NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1080, 20 March 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

There is some alarm and irritation in the far south at the impending reduction of the representation of the South Island in Parliament. Mr. T. Mackenzie, who represents Taieri, one of the scats threatened with extinction a's a separate seat, is not at all pleased. "He emphatically objected" at Mosgiel on Thursday night, "to the present system of cutting to pieces the electorates of the Dominion." He added that "the people were sick and tired of it," which probably will surprise nobody more than "the people. Commenting upon this, the Dunedin Star observes : The reasonable .section of the northern community must admit that equity and broad considerations of national policy warrant a departure from the hard-and-fast rules wliich the Boundary Commissioners have hitherto been constrained to observe. It is possible to push the principle of scientific- representation to an absurd extreme. Such, we suppose, as the driving of poor Mr. Mackenzie to fresh woods and pastures new. Of course all reasonable persons will listen to any goocl reasons commanded by "equity and broad considerations," but we must have them before we can listen to thorn.' What are they in this case 1 The Star does not say. It does suggest, indeed—without giving any supporting reason—that the electoral boundaries ought not to bo "disrupted" more than once in ten years. That would be good enough were it not that the disparity in the population of the two islands is growing more marked very rapidly. For some years the South Island has been over-represented, and if equity demands anything it is that one vote shall have one value.

It appears that wo touched a particularly tender spot in the Ministerialist body when, in contrasting the attitude of the New Zealand Government'with that of the Canadian and Australian Governments in the matter of Imperial naval defence, we observed that New Zealand had not been permitted to contribute much more than talk to the maintenance of British naval supremacy. The Christchurch organ of the Government is very indignant, and it points to "the contribution of a battleship to the British Navy and the adoption of Lord lutchener's defence scheme." This, of course, doss not answer our point at all, which still stands. But our contemporary goes on to say: "Before the general election at the end of the year we shall hear a good deal from our contemporary [The Dominion] about the additional burdens they have brought upon the shoulders of the unhappy taxpayer." It is apparent that the "Black" pamphlet is not the only matter upon which tho Ministerialists are going to exercise their skill. The Christchurch paper knows as well as our readers know —for, judging by its continual references, it studies The Dominion with great diligence—that one of our chief complaints is that the Government is neglecting its duty in the matter of defence, and spends the taxation, not in defence, but in the corruption of the country's conscience for party purposes. But, of course, our Ministerialist friends will stick at very little. In our article we urged that the Prime Minister is mistaken in thinking, or professing to think, that New Zealand is unwilling to make a large sacrifice for naval ends, just as he was mistaken when he bitterly opposed compulsory training almost to the last moment 011 the ground that the country "would not stand it." The Christchurch paper says that Sir Joseph Ward did not object to compulsory training, but that when he had obtained Lord Kitchener's opinion "he set about converting the country"! We did not want to revive this question; but could anything be more absurd than that perversion of recorded truth? Sir Joseph Ward did oppose compulsory training, and very strongly too, as everyone knows; and it was public opinion that converted him, or at any rate persuaded him to change his attitude. This somersault was an amazingly rapid one when it did take place. If our contemporary will undertake to print them—and it ought to jump at the chance of printing a column or two from its political hero—we shall gladly supply it with as many extracts from Sir Joseph "Ward's speeches on the subject prior to April, 1909, as it likes.

LficAL trades unionists are deserving of congratulation on the interest they are displaying in their municipal electoral privileges. They have oeen conducting an active enrolment campaign for sonio time past, and on Saturday last this culminated in" a special effort of an unusual kind. Stands were set up at street corners in various parts of the city, and citizens were exhorted to enrol themselves, enrolment forms, pens and ink being provided for the purpose. This method may not be considered the safest or the best means of ensuring that only those who have the right shall be enrolled, but in the existing state of_ public -lethargy it probably its purpose where other means might fail. It is a good thing that this keen interest should be shown in municipal affairs by any large body of citizens, and if the Labour Unions score a success with their candidates at the polls they will have thoroughly well earned it. We are not in favour of sectional representation, but if those citizens who are. indifferent to their privileges and neglect their duty as citizens arc taught a sharp lesson by means of a Labour victory, it may in the end serve a good purpose. The time is drawing near when those who have not secured enrolment will find themselves too late, and will lose thoir chance to vote.'