Topics of the Day.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 12, 22 March 1911, Page 44

Topics of the Day.

By Our London Correspondent.

Ma. JOSEPH CHAIuBERLAIN. LONDON, February 3. (ilf PATHETIC incident in the y I swearing-in of members of the J | new Parliament this week was the -visit of Mr Joseph Chamberlain to the scene of his former greatness. Striken with an incurable infirmity, the ex-Colonial Secretary is physically but the wreck of his old self. He came in from behind the Speaker’s chair, leaning heavily upon a stick, and supported on one side by Mr Austen Chamberlain, and on the other by Mr Arthur Lee. He looked stronger than he did when he took the oath a year- ago. A beautiful orchid, as in the old days, was in his buttonhole, but instead of the familiar monocle, he wore eyeglasses. With the assistance of his son and Mr Lee, Mr Chamberlain sat down on the Front Government Bench, close to the .Speaker’s right. One of the assistant clerks brought a Testament. Mr Chamberlain was apparently unable to hold the book in either hand, and therefore touched it, while he repeated the words of the oath as they were read out by the clerk. His articulation, while far from distinct, was observed to be clearer and firmer than on the last occasion. Mr Austen Chamberlain, who had been

standing on his father’s right hand, then turned to the Treasury table and entered his parent’s name on the roll. While this was being done, Mr Chamberlain leant back on the Government bench, and surveyed the almost empty House in a way that suggested the recurrence of past associations to his memory. The Clerk then brought over the pen with which the name had been entered. Mr Chamberlain touched it, and said, “Thank you.’’ His son and Mr Lee then assisted him to his feet again, and brought him over to the Speaker, who shook hands in the most kindly way, and expressed his delight at seeing Mr Chamberlain in the House once more, looking so much better in health. Mr Chamberlain smiled pleasantly, and said something in reply, the effect of which did not reach the Press Gallery. The next moment he was being led from the Chamber by his son and Mr Lee, his visit having only occupied some two or three minutes. Only one or two members were in the Chamber at the time, nnd the occupants of the public gallery di<l not number a dozen. MANKIND IN COUNCIL. I had an interesting conversation this Week with Mr Gustav Spiller, the bon. organiser of the first Universal Race Congress, to lie hold in London next July. A well know-11 New Zealander, the Hon. W. Pern her Keevuu, in ohauman of the

executive committee, and a number of visitors from the Dominion are expected to take part. Sir Joseph Ward is one of the honorary vice-presidents of the Congress, which is under the presidency of Lord Weardale. Mr Spiller stated that he was communicating with the New Zealand Government to see whether any representatives of the Maori race could take part in the Congress. This Congress promises to be one of the most influential of our time. Its supporters hail from no less than fifty countries, and every paper referring to a particular people has been prepared by someone of high standing belonging to it. The object of the Congress will be to discuss, in the light of modern knowledge and modern science, the general relations subsisting between the peoples of the West and those of the East, between so-called white and so-called coloured peoples, with a view to encouraging between them a fuller understanding, the most friendly feelings, and a heartier co-operation. Political issues of the hour will be subordinated to this comprehensive end, in the firm belief that when once mutual respect is established, difficulties of every type will be sympathetically approached and readily solved. The origin of this congress is easily explained. The interchange of material and immaterial wealth between the different races of mankind has of late

years assumed such dimensions that the old attitude of distrust and aloofness is giving way to a general desire for closer acquaintanceship. Out of this interesting situation has sprung the idea of holding a Congress where the representatives of different races might meet each other face to face, and might, in friendly rivalry, further the cause of mutual trust and respect between Occident and Orient, between the so-called white peoples and the so-called coloured peoples. LOVES YOUNG DREAM AT 90. One entirely unexpected result of the introduction <»f old age pensions has been the promotion of matrimony among aged paupers. Within tl>e past few weeks scores of elderly couples have left the workhouse and married on the strength of their weekly allowance from the Government. Some of these old people have been in the workhouse for many years. In one ease the man had been an inmate for over ten years, wad to the “sweet young thing” whom he led to the altar the "House” had been home for 10. Some of the couples who have left the workhouse in order to start life again in a home of their own reached an age at which one would have thought they would be entirely immune from love’s fever. At Lewisham last week, for instance, a man aged 74 took to wife a lady of 78, with whom he had fallen in love whilst

they were inmates of the local workhouse. A still more remarkable case is reported from Chatham workhouse, which William Hennin, aged 94, and Fanny Wadhams, aged 80, left in order to set up house on their pensions. They had both been married three times previously, so their apparently rash venture cannot be excused on the score of either youth or inexperience. It is to be feared that many of these oia people will live to regret tlie day the workhouse door closed behind them. It may be possible for an aged couple to live decently on their joint pension in the country where rents are a mere bagatelle, but it will be practically impossible for them to do so in London, or indeed in any of the larger towns, where decent rooms unfurnished command 3/ or 4/ a week. On the balance of their pension the old people cannot possibly live in anything approaching the comfort they enjoy in the workhouse. There they were surrounded -with every convenience, living in spacious, warm, and well-lighted quarters, liberally fed, adequately clothed, and, when sick, had the advantage of proper medical attention and nursing, and generous treatment in the matter of diet. The lot of these aged couples who have abandoned these things for the sake of freedom, and are trying to “keep house” on 10/ a week, is bound to be a hard one.

HOAXING THE PRESS. The practical Press joker is very much in evidence just at present. Last week most of the Home papers published in

all good faith a series of letters alleged to have been addressed by American journalists to butlers and others employed by members of our aristrocracy offering to buy items of scandal about their employers. These letters it now appears were concocted by a number of mischievous people who hid their identity under the nom de plume “Harriet.” An infinitely funnier hoax has been perpeti’ated tiiis week by a Belfast wag, on the strength of a hot controversy now in progress regarding “Mixed Marriages” between Homan Catholics and Protestants, and whether a Protestant .parent may rightly be robbed of his or her children. In the two great Irish organs, the “Belfast News Letter” and the Northern Whig,” there appeared a harrowing A correspondent wrote: — Yesterday there came into my possession the details of a cruel and heartless desertion of the victim of a so-called “unhallowed union” by the partner who should have remained faithful to her for life. The poor mother, thinking that at least site should have her children To console her, was. however, not only abandoned by her natural protector, but robbed of her offspring. 1 am in a position to say that the foul robbery of flesh and blood was perpetrated by a member of an Irish secret society . . . No terms were dictated, because no terms would have been ac*

ceptedp and the unfortunate creatur* was deprived of that which by all laws of nature was nearest and dearest to her. But there is a bright side to the picture. I can say that the mother is in no state of destitution. She is being at present amply provided for by a wellknown and respected Elder of the Presbyterian Church, whose munificence cannot be praised too highly, and whosd modesty has prevented the publication of his name.” The story was repeated on Monday in the “Times,” and was signed “Herbert Pym,” and was dated from “65, Uni-, versity-road, Belfast.” From the London “Times” the story, of “Roman Catholic Intolerance and injustice” was copied into scores of provincial journals and provoked much indignation. But the pathos of the story, has been rudely destroyed, for on being interviewed Mr. Pym had to confess that his letter on “mixed marriages” was a joke pure and simple. The sole foundation for the story was that a neighbour’s cat had a litter of unwanted kittens which had been drowned.