NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Sir Joseph Ward, who returned from his visit to Australia yesterday, was naturally asked for information concerning the Imperial Trade Commission, or at any rate his intentions respecting his appointment as tl e New Zealand representative on the Commission. Apparently he is still labouring under the idea that the interests of' the people of the Dominion are a small matter compared with the convenience of Sir Joseph Ward. According to our evening contemporary, his actual words on the subject were: "As to his connection with the Imperial Trade Commission, Sir Joseph said he was not prepared to make a statement just now. He hoped to be able to do so in the course of a few days." If he is not able to do so in the course of a few days, presumably New Zealand can bo kept waiting for a few weeks more, or may be for a few months; and meanwhile . the Dominion can remain unrepresented on the Commission. It is possible that Sir Joseph Ward is labouring under the delusion that the country is so anxious to secure his services on the Commission taat it is prepared to put up with any plans it pleases him to make in connection with it. This is of course a very mistaken idea. If Sir Joseph Ward is not in a position to carry out the duties of the office, it will not bo a difficult matter to find someone else well fitted for the task, who would _be proud to represent the Dominion on such a Commission, and who would appreciatj the fact that the country is entitled at the earliest moment to the fullest information as to what is transpiring. We fear that New Zealand has already been placed in a somewhat invidious position through Sir Joseph Ward's dalliance. An explanation from him as to his intentions is long overdue.

A correspondent 'remarks that New Zealanders appear to have lost that respect which is usually shown by a nation to their King's representative. "It must appear very noticeable to a foreign visitor, or to an Englishman," he adds, "when he sees the King's representative passing through a crowd standing with their hats on. This may be the rule in Australia, but it is to be hoped that New Zealanders will not allow themselves to fall into the lack of etiquette already established there." There is a good deal in what our correspondent says, but it would be erroneous to suggest that_ the behaviour he complains of is an evidence of lack of respect for the King. As a matter of fact, it is nothing of the kind. It is rather the outcome of the spirit of independence which the conditions of colonial life encourage, and which unfortunately is so often accompanied by an inability to recognise that it_ is possible to display respect without showing servility. It is probable that if the question were put to them a veiy large proportion of any colonial street gathering would express the view that it would be rather servile to take off their hats when the Governor passes. Of course the mere fact of lifting one's hat to the representative of the King in no way denotes servility or anything like it.. Nor does it in any way personally have to do with the Governor—it is simply a courtesy due to the Crown. Just as a sailor salutes the quarter-deck, and a soldier the flag, so, in the same spirit, should tne civilian raise his hat to the Governor.

The success of _ ths Australian team of cricketers in the first of the triangular Test games will be hailed with enthusiasm by those in the Commonwealth who objected to the attitude of the veterans who stood aloof from the team because they could not get their own way in the matter of the appointment of a manager. The victory in the game against South Africa was distinctly creditable. Gregory's team not only put up a good score, but proved itself capable of brilliant work both with the ball and in the field. It is true that the bulk of the runmaking fell on the shoulders of two players—Bardsusy and Kelleway—but that is cricket. It is a little early yet to tanc hopefully of the prospects of the team in the Tests against England. The South African team has been getting a bad handling fi'om the county teams, and it was fully expected that' it would succumb to the Australians. At the same time the fact cannot be ignored that the Commonwealth team has performed very creditably, and in some' respects has exceeded expectations. Some of its batsmen have yet to strike form, and "sundries" total somewhat heavily in the scores against it. With improvement in these particulars it bids fair to extend the pick of England before the. tour ends.