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Press, Volume L, Issue 15047, 15 August 1914, Page 10

Whilo the British Government has been prompt, vigorous, and far sighted in dealing with tho dislocation of trade and finance brought about by the war ao Homo, the same thing may fairly bo said of tho .action of tho New , Zealand Government, although tho probicrcs to be solved hero were far less serious. Nevertheless, Mr Massey and his colleagues have taken a firm grip of the position, and acted in a prudent and statesmanlibo way. The additions to the Mortgages Extension Bill protecting local bodies, building societies, and other institutions receiving deposits from heavy and suddeVi demands for fixed deposits, while the country is iv a state of war, will greatly add to its usefulness. Tho object of the measure is to protect the public against anything in. tho chape of panic ou tho part of a section of the community which might be disastrous t<l all. Fortunately" tho situation has been, niot generally with calmness and go<(d sense, and we do not anticipate there will' be any need to bring the Act into operation. Nevertheless, ifc is well to have in readiness such a means ot protecting tho country in case it sliculd bo required.

The public win learn with much satisfaction to-day that the Government, after consultation with the Chief Justice, has decided to liberate six of in© ten men at present serving terms of imprisonment for serious offences committed during the stnke. Amongst the six is Henry Holland. It is iitting tnat this' Dominion should in this matter adopt tho came pohcy as has been followed by the British Government,

Nobody doubts that Ihe Governments action will be justified by the behaviour of the men set free, and will strengthci the Labour parties in their re-solution to pull with tho rest of the community in this timo of crisis, xhe re:vl significance of tho Government's decision is in its implication that when tht- Empire is armed for battle sectional and party troubles and antagonisms and misfortunes disappear.

There is much to be raid for the anxiety of the Canterbury Committee of the Moderate League that the members oi tho Expeditionary r'orco should have some means of recording their votes lit the coming election. Tho cemmitteo havo telegraphed to the Prime Minister asking that special provision be made to meet the case, ''as otherwise a great change might be effected in tho condition of the country during their absence, and without their approval." It might bo arranged that any member of the force eligible to vote should have power to authorise somebody to vote for him by proxy. We are afraid, however, that the circumstances will be held by Parliament not to warrant uo notable an Innovation. A majority of the members ot the force, wo thin. 1 :, are of the panic way of thinking as the Moderate League, and it is very unfortunate that the Moderate should suifcr from the patriotism of its i-upporters. But it is the fortune of war. On gen(ral grounds, ho'vever, the matter is ono which Parliament might well take ii.to consideration when it resumes its sitting on Wodnesdaywßok.

A good many people must have been (surprised when they heard a few weeks ago that the United States had sold two olrl battleships to Greece. The act was hardly consonant. with the peace doctrines of -»ir Wilson's Government. The surprise is heightened by information regarding tho transaction which has como by mail. Thero were thoso who feared that the sale of these ships to Greece might start a third Balkan war, but perhaps they were comforted by the President's <ussu ranee that "if he had had any idea that tho vessels wcro to be used against Turkey or any other nation he would not support the project." On this tho New York "Herald" comments that the snips must then be "solely for the purpose of spreading the gospel of prohibition," a neat thrust at the Daniels liquor ordinance. Tho President is also quoted as saying that it had been represented to him that the sale "would even up tho balance of power in the Mediterranean, and make for peaco." It may, but surely this is a dangerous business for so detached a Power sks tho United States to meddle in. It has quito enough to do in keeping tho peace in tho American continents.

It should bo explained that tho appointment of Lord Roberts as Colonel-in-Chief of tho Dominions' forces that aro to bo despatched to tho seat of war is a purely honorary one. If Lord Roberts took the field, ib would be in supreme command, but rigorous as his intellect still is, physically ho would not bo equal to tho strain of a campaign. Thero have been commanders who gained victories in then old ago—Bluchor is a notable cx.impj.ov and Lord Roberts himself was nearly 70 when ho took tho field in South Africa—but tho practice is to give commands to men .vigorous in body as well as in mind. Lord Roberts's appointment is a compliment both to himself and to tho colonial troops, and none win wish for moro than that the men from oversea should prove worthy of their Commandor-in-Chief.