NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1147, 7 June 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

A coop deal of curiosity and some concern is being displayed regarding the action of Cabinet in keeping back tho report of the llacing Commission, placed in their hands a fortnight or three weeks ago. This report, which deals with the issue of totalisator permits to racing clubs in accordance with the reduction in the number ol permits under the Act of last session, is of vital interest to many clubs, which stand to lose practically everything, while other elubs,_ though less seriously affected, are' liable to find themselves very awkwardly situated by a reduction in the number of their racing days. It lias to be borne in mind that most o£ the clubs have incurred substanliabilities in erecting accommodation and in providing for the comfort and convenience of the public, and they have already suffered severely at the hands of the Government through the extra taxation recently imposed absorbing so large a proportion of their funds. It is only reasonable therefore that they should be informed as soon as possible, so that they may make their plans for the future, what- their fate is to bo in the matter of totalisator permits; The Racing Commission, of which Sir. George Clifford is chairman, spared no pains in its endeavour to complete its investigations and forward its report to the Government at the earliest possible moment, and it is equally desirable that the Government should show the same expedition in making the findings of the Commission public. It is impossible to conceive any good reason which Ministers can have for keeping back tho Commission's report.

Consecrated yesterday in accordance with the impressive rites of the Anglican Church, the Hight Uev. T. H. Sprott has now taken office as fourth Bishop of Wellington with the hearty goodwill and loyal support of the clergy and laity of a united diocese He has already done splendid work for the Church as vicar of St. Paul's, and even greater things are confidently expccied from him in his higher and larger sphere of influence as Bishop of the diocese. We live in a time of religious and intellectual unscttleincnt—one of those periods of ebb or equilibrium that occur from time to time in the long story of the spiritual development of our race; but those, who .-ecogniso that religion is ;v permanent and fundamental element in human nature do not see in these periods of unrest any reason for pessimism. They know that the work. of reconstruction is boing quietly but effectually 1 done, arid the way is being prepared for the next great advance, which in the opinion of many competent observers may begin sooner than the majority of people seem to tlrinft. This is the view of Professor Euckek, one of the most distinguished leaders of modern thought in Germany, and in this he is supported by Du. Harnack, who recently declared that he is absolutely certain that the present period of nnsettlement wilKnot lead to a weakened sensj of the value of Christianity, bun that the larger understanding wilt make its true _ worth more evident. When it is remembered that the character and direction of the coming advance must be greatly influenced by the intellectual forces at present at work, it becomes evident how urgent is the need for sound learning, intellectual courage, and the spirit of wisdom and understanding in our religious leaders. Those who know the new Bishop of Wellington best arc confident that he is well endowed with these qualifications for successful leadership, and men of all schools of thought will join in wishing him a long and prosperous episcopate.

Wβ fancy that a good many people arc beginning to suspect that _ Me. Buddo, judging from his assiduity in "giving away" the Government's case, is-a secret agent of Mrt. Massey's. Anyway, Mr. Buddo is a very fine asset of the Reform party. On Monday, at Rahotii, a Taranaki township that has just got a nice new post office, Mi:. Buddo was again at large. In his speech at the opening ceremony ho said many fine things that we should much like to linger upon—as, for example, that a spirit of economy has "taken hold, of the Opposition"—but _wc have room to discuss only one point. We quote from the Taranaki Daily Xcies's report of his speech the passage, in question:

As regarded the indebtedness that could be got rid of at any time. Sell the. railways, dispose of the assets, tho advances to "settlors and lands for settlement. These three alone would extinguish more than half. In helping each other, however, they were not called on to pay a brass farthing.

There you have it, plump, and plain —the reduclio ad qbsurdum of the Government's whole defence of its wild borrowing policy. Mjt. Buddo, remembering his colleagues' arguments, and anxious, honest man, to sum then; up, sums them up faithfully and concisely. And naturally shows how absurd they are. For if the Government "at any time" tried to sell the railways, it could not do it. After long negotiation, years of negotiation, it might do it. In a time of crisis it could not sell. Men do not wait round for a chance to pay £30,000,000 for a railway business. If the Government began now to negotiate the sale of the railways the country might do very well in the end. But the Government's argument implies that if it had to, it could sell them quickly and at a good price. But if it had to, the circumstances forcing it would probably be such that it could not sell anything. And_ when Mn._ Buddo says, in discussing borrowing, that it'does not cost us a brass farthing, he is only going the full length of the Government's logic. His speech is as effective an exposure as we have ever read of the hollowness of the two main pleas of the Ministry, namely, that ouv debt is not really debt, and that it really costs nothing to borrow.