The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 6, 7 August 1912, Page 1

The Week in Review.

Modern Japan. T XI’AN, in the course of half a zxl century, has emerged from a X. state of semi-barbarism to the highest stage of civilisation. This has been accomplished largely by the genius and self-sacrificing efforts of the late Mikado. It is worth noting that the rise of Japan was due, not to any revolutionary deposing of a reigning monarch, but to the restoration of a monarchy which had practically ceased to exist. .For centuries before the accession to the throne of the late Mikado Japan had been in the hands of an hereditary caste of shoguns, or nominal ministers, and the power later passed from the hands of these shoguns to the hands of the ministers of these hereditary rulers. This led to civil war, and Japan was exposed to grave danger bf being torn asunder by internal dissension and falling a victim to European aggression. It was at this stage that the shoguns and other high officials determined to restore the peace and unity of the nation by surrendering the power into the hands of the sovereign. The Late Mikado. Matsu Hito was only 14 years of age when he came to the throne, but he soon made his influence felt. Internal peace was restored, and Japan began to tread the road of progress, which was to place her in the course of a generation in the very .front rank amongst the world Powers. The sovereign resolved to govern on strictly constitutional lines. Reform followed reform in quick succession. The pariah castes were enfranchised, an.annual convention of provincial governors was instituted, a senate was organised, local assemblies were established, and lastly a National Assembly was convened. But the Mikado was not a nominal ruler. He trusted his councillors, but he carried bis reforms iu the face of strong popular opposition. He could be autocratic when occasion demanded, and, once he had issued a decree he saw to it that the decree became law from one end of Japan to the other, and no popular outcry was allowed to interfere with the administration of the law. He gave much, he surrendered much; but he was absolutely firm once he had resolved on a course of action. He was at once a leader and a ruler, and he restored the national and patriotic spirit of the Japanese. A Rapid Transformation. We may take 1867 as the year which saw the beginning of the rise of Japan. At that date the Japanese were but httle removed from Oriental barbarism. ■lke army was about 100,000 infantry mid 20,000 cavalry. The art of war was Put little understood, and there was no rmed navy. The mass of the people ere entirely uneducated, and the criUnul code of the country was barbarous

in the extreme. Now Japan has an army better equipped and better trained than the armies of most of the European Powers. Its navy ranks with the navies of the great nations of the Old World. In the war with Russia Japan showed that she could defeat the armed forces of Western civilisation, and in matters of Sanitation she showed herself ahead of anything yet done by the older nations. When Queen Victoria came to the throne no one would have dreamt that Japan could be in a position to enter into an alliance with .England on equal terms. To most people Japan was a terra incognita. Less than 50 years ago a writer on Japan said that the mission of Lord Elgin to Japan had done much to inform the world as to the condition of the Japanese, of whom our knowledge had hitherto been extremely scanty. To-day Japan claims the attention of the world. This great change is for the most part due to the sagacity and self sacrificing patriotism of the deceased Emperor. New Zealand and the Argentine. The Buenos Ayres "Herald” has been discussing of.' late the question of the Relative merits of New- Zealand and the Argentine. In the course of a special article on the subject the “Herald” says: “The number of Australians and New Zealanders who have left their native land in recent years to settle •in the Argentine Republic is somewhat surprising. When newcomers are questioned as to the reasons which prompted them to take such a step, it is very rarely that the blame is put on the country- they have left behind. Almost invariably they say that they have been driven out of the country by Socialistic legislation which made life a burden to them. A few days ago a New Zealand gentleman, accompanied by his wife, called at the “Herald” office on business. They- have been resident in this Republic for a couple of years. During the course of ■conversation, the .New Zealander said that, despite the eternal flatness of the Argentine pampas and the absence of anything that might be considered as an apology for scenery within a radius of a hundred miles of ■the Federal Capital, he would not return to New Zealand, the land of incomparable scenery on any account.” Socialism and Emigration. The writer then proceeds to discuss the Socialistic legislation of Australia, and says:—“ln Australia, where Socialism also reigns supreme in the Government, the lot of the •colonial farmer is very hard, and it is difficult to see what will be the outcome of it all. When farmers leave one agricultural country to settle in another for the sole reason that they cannot bear the burden put upon them by the Government of the day, things must be very bad. That this is not more hearsay or the ebullitions of the Press is substantiated by the following cutting from the “Pastoralists’ Review” received by the last mail from Australia: — “The rumours of capital leaving Australia because of the socialistic legislation tin operation here arc not •by any means unfounded. A case in point comes from Quirindi in New South Wales, where, a few days ago

