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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1618, 9 December 1912, Page 6

The retirement of Mb. J. W. Poynton, through ill-health, from tho office of Secretary to the Treasury has enabled tho Government to make an excellent appointment. Mn. Poynton, though widely respected and possessed of many _ admirable qualities, was hardly suited for the post in the Treasury which : he has just vacated. He had not had the advantage of the training and experience required for _ the position, and no doubt the strain imposed by the .heavy responsibilities attached to the duties of the office was prejudicial to his health. He will, as he himself states, be much more comfortable in his old position as _ a stipendiary magistrate, and in which he achieved much success. Mr. G. F. C. Camfbell, who has been appointed to the vacancy in the Treasury, is regarded as a very thorough and capable officer, and _ one well qualified to fill the position. The introduction of new blood into the control' of the Treasury Department should prove beneficial.

What to the New Zealander's ear is slanderous invective, offensive vituperation, deadly insult,' is the veriest commonplace in the language of American election campaigners during the heat and burden of tho conflict. _ Tho -other day an indignant citizen of; Pennsylvania sued a fellow citizen for calling him' "a crook, a swindler, and a thief," and the New York Evening Post selected the incident to point a sarcastic comment' on the evolution of our speech."

"It is common knowledge," observed the "Post," "that these particular term 6 do not convey the opprobrium which they once did. To be called a crook is only tobe told that you arc on tho other side of an argument; to be characterised as a swindler means merely that you fail to sao tho point that your opponent is trying to impress upon yon; to be denounced as a thief signifies nothing, more unworthy in your conduct than that you have dared to make a rejoinder. Even p. pickpocket, in these spacious timea, is simply one who has voted against you. To halo a fellow disputant into court upon tho charge of hurling such language in your face is to striko a blow at the evolution of our speech. Besides, if everyone should take this method of rebukinff an opponent, our judges would have no tame to attend to the serious business of tho court."

By the same token, [ the phrase "a blasted lyre" in New Zealand might be construed into an expression of regret that some worthy opponent should have had the misfortune to oxperience a nasty attack of laryngitis. America is not alone in its "evolution of speech."

The action of the Canadian Government in offering to provide three Dreadnoughts to be placed under the control of the British naval authorities appears to have created a worldwide stir; while the proposal to admit Canada permanently to the inner council of .tho Imperial Defence Committee has occasioned almost equal surprise. As we anticipated in our brief comment on Saturday, the party in Canada which favours an independent local navv, in preference to Canada assisting by contributing _ to the strengthening of the British Navy, is opposed to Mr. Borden'b offer. And in England there is some opposition to the _ proposal to give Canada a voice in .matters of foreign policy and Imperial defence in the manner proposed. Naturally, if Canada is to be favoured in this way, the other overseas dominions which are contributing to thecost of the naval defence of the Empire will expect to be similarly treated; and the fear appears to exist in some quarters thai an Imperial Defence Council, constituted of representatives from all parts of the Empire, might prove too great an influence in Home politics. The question certainly is one involving startling possibilities, and is likely to provoke a good deal of discord. Perhaps the most significant feature in connection with the Canadian Government's proposal is the attitudo of the American and the German press. Neither appear to like it—it introduces a new factor into the calculations of both the United States- and Germany. Throughout the Empire it • must have a stimulating effect, and in this Dominion in particular must encourage those who are alive to the necessity for New Zealand taking a more serious view of her naval responsibilities than has hitherto been the case. It is not an occasion for hasty and impetuous action; but when the Minister for Defence returns from his visit to England the public will expect something more definite from the Government on this subject than the enthusiastic expressions of loyalty and declarations of readiness to assist the Motherland, which have done duty for a very long time past.