The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3, 17 July 1912, Page 1

The Week in Review.

The Triple Entente. /YA USSEA, after much deliberation, has rejected the overtures made 1 \ by Germany, and has decided to \ stand firm by her old allies, England and France, and thus the Triple iAlliance is met by the Triple Entente. When England and Franee failed Russia at the time of the Balkan crisis, the Kaiser approached the Czar with overtures to join Germany and reject the allies who had failed her so miserably in the hour of trial. But the Russians are too clever to be deceived by the specious Arguments of the German diplomats. An [understanding between Russia and Germany would mean that Franee would be at the mercy of the Triple Alliance, and the destruction of France would mean that Germany would be supreme in the founcils of Europe. As things are at resent Germany is restrained from attacking France by the fact that her frontier is exposed to an attack from Russia- Were she free from any fear of attack in that quarter, she could concentrate all her strength on the French frontier and could overwhelm France. Germany offered many concessions to Russia in regard to Persia, but the Czar yas suspicious of gifts from the Greeks, and wisely decided to abide by England and France. This decision has enormously strengthened the prospects of the [World's peace for several years to come.

The Roman Spirit. The highest tribute that could be paid to a Roman citizen was that he had deserved well of the Republic. Such would have been the tribute paid to the late Major Mair had he lived in the stern days of Rome. Such is the best tribute we can pay in these easier times. For he had in him much of the high courage and strength of conviction of the elder Cato. In the Maori war he displayed military talent of a high order, and as judge of the Native Land Court he non the confidence and respect of the natives thy his knowledge of local customs as Well as by his fearless administration of justice. He was no adept in the facile Ways by which men win the cheap applause of the mob. He neither sought tior gained a bubble reputation. But his life’s work is graven in the history of the Dominion. His high sense of personal honour, his courage and resourcefulness in times of danger, and his stern refusal to sacrifice convictions to expediency, marked him as one who gave to his country an example of what we mean when we speak of a high-souled English gentleman. In viewing the deaths of men like Major Mair and Sir John Logan Campbell, who have served their country well, one is reminded of the words of Pindar that the wave of death rolls over all; it bursts unlooked tor, it bursts on him that looks for it; but Heaven makes ever brighter an honourable renown.

Australian Sportsmen. In the world of sport there has bed much of interest to chronicle. Wilding again won the tennis championship at Wimbledon, and Gray once more defeated Stevenson at billiards, making another break of over 1000 in the course of the game. In the cricket match between Surrey and Northampton, nine of the Surrey batsmen were disposed of for as many runs, and five batsmen were dismissed for only two runs. This is a record for first-class cricket. But. the

most interesting event was the defeat of the famous Leander crew at Henley by an Australian eight. There were 150,000 persons present to see the race, and the King and Queen attended in the Royal barge. The Leander club represents the pick of English oarsmen, and its defeat has caused consternation in rowing circles at Home. In the race for the Thames Cup the French crew beat the eight from St. John’s College, Oxford, one of the best college eights ever entered at Henley. When the prizes were distributed by’ the Queen, both the Australians and the Frenchmen received great ovations. Australia also added to her laurels by winning the amateur golf championship of France. Thus at tennis, ibilliards, rowing, and golf, Australasia has more than held its own.

The CaSKorra. The eoneluaion of the trial of the members of the Camorra Society for the murder of Genarro Cuocolo and his wife, marks the end of one of the longest and most dramatic criminal trials in history. The murder itself took place in 1906, and the trial commenced in March of last year. The object of the murder was revenge, the murdered man and his wife having been suspected of acting as police spies. The arrest -of the gang was due to the dogged persistence of a young sergeant of the Carabinieri, who eventually managed to lay hands on all the Camorrists suspected of having taken a part in the murder. There were some six hundred witnesses to be examined, and counsel for the defence spoke for three weeks. The prisoners expostulated against the cruelty of being made to listen to a speech of such length, and the incensed counsel threw up his brief in disgust at their ingratitude. Nine of the men were sentenced to thirty years solitary imprisonment, one cut his throat in Court, and the remainder received sentences varying from four to twenty years. Thus in Italy the cause of law and order has been vindicated as against the forces of anarchy and the terrors of secret societies.

