NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The speech delivered by Mr. A. M. Myers at Auckland on Tuesday will not bo very pleasing to the Opposition party. It will be remembered that Mn. Myers was a member of the "stop-gap" Ministry, and his personal influence and the administration of his Departments were generally regarded as amongst the few redeeming features of the Mackenzie Cabinet's brief and inglorious career. But he has now evidently had quite enough of "Liberalism" of the present Opposition type, an,d has therefore thought it wise in his pre-ses-sional address publicly to dissociate himself from his former colleagues and to revert "to his original position as an Independent Liberal." The fact that this announcement was followed by a vote of thanks and confidence goes to show that the electors of Auckland East have no more enthusiasm for the "Liberal" remnant than their member has. Mr. Myers evidently has no sympathy with the campaign of misrepresentation of the Government in which the more unscrupulous section of the Opposition press has been so freely indulging. Nor does he stand alone in this matter, for a very large number of the supporters of the "Liberal" party in the country rccognise that they have arrived at a parting of the ways, and feel that the present is a-good time to reconsider their political ideas. They arc very much inclined to give the Massey Ministry every opportunity to carry out its strong programme of progressive reform, for they are beounninn to recognise that the ore-

sent Government is Liberal in the true sense of the word.

The review of thirty years' administration of the Industrial Schools Act which Mr. E. H. Pope gave at the meeting of the Eugenics Society on Tuesday night raised some interesting questions. The ideal method of dealing with dcfcctivcj incorrigible, and neglected children has not yet been discovered, but the New Zealand system, so far as it goes, has been on the whole successful, and it is satisfactory to know that the attempt to preserve home life in some form by means of the boarding-out system has produced good results in the great majority of cases. The methods adopted in New Zealand may not be as complete as some people would like, and the authorities may have been over-cautious about making new still progress has been made, and in the present Minister for Education we have a man who is deeply interested in all phases of this difficult problem. The treatment of those who are undoubtedly degenerates—children who appear to have inherited a criminal taint and arc not responsible for their actions—is a most urgent matter. To liberate them would be contrary ,to their own best interests and would certainly bo a bad thing for the community. They ought to remain under some sort of regular supervision if not kept under permanent restraint. The best way_ of dealing with such cases is receiving the- careful attention of social reformers in various parts of the world. Referring to this matter at Dunedin, the Hon. James Allen mentioned that he made careful inquiries while in England, and hopes to submit to Parliament during the coming session several important proposals regarding the treatment of feeble-minded children.

The Asquith Government is certainly sailing in troubled waters at the present time. On top of the Marconi affair comes the renewal of the controversy on Home Eule, followed by the second reading of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill. Sir Edward Carson is addressing great meetings in the country against the dismemberment of the United Kingdom, and a vigorous campaign is also proceeding against the disestablishment and disendowment of the Church in Wales. Liberal Churchmen are bringing strong pressure to bear on the Government to show a more generous and conciliatory spirit to the Welsh Church, while the Nonconformists are threatening to cause serious trouble if any further concessions are granted. Mr. W. C. G. Gladstone recently admitted that the measure is perhaps somewhat too harsh and too unmindful of Che feeling existing throughout the country that nothing injurious or even ungenerous should be done to the Church, and he spoke strongly in favour of concessions and compromise. The spokesmen for the Church, however, declare that they cannot agree to any bargaining on questions of principle, and are organising another series of demonstrations in London and other populous centres. They intend to make tho most of tho time which intervenes before the earliest date on which the. Bill can be forced through the two Houses for the third time under the provisions of the Parliament Act. There is no doubt that the Church campaign is having a marked effect on public opinion, especially in England, .as is indicated by the fact that the successful Unionist candidate at a recent byelection attributed his victory to the feeling of the electors on Welsji Disestablishment and Home Rule. Taking all things into consideration, the position of the Government is certainly weakening, and there is a growing feeling in the country that a dissolution in the near future is almost inevitable.

The present year will be a memorable one in the political history of New South Wales. Now that the Federal election is over, preparations are being made for the general election of the State Parliament, which will be held in October or November next. After the recent trial of strength, the Liberals are naturally very confident of securing a victory over the present Labour Government; but it must be remembered that the constituencies for the State Parliament are smaller than those represented by the Federal members, and that local interests and other _ factors have to be taken into(consideration in weighing the chances of the two parties. Still, after making every reasonable allowance for these differences, the Liberals have good grounds for regarding their success at the Federal polls as a very hopeful sign. The Labour leaders, 011 the other hand, profess to be equally confident of victory. The Liberal Association has already set its machinery in motion, and the selection of candidates.is receiving attention. The Liberals will probably contest every seat, and plenty of candidates appear to be coming forward. Every effort will be made to prevent the splitting of votes, and the attitude of the party to the Independent politician may be gathered from Mr. Wade's statement that "those that are not with us are agafnst us." The campaign promises to be an exceedingly keen one, and will bo watched with great interest throughout Australasia.

•£13,000,000 WORTH OF AUTOMOBILES. During this present year of graoe, 1913. the Studebaker Corporation of Detroit, U S.A. plans, to ,build Studebaker motorcars to tho value of .£13,000,000. Not only will it build these cars, but it will sell ovory last one of them. "There must bo a tremendous deimnd?" you say. And when you see the 1918 models of tho Studebaker car you will see the reason for tho demand. The 35 h.p. Studebaker is a powerful, yet light, car, ideally suited to New Zealand conditions. It has eeats for four, with two additional collapsible seats. It is a beauty in appearance, finished in French grey and dark blue, with bright parts nickel-plated. It embodies in every lino and every detail the very latest and best practice of English and Continental automobile engineers. Under tho bonnet you find a big, simple, cleanly-designed engine, a foolproof engine. A Warner electric selfstarter attends to the starting of the engine. A Bosch magneto banishes ignition troubles. Tho "Jiffy" hood, with its handsome side curtains, converts the car into a wind-proof, closed car, literally m a jiffy" Tho rear axle is full, floating. There is nothing cheap, nothing skimped. .£395 brings this car complete with clectric lamps, hood, spare rim and tyre, speedometer—in fact, all 'extras. Mr. p. W Sampson, our representative, c.o. Emniro Hotel, will be pleased to give demonstrations on the hills around WoJliiFton during the next day or so. At the" Falmerston Winter Show wo will sliow tlie 35 h.p. Studebaker, and also tho 25 h.p. model, a miniature edition of the .15 hp car, and sold at «C'29">. Adams, Ltd., solo New Zealand agents for Studebaker Cars (Grove Motor Co.. Ghuzneo Street, Wellington, agents).—Advt.