NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 924, 17 September 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The Government's decision to surrender to the protests of Auckland against the abandonment of the Governor's residence in that city cannot be allowed to pass without a word of comment. We must compliment our Auckland friends upon their skill in squeezing' a Government, that is ready to : humble itself to any degree when the ordor to do so comes from a sufficiently large and determined body of protest. But there compliment and congratulation must end. The public is' so used by now to the Government's habit of taking a firm stand and l then backing down without a blush that, its latest confession of fear .and weakness will .cause, no surprise, it has filled such a staunch friend of the Government as the Dunedin Star with disgust and indignation. But there is a serious aspect of the question which cannot but cause some concern to the friends of economy arid. good government. We find the Otago Daily Times of Wednesday saying this:

"Since the decision of the Government is what has now been announced, it is a reasonable suggestion that provision must be-inade' by the State for. the-residence of the Governor. for portion of'the year in each of the other chief centres of the Dominion. Lord Islington has personally expressed a desire that he may bo able to secure such accommodation in both Christchurch and Dunedin as will admit of his residihg for A term in each of these cities. It may be conjectured that he would welcome the .opportunity to live during the summer months in tho South Island. The Government, which proposes, by the maintenance of an official residence in Auckland,' to. render it practically, obligatory on his Excellency to spend a portion- of each year there, can hardly, in the circumstances, ignore the necessity : of makirfg such provision as may bo requisite to enable the Governor's wishes with respect to his residence in the South Island, to bo fulfilled."

We are bound to say ,that this .is a perfectly sound. argument, and we fail to see how the Government can now refuse to spend £100,000 or so. in .erecting and furnishing permanent residences. for. ■ the. Governor in Ohristchureh' and Dunedin. Such is the result to be expected when we have a Government., wanting in theprinciples that would .enable it to defend the national interest against local pressures!

The; Christchurch Press has an editorial protest'against the' article which we printed the otheri day; from a'contributor in criticism" of, the administration of the Cricket Council. It ridicules our contributor's charges against the Council, but solemnly . assures its readers that "this movement in favour of centralisation should be watched carefully." Wellington; we are told, "seems bent on getting control of all athletics, and it will be a bad day for athletics if it succeeds": "The management of tho Rugby Union-has been by no means flawless, and that of tennis has been perilously near a scandal. Commendably free from local prejudice :in most.; things,;., Wellington people are. becoming, potoribus for parochialism .'in,: sport.' : When-their, thoughts turn towards Athletic Park or the Basin Reserve, , they think Now Zealand begins at Khandallah and ends at Island: Bay." We canhot admit- this charge, but. we cannot help thinking ..that • what - our: contemporary says concerning -"centralisation!' is probably quita : true. But'it is-not .in dr'der to argue that point that, we have referred to the mattoiv.' What does appear, to us-to' call for attention is the tone aind' language of the Press., Is it hot exactly- the: tone and language , in which our excellent contemporary, and,- indeed, many .other of our con-, temporaries, discuss the •; political questions of tho day? It is; and for the reason that sport of all kinds is ;coming to be rega,rded as . of. no less importance, than politics. We jMlieve in . giving plenty of 'space to sport, ;' because: it. i" -. a very. good thing. : But sport .can be, verjr general, and- there! can. be unlimited enthusiasm over , sport, . without - the public treating it as of supreme importance. - If tinly half the enthusiasm that is devoted to' good sports government were devoted to the securing of good government for'the Country in the regions ! outside.' the sports grounds,, this would, be a happy country. , ■

. .The defeat oft General Botha by: Sin Percy . Fitz'patkick, in the Pretoria East contest is.,certain.to focus public attention -, upon the . momentous election' struggle now proceeding in South Africa. The real struggle is not between . the Progressives— now known as the Unionists—and the Boers of General, :Bot'ha's; wiiy of thinking, but. between: the Progressives and the extreme Boer _ faction that aims at the "Dutchification" of South Africa. Only fa few rosults are'to hand, and these indicate a Unionist strength greater than: was estimated by the Johannesburg correspondent of the Times, who, as reported, in a cable message yesterday, declared that' the Botha Government ; was assured .of a "greater or less majority." It seems very likely - that: if ■ the, Government does secure a majority '.it.wilHbe small enough to enable the moderateelements in the Government to take a strong stand- against the pressure of the extremists in the party. General Botha has been admitted by his opponents.to cherish a most sincere desire to prevent the future of the Union from the initial ,injury of race bitterness. Nothing, indeed, could he more generous than 'the terms in which Dr. Jameson and Sir Percy Fitzpatrick have credited the famous Boer leader with the best of motives. The first results of the election are very encouraging, and if they are a presage of the final result, the- Empire a*- 'a whole will ; be well pleased, since tho _tying-up of the forces of Het Yolk will secure' that the Union will make-the begin-, ning that all lovera'of freedom and -moderation must desire. And probably nobody would be better pleased than General Botha himself.