the Tama rang Shire Council tendered a farewell 'banquet to Councillor Kenneth C lift, who leaves in a few days for the Argentine Republic, South America. The president (Mr Hughe* iMeMaster) occupied, the chair, and said it seemed a pity that men of means like Mr Clift felt compelled to go away from Australia to invest their capital, when vast areas ’of land in Queensland and West Australia were unoccupied. Councillor Clift said he had a large amount of money available, but could see no.safe investment in taking up more land in Australia when 30 per cent went to pay taxes of various kinds. He was going to South America, where land taxation was unknown, large areas were plentiful and easily acquired.” Drought and Coexists in South America. But these statements have not been allowed to pass unchallenged. One writer points out that the Argentine has a heavy land tax of its own, known as the “contribution territorial,” whirdi is based on the estimated value of holdings. lie hints that the justice Or otherwise of this tax depends on the fairness with which the value of laud is estimated. lie also draws attention to the fact that the Argentine has troubles of its own which are quite as bad in their own way as socialistic legislation. The country suffers severely from drought, and the locusts a<re often a veritable plague- Another writer denies the contention that the Argentine is not heavily taxed, and instances the tax of £2 a year for every shade butchers use in their shop windows to keep the rays of the sun off their meat. A parent also declares that for people, with families New Zealand is far preferable. He says that in New Zealand a girl can go about with an absolute certainty that she will not be molested, while in the Argentine a girl cannot even walk down the streets of the capital without someone pinching her or molesting her. Another writer says that the Argentine will soon be as full of labour legislation as Australia, to judge by the results of the recent elections in the Republic. J* The Advantages of New Zealand. Distant fields are always green, and to many, .who do not know the conditions obtaining elsewhere, almost any other country is better than their own. The Argentine undoubtedly possesses much goqd land, and the price of land away from the large cities is fairly cheap. But there are many drawbacks.

The legislation in Australasia may bo in the direction of what some people would call Socialism, and the taxes on large estates may be high. But the form of government is stable, and there is no fear of a revolution. Australasia is under the British flag, and enjoys the protection of the British fleet. The Argentine is mainly protected from aggression by the Monroe doctrine, which may prove a broken reed in the time of need. Nor is the progressive legislation of these colonies a thing bad in itself. The big estates are being subdivided in the interests of the small settler. Doubtless to men with large holdings this may seem inimical to their interests, but it is not the large holder who has the first claim to considerate, but the small holder who is helping to develop and to populate the countryOur laws give protection to all, and to judge by some of the writers in the Buenos Ayres “Herald” this is far from being the ease with the laws in the Argentine. Doubtless much capital is finding its way into South America, but this does not necessarily show that the country is a desirable one to live in. It (probably means that Icapilal receives a larger share of the profits and labouj receives considerably under its due. Some few men of means may find the Argentine a more profitable country for the employment of capital than our own. But it is no country for the poor man, or even the man of moderate means, and many a colonist who has found his way thither from one or other of the British colonies has had good reason to regret that he left his own land far ■the alluring but often delusive charms of the Argentine. Republic. J* The Sculling Race. The defeat of Arnst by Barry came as a surprise to most of those who have followed the performances of the twb men, but had failed to make any allowance far the New Zealander’s conditiofi. On the Zambesi Barry was completely outclassed by the ex-champion, and finally gave up about 200yds. from the finishing post. Arnst started a warm favourite for (he recent race, and held the lead for the. first part of the course, but he palpably tired towards the end, and gave up when 100yds. from home. Barry deserves every credit for his line win. He showed splendid form throughout-, and displayed admirable judgment. But it was quite clear that Arnst was noj in liis best form. The injury to his head received at Manly is stated to have affected his nervous and muscular system, and he had done little serious work since the race on the Zambesi. Barry, on the other hand, was in splendid form,

