NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Some interesting, and in some respects' enlightening, correspondence appeared recently in the jiress in Dunedin, in the courso of Which Mr. A. R. Barclay, ex-M.P. for Dunedin, drew aside the veil and gave the public a peep behind the scenes as to the Government's methods at election time. It seems that at tho 1908 elections Mr. Barclay, who was tho retiring member for Dunedin North, somehow offended the powers that be, with the result that lie was "coldshouldered" prior to the first ballot in favour oi a gentleman named Mr. Isaao Green, who was taken up as the Government candidate. Despite this fact, Mr. Barclay succeeded in getting into the second ballot, Mr. Green being hopelessly beaten. Mr. Barclay, who apparently thought that ho had been betrayed by Tiis Ministerial friends, still did not resent this sufficiently to disdain their aid at the second ballot, and apparently secured it, only to be beaten, however, on polling day. The most, interesting feature of the controversy at the present stage is the strangely conflicting versions of the affair given by Mr. Millar and Mr. Barclay. Mr. Millar, for instance, says in a recent interview in the Dunedin Star: Mr. Barclay, after tho sccond meeting of his campaign in 1908, knew exactly whore ho stood so far as the Ward Government were concerned. He was then told very plainly that the Government neither wanted him nor his services. After he discovered this he began to qualify his speeches. Desperate efforts were made to eecuro tho Government label

for him, and a well-known member of his committeo gave him (Mr. Millar) no peace in tho hope of securing that result, but all efforts in that direction wero unsuccessful. On tlio very eve of the election Mr. Barclay himself tried to induce the Minister to go on the public platform and endorse his candidature, but Mr. Millar absolutely refused on that occasion, and preferred to go into Port Chalmers and give a helping hand to tho lato Mr. E. G. Allen. These are facts which will bo duly piercod during the forthcoming contest if Mr. Barclay is so solicitous that tho truth shall prevail. Mr. Millar said in conclusion: "I can only speak for myself, but I daro Mr. Barclay to produce from among his sheaf of "telegrams any wire signed 'Millar* wishing him success during the 1908 campaign." It was quite obvious that' as a Dunedin representative he (Mr. Millar) (individually preferred to see Mr. Barclay triumph over an Oppositionist, but that was merely an expression of individual opinion. Mn. Millar here makes ifc very clear' —(l) that the Ward Government had turned Mr. Barclay down; (2) that he had never sent Mr. Barclay any telegram during the election wishing him success. Yet Mr. Barclay publishes telegrams from three members of the Ward Ministry (Messrs. M'Nab, Fowlds, and Hall-Jokes) wishing him success at the elections, and the following letter—not a telcoram,_ but a letter—from Me. Millar himself:— Dunedin, November 23, 1008. Denr Mr. Barclay, In tho Dunedin North election between yourself and Mr. Thomson, tho Government desires to seo your return.—J. A Millar.

This letter, it will be seen, related to the second ballot, and is carefully worded, but it distinctly states "the Government desires to see your return"—not' Mr. Millar individually, but the Government, desired it. But Mr. Barclay piles up his proofs still further with the following telegrams which passed between himself and Mr. Fowlds subsequent to Mr. Millar's recent interview published in the Dunedin Star-. G. Fowlds, Esq., M.P., Wellington. J[r. Millar, in last. .Monday evening's "Star," says, referring to myself: "After th" second meeting of his campaign in 1008 he was (then) told vcr.v plainly that tlie Government neither wanted liiui nor

Ins services. Did you over know that any such thing was told me, or ,vas '° ho told mo, by anyone, or ( '"i the Cabinet over decido that I should bo slnmteU? llow did yon regard nio in tho Ilouso? "Was I, in your opill - ion a Radical, but a good supporter of the Government? (Signed) A. R. Bavclay. A. R. Barclay, Duncdin. Received word yesterday. Have no recollection of any decision against Your election in 1908. In the JJoufe I looked upon you as a Radical and Government supporter. (Signed) Geo. Fowlds. Mr. Millah, it would thus seem, has not a very accurate recollection of what transpired at the elections of 1908 respecting Mr._ Barclay's candidature. Ths relations which exist between Ministers and their candidates certainly do seem—peculiar.

The refusal of Ministers to disclose to the House of Representatives last evening particulars of the expenditure of public money by members of the Cabinet in entertaining is_ unfortunately Quite in keeping with Ministerial ideas. It is surprising, however, that even 28 members of the Government party could be found to vote in support of such an attitude as that taken up by their leaders. The narrow escape from defeat which the Government experienced on the question—the •voting on the motion of protest was a tic, 28 votes each way—should convince Ministers that the time has gone past for them to brazen through on such matters with impunity. Every penny of public expenditure should be fully accounted for, and instead of Ministers treating it as a concession when they give the information demanded of them, it should be supplied as a matter 'of course. The amount in the present case was not large, but it was expenditure which particularly called for full details; and tho Acting-Prime Minister was well advised in the end to take the very strong hint given by the vote of the House. The fact remains, however, that but for the firm stand taken by members Ministers would have once more kept back information concerning the public finances which members and the country have every right to possess.

_ While the "White Australia" idea is in the abstract a very line one, it is very unfortunate in its advocates. In the July number of tho National Review Mr. James Edjiond, the editor of the Sydney Bulletin, preaches the gospel of a "White Australia" in a fashion which'he, and no doubt

a good many others, will imagine is very fine and impressive, but which must he rather disgusting to those Australians who, while sympathising with Mr. Ediiond's ideal, yet prefer to think and keep in touch with facts rather than bellow with that dreadful Australian bard whom wo had to notice the other day: "We're tho beshter comin' nation of tho earth, twist you and me." Mil. Edjiond's argument is, in effect, that "a very largo number of pootplc in Australia have serious doubts about the wisdom of the proposed British control of all the se& forces of the Empire. Britain, he says, "talks much of the Flag," while Australia "thinks mostly of the Race," and,--ho adds, "the Flag is calico or some other form of soft goods; .the Eace is alive, and it_ is flesh and blood." He fears that the Imperial Government might not subordinate everything to the "White Australia" idea. If there were any chance of Australian ships being under the control of an Imperial Government that decided that "tho coloured fellow subjcct has just as much right as a white citizen to move freely and settle freely throughout the Lmpire," "then the great bulk of the Australian people have no possible use for that Imperial Navy." What Australia would do Me. Edmond docs not say, unless we are to believe there is any real meaning in utfi Allowing wild. nonsense: Should the day of trouble come, the position might be utterly hopeless, but that could make no difference in the resolve to uphold the white man's position against all comers so long as there remained a shot to be fired." That is very fine and large, of course; but we are bound to say tha,t the section for whom this ferocious gentleman speaks do' not impress us as being of the sort to which we should care to trust a nation's destiny. When Australia's time of trouble comes, it will bo the reflective and unpicturesque and sober people who will bear the brunt of it, and not the truculent vapourers who bellow at Great Britain and shake their 1 fists at the Imperial Navy. To most ' decent Australasians there is some- , thing nauseating in these people, who 3xist as free people by the grace of Britain's guns, who will take all j Britain can give them, but who yet E fancy that it is S. strong and virile s thing to tell Britain they will stand ! 10 nonsense. j