The English Franchise. Mr Asquith has pledged himself to an extended franchise on the principle of one man one vote, and one vote one value. There is also to be a redistribution of seats. But he steadily refuses to consider the question of votes for women. Many will sympathise with the views expressed by Sir Arthur Markham to the effect that if all the halt, the maimed, the lame, and the blind are to have votes, it is an insult to refuse votes to women. The new franchise is based on the assumption that any male person over the age of twenty-one is perfectly capable of voting, but that women are not capable. The great plea urged for the extension of the franchise, so as to include all male voters, is that the more you extend the franchise so as to include the less intelligent classes, the more chance there will be of the return of a Liberal Government to power. But a qualified franchise for women would bring intelligence to bear in the casting of votes, and this might be disastrous to the present Government. Hence the determined attitude taken up I>v the British Premier and so many of his col leagues. But the .franchise might be extended so as to include one woman oik vote. The age limit might also be re dueed. No taxation without representation is a sound principle of democracy.

and the vote might be given to all who pay taxes irrespective of sex, age, or mental equipment. It is urged that if educated women were given the franchise the Unionists would come back to power, while the .disfranchising of the universities, and the universal franchise for men, will help to eliminate the element of brains from the field of politics, and so ensure the triumph of Liberalism. Be this as it may, one cannot but feel women's votes would be a good thing for British politics, even if they did mean the overthrow of Mr Asquith and his colleagues. All true reform demands its price, and the price in this case does not seem excessive.

The New Cabinet. (Mr. Massey showed considerable Judgment in the selection of his colleagues, and he made his choice promptly. The new Premier ought to bring to his position of Minister for Agriculture much practical experience, while as Minister for Lands and Labour he may be trusted not to neglect the interests of the eoun try settler. Mr. Hurries is a man of affairs, and will doubtless manage the railways on sound business lines, while his known interest in agricultural mat ters augurs well for the utilisation of the railways to foster and promote the settlement of the land. Mr. Allen Ought to be at home as Minister for Defence, as he holds the rank of lieutenant-col-onel, and has 'commanded the Otago division of the New Zealand Garrison Artillery. He is also a recognised authority on finance and educational matters. Mr. Herdman has long been recognised as one of the ablest of Mr. Massey’s followers, and he ought to make a worthy successor to Sir John Findlay as Minister for Justice and AttorneyGeneral. Mr. Fraser has a heavy task before him as Minister for Public Works and Mines, and his age may make the work more arduous than it would be for a younger man, but he has a ripe experience and is an ardent student of political questions. Mr. Fisher lias the portfolio of Customs and Marine, and Mr. Rhodes becomes Postmaster-General and Minister fof Telegraphs. Mr. Bell is one of the ablest lawyers in the Dominion, and as Leader of the Upper House he ought to make that body more of a power in politics than it has been of late. Dr. (Pomare 'has been chosen to represent the native race, and his great experience ought to make him invaluable in this department. Three members of the new Cabinet were educated at Cambridge and one at Oxford. Needless to say, the selection has not given universal satisfaction. No selection could

have done that. But it will be pretty generally acknowledged that Mr Massey has formed a cabinet of able men well qualified to conduct the affairs of the country from the point of view of the Reform party.

The New Regime in China. Now that China has gone in for reform she is determined to do the thing properly, and rumours are current that several more revolutions may be expected shortly. Meanwhile the new leaders are having a good time and are helping themselves to such funds as are available. High military officers are drawing pay for thousands of non-exist-ent troops, and t'he civil officials ara going in for a policy of wholesale swand ling and corruption. The common people are being beheaded by the score, and hordes of bandits are ravaging the country, while the rivers are given over •to bands of pirates. The Central Government has no actual eash, so it is paying its way by issuing paper money. As it has several printing presses it can issue as much money as it likes, but the people have not yet been educated up to the appreciation of this modern method of finance, and they are still ignorant enough to prefer hard cash. As; however, any objectors are liable to be beheaded, the piper money enjoys a fair circulation. It is said that there is a considerable amount of discontent with the new regime, but this will doubtless subside when the Chinaman has learnt to appreciate the fact that he has at least shaken off the shackles of feudalism.