ami had kept himself in £»»»<! it Ton by constant work. As each man haw now won a race, it is to bv hoped that another match will Ih* arranged under conditions that will deride’ which is really the better pvi t<»rmei. The Police Report. I'hr report of the Police Commissioner shows a dr.-reasp in serious crimes. hi 1910 there were 738 rases reported, an I lilfi arrests made, while in 1911, there were 580 case* reported and 471 arrests made. The prosecutions for drunkenness decreased h\ 19 compared with the previous year. Wellington had the greatest number of conviction* both in regar<l 10 miles and female*. then follow ed Auckland. Christchurch. Wanganui. Napier. Dunedin, and Invereargill, in the order named. The report shows that their was a eon*ideral»le nslaction in the number of prosecutions under the gaining laws. There was a considerable increase in cases of criminal assault, and this class of olTem e serin* to be on the increase in all parts of the Dominion. The special report on the Auckland district dwell* on tiie need for making provision for increasing the police force in the city and suburbs to meet the needs of the rapiilly-grow population. It is gratifying to know that the conduct of the force ha* been uniformly good. Tlie Tennis Champion. Anthony Wilding has announced Lis retirement from tir,*t-cla** tennis, and this decision i* sure to be regretted by lawn tennis enthusiasts throughout the world. He is recognised a* the finest player of the present day. and he has won championship* both in England and <>n the Continent. He was instrumental in bringing the Davi* (’up to Australasia in 1907. when in partnership with Norman Brooke* he defeated England, the holders of the cup. Ever since he ha* •been in England a- n law student, he ha* devoted a large part <»f his time to tin game, but he ha* now gone into partnership with a London ktrrister. and hr feels that the serioa* business of the law will claim the whole of his attention in future. His many friends and admirer* will hope that he will attain as high, a place in the legal world as hr has done in the world of sport. Anonymity in the Press. Mr Hindmarsh i* anxious to follow the example of Mr Fi*her ami compel the imwspapers to make a return of all money’ received for electoral purposes, ami to print the name ami address of any person writing an article commenting on any candidate or political party. It is not easy to see what, .good i* anticipated from (hi- proposal. In many ca-es an article is the result of a <!»*«-u-*ion lietween the different member- <«f a -taff, in some instances assisted by expert outside opinion. The actual writer may not agree- with every part of the article, which reflects the policy of the paper rather than individual opinion. 11 would often Im l actually misleading wpi. any one name put to an article. Il i* certainly curious that the main opposition to the freedom of the Press comes from the Lilsiur paity. Both in. Australia ami in Englaml the Conservative- are subjected to far fiercer criticism than the Radical*, yet they seem content t<» let every paper have a free hand in dealing with political matter®. The great objection to the Bill lie* in the fact that it xs the first step toward* I ringing tin* Pre-s of the Dominion under •’! control. Should the day ever c«»im when the Press is made subservient to any party, one of the greatest safeguard* of liberty will hr swept a wav. 1’ for the public to protest again*! any attempt to curtail the liberty of the pep!, by -titling free di* a-sion? Olio r- "***’ a.- may have a mw sort of Impi - - 1-on. wi’h -the nn-ml «-r for WUlingLm < ii» f impd-itor. Tie Arbitration Court. F..i ne time |.,»-t there li.i- Is, 11 1,1 '• ‘‘i- •niriit in the ranks »»f Ltis>ii V (ration <Hhf’. J ml several have hern otTerr,] for anooi.l •- the eoiwtitotion o 1 ii..- Voart, txl -••luriiit.' Iw-ttrr metho.], of aibitiatioii. objo. iioi. Im- krn taken to the Appointment of a. of the Kufitrenie Court a. Pro-.,!, nt of the Arbitral on Court. It is urged that the premdout OUjiht to be a man of eommiin -eiiae, and Bot a lawyer. Mr. John Fawcua thinks

