MOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 4

MOTES OF THE DAY.

It is an open question whether tho new Mackenzie Government should fill the vacant office of High Commissioner in London, now temporarily occupied by Sir William Hall-Jones. The Government has no proof that it possesses the confidence of the country. Its members have never been before the people as a Ministry, and, its policy, whatever it may be, has not only- not been placed before the electors, but, save for a few vague professions of good intentions, has never even been stated. as Mr. Newman, M.P. for Bangitikei, pointed out in a recent speech, the Mackenzie Government, instead of taking the sound constitutional course of meeting Parliament at the earliest possible moment, took particular care to put off the day until the latest possible hour. It would seem, howover, judging from a statement by the Prime Minister, that he intends to make an appointment, and that the matter will be brought before his colleagues within the next few days. This being the case, we would impress on MrjMackenzie tho necessity which exists for appointing to the position someone who will worthily represent the Dominion, not merely in the carrying out of the routine duties attached to the office, but. on those larger occasions when New Zealand takes her place side by side with the Mother Country and sister Dominions of the Empire. The High Commissioner to-day requires to be something more than a figurehead, and the High Commissioner's office generally wants overhauling. It is not an easy matter to choose from those likely to be eligible for the post one who would fulfil all requirements. It is essential, however, that the occupant of the office should command attention as a public speaker and be possessed of energy and some business capacity. The position is not one which should be utilised as a comfortable resting place to reward political party services. The idea seems to prevail in usually well-informed quarters that Sir John Findlay may bo offered tho post.- Sir John Finilay possesses some of the qualities i cquired in the holder of the office end could bo relied on to keep New Zealand woll before tho British public. The Government could easily make a worse selection—in fact, up to the present he certainly overshadows such others as have been mentioned as likely aspirants.

The conflicts between the Auckland Socialists and "Professor" Mills, the energetic organiser of the United Labour party, are rather amusing, but we hope they will not mislead tho general public. There is really'no difference whatever between the Federation of Labour and the United Labour party in respect of their ultimate aims and reserve methods of action. When, after clearing the Socialists out of his meeting in Auckland on Friday night, he. proceeded to declare that the disturbance created by his Socialist enemies was "the death rattle of a discredited cause," Mr. Mills did a rather clever thing. It is the game of the United Labour party to represent itself as something entirely distinct in kind from the Federation of Labour; but there is really little if any material difference betweon them. Tho Federation, with its rash leaders, makes an excellent stalking horse for the Socialistic programme of the "Unity" movement, Mr. Mills and his friends are using the Federation rather skilfully by representing it as tho enemy, the idea being to divert the attention of the general public from the main movement of the Socialistic army, which is the United Labour party.

The public will probably find some occasion for amusement, iu the latest roovi! of that :imbiti.(.'\u! gentleman the es-AUnistor f°* Education ac^

ex-member for Grey Lynn. Mr. Fowlds, it will be recalled, resigned from the Ward Government in a somewhat sensational manner shortly after Sin Joseph Ward's return from England last year. His purpose was to preach a new evangel. Ho was dissatisfied with the drift from Liberalism under the Ward rer/ime, and pictured himself apparently as the leader of a new party which was to dominate the politics of the country and bring about that stato of perfection which a good many people seem to imagine is to be reached by means of pleasant-sounding platitudes. The sad fate which overtook him and passed the new into the outer darkness of the political world, is still fresh in the public mind. Mr. Fowlds succumbed at the ballots to that volatile representative of Labour, Mr. Payne. Now_ Mr. Fowlds sees a glimmer of hope in the active organisation of labour. The new evangel is to be laid aside, or, maybe, it is to be handed over to the Labour cause, and Mn. Fowlds himself is to become a disciple of Labour, .and presumably work hand in hand with his late- opponents. Ere long ho may even be seen aspiring to the leadership of the Labour movement. It is to be assumed from the step now taken by Mr. Fowlds that he, like a great many other people, recognises that the new Ministry is really the same old party in a new guise, with nothing better to look for from it, and he therefore desires to have nothing more to do with it. This must prove rather a shock to the extreme Radical section of the Mackenzie Government, and may also occasion some anxiety to the Prime Minister himself. Mr. Mackenzie is too astute not to be fully alive to the fact that it is well-nigh impossible to hold such support as he possesses in the country districts and at the same time cater for the Radical section of his following; and unless he makes the pace to suit his Radical friends he also cannot hold them. He not go on "marking time" indefinitely, and when ho docs move there is bound to be trouble. Mr. Fowlds has set an example which, when the pinch comes, may bo_ followed by others who were associated with him as members of the Ward party. Indeed his action may do a good deal ■towards assisting to make clear the true division in tho politics of the country—Labour and the extreme Radicals on tho one side, and the moderate party on the other. Mr. Mackenzie at present looks like falling between the two parties.