The Naval Base. Sydney will sustain a heavy trade loss by the removal of the naval base to Auckland- One business man states the figure at between £BO,OOO and £lOO,OOO annually, and alarmed at the prospect of this huge, expenditure being quite legitimately diverted to the market nearest the naval headquarters, puts forward an idea that will not Tie readil* adopted in New Zealand. He urges the Commonwealth to submit to the Imperial authorities a scheme for provisioning the Imperial and Australian warships jointly, to enable tenders to be offered for both together. From the Australian viewpoint, the proposal is indeed ingenious, but the New Zealand Government will ijo doubt be on the alert and frustrate any little move intended to deprive Auckland of the fruits Of being the best-equipped port for naval purjioses in the Dominion.

Is Shafteipeare Ponderous. The Lord Mayor of Sydney f»a« exthe opinion that the poetry of Sluke>peare S too ponderous. He says that ue want something more light and ar\ hi his judgment, the works of all giea-: authors are more or less ponder<»ik. But he was good enough to say that the poetry erf '*'hake*peare was-very iii e for educated people. Nice seems the exact word to describe the works of the dramatist. It is peculiarly applicable to Hamlet. The Lord Mayor’s high o!li<’.al naturally gives great weight to hE opinion, and one is not mi r priced to learn that quite a controver*y has arisen over the matter. Admirers of Shakespeare appealed to Mr. James Bryce a* one who might be ti n-idered. a* far a* literature was concerned. as only •ne degree removed •from a Lord Mayor in authorky. But * of :he tiae diplomat. de-Lned to commit him>»if to an opinion that might seem to run counter o the opinion of a high di_ni:ary. He merely suggested that t u qut siio:! might ie made a subject for an a’.naal discu>-*ion. Mr. Bryce has evidently got a Mibtle '•ense of humour. The Intense Desire for Humbug. Mr. J. P. Frengley. medical secretary to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Deascribe* the increased cost of liv ng to the intense de-ire for humbug ervades nil classes. He says that people like tomato sauce of a bright red ••h>ar. though they must know that <hi> is not a natural colour. They would pay more for New Zealand jam if it hid a label on :he tin suggestive « f H< hart. There i< no doubt a great deal of truth in his contention. Most people i iv things to impress other people. Men b rid houses far beyond their requirements, because to ive in a pi a-e much too large for you - iookrd. ipon as a mark of social posir * ’i. So ne women keep their best _ - lers. and ak< do for everyday use. The plated teapot find ’.he china viir- are sacred to <:ie “At Home" days, while common earthenware spread on a newspaper on the kitchen table i< g«Hxl enough for the hneß- d. Bra» {ireirons are kept for show. and the five ;< -toked with an old shovel and a superannuated kitchen pvker. It is a harmless foible, and it is undoubtedly good for :rade. But for the intense for humbug half the icAeih r- and dressmakers’ ehops wou’d have to E-e ti eir doors.

The Mediterranean and the Triple Alliance. Probably as the result of representation- made by Lord Kitchener, the Adin ■as ■ *1 from the Mediterranean. Sir Edward Grey explained that though there was iT«*t t'.e > ightc-* pro-j»e t of a quarrel •i • .» Mediterranean. yet if our naval ► trerg/’. \V.e red i ed the “diplomatic situation might ho -trained." It has ieen d therefor# < • it force to be a ie tn ope with anything . . \ Edward ext h Gt a ’••ur? excellent. The two Powers were perfectly frank with each other. Mr. B# ' La s S-' Foreign Minister. both in regard to his policy in the Mediterranean, and in regard to his remarks as to the friendly altitude of Germany. Bat they both thought that Germany would be «::I1 more friendly f -he was convinced that England had x “sufficient masgw of strength.’’ The late naval review at has probably materially increased Germany’s friendly attitude towards us. and helped to avoid what sir Edward Grey so ca-.»*;•» i'l\ de-* rJ .« as a diffi iV J plon.ale- • 1 uatron. Considerate City Fathers. M . •! j i’» hi ib:- ev.i to be •ibnsn ? :y .» advance •»! anything we • an .n the Dominion. It was found l»y <he city fathers that a kirge I. imiar of people werr in the habit of i« > nv lhe.r ay in wandeiaig about the >’ree:- <»i ;ae toan. especially at night. <i»ue\a i- a--, .ated in the p.»« li liiiud th a 'ertain k nd <»f mineral waler, etui the diuib. ipal au*huritic* thought fiat th:* nog'o bate -one-thing to do wrp.i the ‘propc.-in »J»own by many >.r«-»pb- tH loee their way. Tli/y therefore k*>-ue<] a Xo the elfe. t Chit on app4>az.’on at the poiite res.den Is and wouM be supplied