that the time has come when a working man who ha* had practieaJ experience an a worker should be selected as president, of the Court. As the discontent with the Court is chiefly confined to the workers, the appointment of one of their number a* president ought to do something towards making them more contented. It would help to make the Court more popular from the workingclass standpoint, if it was an understood thing that in all cases w here there was any l doubt the worker was to get the benefit of the doubt. It is hardly possible to lay' down a hard and fast rule that all eouces-ions asked for by the workers must be granted, but if the president were a worker there would be more vhance of the demands of the workers being conceded. It is argued that a judge belongs to the capitalist <la-*. and thus a class distinction i* introduced. It is also felt that a judge is apt to look at things from a legal standpoint, ami the legal point of view often conflict* with tin* best interests of the workers. The increasing number of unions that are cancelling their legist ration under the Act shows the necessity that exists for some amendment in the law as it now stands. The Australian Land Tax. A gontieman bearing the historic name •»i Francis ’Bayun has been writing to the English pre** to protest against the band policy of Australia. in speaking of the la ml tax. he says:—“This tax lii* operated mo*t injuriously on second- < la-* purely grazing country in New s outl» Wale*. 1 can mention several sheep properties where the owners purchased the bare land from the Xtate twenty-five year* ago at 20/ to 25/ an acre, and have since spent 5/ to 10/ an acre improving, by fencing, building, we!’*, tank*, dams (artesian bores, etv., costing in many i-ase* over L‘3900 each). These lands are now valued at 10. io 15/ an acre, and sales have been a tually made at 8/ to 15 z death made it necessary to wind up estate*. I myself gave 20 an acre for 12,00 Q acre*, and in the sale of my station last year let it go at 10/. v . - “ There was no ne» e—*ity to force owner* to sell. The good seasons for the last fen years, ami the high prices of wheat, caused a good demand for land n the wheat-growing areas, and. a* a matter oi fact, there ha* been more Jami offering than there were buyers. Australian land owner- are not fools; they ’nave no sentiment, ami if they can sell their estate* at a good price they are only too glad to do so, and they are not behind in developing their properties. It was the big men that led the van in wheat growing—Mr. E. H. Liscelles in Victoria, the late Hon. C. 11. Greene. New .South Wales (who farmed 20,090 acres). Frank Mark, and many others.” He goes on to say many unkind thing* oHcerning the general policy of Air. Fisher ami hi* colleague,*, and, though he ha- -igned his name, ami that a famous one. to his letter, it is doubtful if ihi* w.dl make it any the more acceptable to (be Feder.il Premier. The Futurist Woman. On the top of the suffragette movement, we get the futurist movement, which openly preaches the gospel of violence for women. The trend of the ideas of thi- new movement may be gathered from the ‘First Manifesto of the Futurist Woman.” “Humanity is mediocre. The majority' of women are neither superior nor inferior to the majority of men. Both are e<pial. Both deserve tthe same contempt. . . Every woman should possess not only feminine virtue*, but virile qualitie*. . . The man who has only mile for«-e without intuition is but a brute. But in the (teriod of feminism in which we live, the contrary exaggeration alone is salutary; the brute must be held fip as model. . . The real women are the Furies, the Amazom—, Semiramis. loan of Arc, Jeanne Hachette, Judith and charlotte Corday. Cleopatra ami Mes-alina : the warriors who tight more tiei.-ely than niales, the lover* who -timulate. the d<—tructors who, breaking the more feeble, help selection by arrogance or de-pair. “the despair which makes the heart render its whole.’ Feminism is a political mistake. Fentiiiism is a cerebral mistake of woman—a mistake which her instinct will make her n ogni-e. Woman must is* given none of the right* claimed by the fmninist*. To give them would bring about none of the disorders <le»dred by the Futurists, but, on the roiy. trary, an excess of order. . . . Let

