NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1768, 5 June 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The member for Wangnnui, Mr,.' Veitcii, is one of those actively associated with the Labour party who refuses to follow ,it the heels of the revolutionary section. In his opinion, judging from a recent speech, Labour's hopes lie in united action in the political sphere, and no doubt he is in the main yight. Being a shrewd judge of the public, the member for Wnnganui can see that the noisy, threatening, mischiefmaking element which nt present largely dominates the ranks of organised labour is alienating public sympathy from the Labour cause. Mr. Veitcii is probably the soundest of the Labour leaders at the moment, but it is doubtful if he exercises as much influence amongst those who profess to speak for Labour as some of the more militant gentlemen who arc constantly talking about breaking things. It is quite possible that at the coming conference in July Labour may "find itself." There appears to be a growing feeling that the chief hope of the Labour movement in the Dominion is to follow on the lines of independent action laid down by the leaders of the Labour party in Australia—to stand or fall as a separate and self-contained organisation, pledged to a stated platform and policy, and free from all entanglements with other parties. Curiously enough, it is the militant section which seems to have first »•/»« that Labour's failures in the past have been largely due lo the fact that Labour politically , lias always been regarded in New Zealand as a mere appendage instead of a distinct political entity. This lias been partly due to weak' leadership, and iiartlv to treachery. Home of its leaders have not been strong enough to strike, out on an independent courso of political action, whilo

others have pledged the welfare of the party as a party for their own individual gain. Mn. Seddon was a past master in using the Laboui party to serve his political ends, and he worked mainly through their leaders. Sin Joseph Ward was less successful, and Labour, which was jusfc beginning to realise that it was nothing more than a useful tool in the hands of the Continuous Ministry, revolted. Should the July congress result 111 a- split in the tanks of Labour, as is by no means improbable, it will most likely be a fairly equal division: in which ease the IJnitv schcme will be completely nullified and the Labour movement suffer a severe set-back. A little moderation on the part of the militants and a tolerant spirit on the part of those inclined to less aggressive measures may, on the other hand, lead to a formidable advance towards the political goal to which Labour aspires.

In a special article, which appeared in our columns yesterday, attention was drawn to certain aspects of the matriculation examination of the New Zealand University, which seem to be worth investigation. The writer of the article, basing his facts upon the 1912 official and the printed papers of the examiners, contended that the questions Ect by the examiners were not suitable tests of the general knowledge of candidates for entrance to the University. The examples quoted by him certainly seem to lend colour to his contention. The art of examining calls for expertness of a very special kind, a certain poise of mind and condition of temperament'; academic distinction, per so, cannot be regarded as a qualification for appointment to a position as examiner. Unless careful regard is paid to these considerations, there is . a real danger that a large number of -highly-eli-gible candidates for the_ matriculation and other examinations will be sacrificed to the eccentricities of certain examiners. In the interests of the University as well as the interests of the candidates, some means should be established whereby the papers set for a particular examination should be reviewed by a board of moderators, fully cognisant of the syllabus of study prescribed for the examination, before being submitted to the candidates, and, if necessary, amended to suit the circumstances-. In the course of an interview at Auckland the Hon. James Allen referred to the astonishing . success which is attending the splendid campaign of Loud Roberts in favour of universal military scrvicc. A writer in an English paper, in describing the groat meeting held at the Leeds Town Hall recently, states that "so great had been the demand for tickets that only men could be admitted. Tickets had even then to be apportioned to districts. Needless to say, the meeting- and all undertaken by the League was a great success. Many clergymen came from far and near. Workers in all.manner of trades, business men in varied departments of the world's work, elbowed one another in the crush for a scat. Certainly the cause —of peace—which LoitD Hoderts has so much at heart, made headway. It would have been pathetic, if it had not been majestic,- to see the old warrior of eighty-two standing there before the full-blooded citizens- of Leeds urging them to prepare for war in order to seek and maintain peace." The reply of the great soldier to the mean insinuation that lie was actuated by motives of personal gain was most effective. With, natural dignity and quiet confidence lie said: "At my years and at this period in my ca-rccr, what personal ends can even my opponents attribute to mc? I have acted but for my country." Deep and long came the answer from his hearers, and when the applause had subsided, in the quietest arid most manly manner his lordship said very simply, "Gentlemen, I thank you."