of pitch, and keep it hot.” The shooting men are regretting that he did not arrive during the late shooting at Trentham. But K. of K. does not come here to teach the young idea how shoot. He comes to know what we are and what we can do, not to teach us how to do it. As for the shooting, the scores might be shown him with advantage. f Shooting at Trentham. They certainly were good at the Wellington Garrison Association’s meeting. The main features were splendid scoring by one set at the 600 and 500 yards 8 Wilkie with 65 out of a posible 70 at both, and King a possible at 500), and •the passable scoring at the 900 and 1000 yards, but not by the men who excelled at the shorter ranges. It was the trickiest of weather, so that the shooting was highly creditable. Out of the >lB4 competitors, only 55 were club-men, (the rest being volunteers. During the matches every man had his own target, a fact emphasising the good arrangements of the modern ranges of Trentham. The .notable big score of the meeting was McLachlan’s (Petone), of 79 at the two ranges of 900 and 1000, out of a pos-ible 100. At the 900 the seniors scored 31 ito 39 out of a possible 50, and the juniors 33 to 39, the advantage being slightly with the latter. The most encouraging point was that the junior fchampion (Joplin) is only 18 years of age, and a member of the C.S. Rifles. Volunteer circles are perturbed over ihe coming change to the condition and status of Territorials, but it is too soon for any opinion to be hazarded as to the if any, that will elect to walk cut. The existing corps will, of course, ba wiped out as such, and all will be merged in the battalion system. But the Change in that respect Is well understood as certain to make for superior efficiency of organisation. On the whole, I understand the men are well disposed to the new state of things. Drifting Sand. iWhen Dr. Cockayne compiled his report last year on the sand dunes of New Zealand he obtained a good deal of assistance from Mr. SV. H. Field, M.P. The member for Ot-aki is a skilled farmer, and for years now has been devoting a great deal of time and money in experimenting with sand drifts on his own property at Wakane. He has endeavoured to tackle the problem in a scientific and practical way, and the results so Jar achieved are very satisfactory. When it is known that on a very modest estimate there are 290,000 acres of drifting sand in the North Island of (New Zealand, it will be seen how serious is the problem of arresting the progress of the drifts. The worst examples are to be found between Paekakariki and the Taranaki coast, and the pity of it is that the evil is daily growing, and valuable lands are being covered by drifting sand. Mr. Field declares confidently that along his coast, the sand has done more damage in the last five years than it did in the previous twenty-five. Ibis, he thinks, H probably due to the fact that land has been more heavily stocked. The real remedy for sand drift on land covered with turf is to plant trees for shade and shelter and erect rubbing posts for stock. Last year Mr. Field planted 100 acres of his property, having a sea frontage with lupin, which is very prolific and grows rapidly. It is objected to by many, however. on the score that it will harbour rabbits, and that one evil will only give way to another pest. Rabbits, however, notwithstanding the manner in which the lupin is extending in the district around Paekakariki and further north, is astonishing, and rabbits are said to be no more plentiful to-day than they were thirty years ago. Wellington Tranis. the tight money period, the Wellington tram cars, as well as other institutions, drew less money from the public, but the traffic has been steadily improving, and lately the revenue has

been recovering its former buoyancy, says our Wellington correspondent. Still the Municipal authorities are not relying on the theory that things will right themselves automatically, but are looking about for opportunities to reduce the running expenses by cutting out a certain proportion of unprofitable trips.