woman regain her cruelty and her violence K which make her persecute the vanquished because they are vanquished, to the point of mutilating them. Cease preaching that spiritual justice to which she has vainly tried to submit. Women, become once more sublimely unjust like all the forces of nature! Freed from all control, with your instinct rediscovered, you will again take your place among the elements, opposing fatality to the conscious will of man. Be the selfish and ferocious mother, who jealously guards her young, holding them by all that is called right and duty, whilst they are physically in need of protection. • • .” •*« A Mucli-needed Railway. For years a proposal to push a railway service through East (’oast districts south of Napier, opening up a vast stretch of fertile land and giving reasonable facility to present settlers to reach outside market*, has lieen persistently advocated by citizens, and local bodiv* throughout the territory atlected, from Masterton in the south to Dannev irke at the northern end. The original promoter* intended that a light line should be constructed, as being quite serviceable ami the least costly, to act as a feeder to the main *y*tem and connecting at the two points mentioned, and so confident were they of success That as a last resort they offered to construct and control the service if the. requisite rights were conceded. At that time the late Hon. R. J. Bcddon and his colleague* would have nothing to do with the project. 'The promoters continued their agitation, based upon definite and carefully-prepared data, but up to the present the effort has been in vain. Recently, a meeting representative of" all the local bodies .throughout the district was held at Masterton, and a demand will be made on the, new Government to assist the men on the land by making provision for tin* railway in quest inn. Previous Experience. A rejected remit at the recent Municipal Conference sought to impose on aspirants for mayoral honours >as an ess<‘ntial qualification previous experience a* a councillor, making an exception with the first election for a newly-eon--tituted borough, and retaining the existing franchi*e. The chief complaint voiced again*t the present unrestricted select i o n vva * that m en wit h on t a n y knowledge of civic government managed to push their way to election, and then had to lx l guided in their duties by councillor®. In the opinion of supporters of the suggested change, the position of mayor should be reserved asi a reward for services rendere<l, and that by so doing a continuity of policy would bo ensured. As against the remif, instances were quoted in which citizens, without previous experience, had capably carried out mayoral responsibilities, and to ex-, fen 1 the argument to its logical conclusion it wa* suggested that it would be necessary to insist that all the highest public positions should be surrounded by similarly restrictive conditions. Apart from sentiment there is very little to recommend the change. The fitness of a citizen to occupy the highest civic position can very well be left to the good sense cf the voters, wrthout. legislative enactment *to declare that only’ men of <*x|>erience may be nominated. In addition, a continuity of policy is not alwav s desirable, but even if a commendable polity had been initiiiteT/ the members of the Council should have sufficient power to prevent any deviation inimical to the interests of the borough concerned. New High Cowmissiouer. In selecting the Hmi. 'F. Mackenzie to r<*piv*ent the Dominion as High Commis--ioner at Home the Ma-»*ey Government ha*. accor<ling to genera! estimation, (1) made a })<>pular appointment, (2) rho- ii a man eminently equipped to efficiently ♦•any out the duties of the position, a ml <3> pa-M-J over aspirants backed by vears of party loyalty and service in giving piefcreiT.t' *fo a political o|?ponent; against which it is charged that the Government was actuat'd by’ a desire to (1) g<*t rid of a troublesome critic and uhrewd opjomnt, and (2) have the opportunity of recovering a seat won from them at the hist election. But the |M»litiral aspect of the appointment is not of so much concern as the thorough and

adequate rejni'sentation of the financial and <*onrmei>cial interests of this country in the heart of the market* of the worhf. Mr Mackenzie is a man of sound common sense ami practical commercial instimts. with a wide knowledge of the Dominion's product* and requirement*-, ami previous experience of the marketing of the produce. He will go to the London office not as a theorist, but a-j an administrator with a grip of the actualities, with a big capacity for work and mastering dilli'culties, and a determination to do 'the best possible for the Dominion. He should be a su. » e*s. Prospective Trade. My. Mackenzie has already given an outline of his intentions. Special attention will be devoted to opening up trade with Continental countries, partieularly in New Zealand meat. In hi* opinion, France may I.h» induced to relax the embargo against mutton from this Dominion. ami (Jermany (Mirsuaded te amend hei Customs tariff in a similar direction. The development of the fruit export trade will not be neglected. Mr. Mackenzie inclines to tin* belief that good markets may bo found for locallygrown fruit in England, Argenlin.i. and also the eastern seaport*. <»f North America after the cutting <>t the Panama Canal. By helping along the fruit industry in New Zealand and creating profitable markets will follow the cultivation of extensive area*, unsuitable for purposes other than fruit-growing. Tim prospects for the frozen meat trade were \cr\ bright. Amongst other thing*, Mr. Mackenzie- suggests lectures and cinematograph views as adverti*ing agencies in various centre.-, with produce displayed in the local shops simultaneously, thu* keeping in line with the modern method* oi other progressive «*ountrirs.