gratis with a eertaJn number of tags bearing na.n>o and address, with <he printed request: “If I am found' in » condition wirieh renders me incapable of going home, kindly conduct me to above address.’’ This seems so much, more considerate than our own method of conveying people, who have lost their way, to the lockup.

The City oS Morality. Whatever may be the merits of the prevalent antagonism to the introduction of the Bible in -date Sehvwls in the Dominion. Sir Robert Stout was peculiarly unhappy in hi- defence of secular education before the Royal Commission on Education. He instanced France as an example to the nations in the matter of high morality, and he set out to show that the high moral tone of Paris was entirely due to the fact that morality was taught- there without any religion. The popular mind has always associated Paris with an almost puritanical rigour in the matter of morals. French novels have become a synonym for all that is chaste and pure in literature. The cancan puts our own dances to shame in the delicacy of its conception. And it is particularly gratifying to know that this high morality has Wen achieved without any religion. The Apache, the motor bandits, the heroic Bonnot, are instances of the absence of crime in this favoured land. Sir Robert also argued «ith unanswerable logic that if it was the duty of the State to teach religion to the young, it was also the duty of the State to teach religion to adults. He might have carried the argument a step further, and pointed out that if it is the duty of the State to teach arithmetic to the young, it is also the duty of the State' to teach arithmetic to adults. Many grown-up people need arithmetic quite as much as children, to judge by the wav some trade-people add up their accounts,

The Decrease of Illiteracy. But the strongest argument <•: all was that the decrease of illiteracy "as due to the secular system of education. Fewwill be found to gainsay this contention. The most illiterate men have always been those of a strong religious instinct, such as Newman. Browning. Tennyson. Ruskin. Wb.o would dream of comparing the English of Newman with the faultless prose of Hansard, or the French of Bosquet with the impassioned oratory of M. Clemenceau? If we compare the' illiteracy of ptipiN brought up at Eton or Harrow , where religious e luxation is given, with the high standard of literary attainment displayed by the average State school pupil we shall see at once what a serious bar religious tea.hing is to real edu at tonal advancement. It is hard to say why it should be so. Bat the fact remains, aiil it behoves all who value purity of the Engii-''. tongue t<> res:.-- to the titim -*■ of thei poany att mpt ' ■ substitute the debased English of the Bible /or the classic grace of "EngliaU m she is spoke" in New Zealand e* The Grounds of Morality. But the Chief Justice was en absolutely unassailable ground when he-con-tended that morality was not founded on religion. The most moral persons may te without any sense of religion. Few people are so honest, s<d>er and industrious. as the prisoners in our gaols. They do not steal, they don't drink, they don't gamble, they rise early, they smoke in strict moderation, they never visit houses of ill-fame. They are obedient to the orders of their superiors, they work hard at hone»t toil, they are never guilty of the sin of gluttony. They set an example to the re«t of the community in these lf we deprive men of all cbanee to do wrong »e can have a w hole community as highly moral as our convict*. -Morality may al*o be ba-ed upon reason. Men will not steal if they find it pay* better to join a svndi ate of some sort. Morality mar also be based on a sense of fear. Certainty of detection and punishment will often prevent men from committing crimes. Mere morality may i>e valueless. It » the spirit in which a thing is done that really matters. In the memorable words of Canon Ainger. it i» not morality that makes a nation great, but morale.