NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The contest for tho Grey seat promises to be a merry one. All three political parties now have candidates in the field—the strongest candidates available at the moment— and a second ballot is practically certain. The candidature of Mb. Michel, in the interests of Reform, is an event of considerable interest, so far as tho Grey seat is concerned." It is many years since the party now in office contested a West Coast constituency, and the particular electorate now the sccne of such political activity has returned a "Liberal" for over twenty years. It was, however, always the same member, Sir Arthur •Guinness, who gained the support, of the Grey electors, and he had won their confidencc as much on personal grounds as on the policy which he represented. Mr. Michel will probably find the fact that he is a resident of Hokitika some handicap with the more narrow clement amongst tho electors whose support he is seeking, but the West Coasters are, after all, a shrewd set of people. Mr. Michel is a man who has won the respect and confidence of the residents of the West Coast even where there has not been complete agreement with his political views. He is one of the ablest of those public men who have striven to serve the interests of that part of tho Dominion, and unquestionably, if returned to Parliament, he would quickly oome into prominence, and not only secure the ear of the House in connection with matters affecting his own district, but in respect of the larger affairs of the nation. The West Coast at the present time has not a single . representative on the Government side of the House; and, with the death of Sir Arthur Guinness, is most unfortunately situated in having no member who can claim to exercise any material influence with the House. The electors of Grey, should they decide to return Mr. Michel, will at least strengthen the position of tho West Coast, as well as that of their own electorate, in a manner which they could not hope to do by the election of either Mr. Webb or Mr. Hannah. Labour will no doubt poll heavily on the present occasion, and Mr. Hainan is said to have a good following in Grcymouth. The probabilities point to a close finish.

A remark mado by the Prime Minister, to the effect that the Government may not be able to do anything definite in the way of naval defence until after the next Imperial Conference, ,ipj)oars to have unduly agitated ouv evening contemporary. It apparently regards Me. Massey's expression of opinion as a subterfuge or.a pretext for avoiding_ bringing the question before Parliament for discussion during the coming session. Wc should be sorry to think that tho Prime Minister has any such purpose in view, and, indeed, we have not the least doubt that Parliament will be given full opportunity for consideration of this vitally important matter. Our own opinion is, as wc havo made quite clear on numerous occasions, that the time has arrived when New Zealand must make a distinct departure from tho old policy of oonfining itself to an annual,

monetary contribution towards the British Fleet. Exactly what lines that policy should follow may be open to argument, and subject to the guidance of expert opinion, but that it should include the stationing in our own waters of war vessels in which wc have an interest is becoming increasingly recognised. The Government, wc should imagine from the views expressed by the Minister for Defence, knows its mind on this question, but it does not follow that it is in a position to at once give effect to its views. It may be that it already has the full information at its disposal which will onable it to .conic forward with the details of a'definitc and complete programme of naval defence; hut if it is in that position it must bo credited with a really remarkable achievement. That the matter is one of urgent importance we readily admit, but we should be sorry to sec the Government, in its anxiety to press forward with its naval policy, commit itself to a detailed programme which has not been fully and carefully examined and reported on by the British Naval authorities, with whom New Zealand must work and look for guidance on questions calling for expert knowledge.

Another agitation has broken out . in India, this timo among the Bengalis. The Government's proposals i for the decentralisation of education and administration are said to bo the cause; and, according to a cablegram published in another column, the present trouble is more serious than that which arose out of the partition of Bengal. A few years ago a good deal of discontent was shown when it became known that the province was to be divided. The reason for the partition was that the needs of a population of some 85,000,000 people could be more efficiently looked after by two Governments than one, and that more attention could thus be given to the eastern half of the province. Tho discontent over the partition scheme was mixed up with the education question, and the agitators also played upon the religious beliefs of the people by stating that, under cover of university reform, the Government was endeavouring to injuro' private educational institutions, and to curtail the opportunities for higher education. These questions of administration and education are again the cause of trouble. Last year the British Government decided to create a Governorship, for the Presidency of Bengal, a new Lieu-tenant-Governorship for Behar, Chota Nagpur, and Orissa, and a Chief-Cominissionership of Assam. It is evidently the process of decentralisation involved in giving eifect to these proposals that has given rise to the renewed activity ot the agitators. A now decentralisation policy is also being carried out in connection with the Indian universities. The Times recently explained that at present there are only five universities for 185 art and professional colleges in British India, besides several affiliated institutions. It has been found necessary to restrict the areas over which these universities have control, and to secure a separate university for each of the leading provinces. Efforts arc also being inado to promote in other ways the opportunities for higher study, and to create an atmosphere from which students will imbibe good social, moral, and intellectual influences. The British authorities have asked for tho cooperation of the enlightened classes "in establishing under the guidance and with the help of Government, those quickening systems of education on which the best minds in India are now converging, and on which the prospects of the rising generations depend." ' It is difficult for outsiders to understand how an educational policy of this character could possibly arouse hostility; but in order to realise the position it is necessary to bear in mind the close connection between religion and education, and the ignorance of the great mass of tho people. .Ignorance tends to breed suspicion, and the two in combination make it easy work for the agitator to cause serious trouble. In outlining their new policy, the Government give the first place to tho formation of the character of the scholars and undergraduates under tuition. The authorities fully recognise the necessity of neutrality as far as religion is concerned, but they point out that the most thoughtful minds in India lament tho tendency of existing systems to develop the intellectual at the expense of the moral and religious faculties. As a matter of fact, a great deal of tho nnrcst in India has been traced to the existing methods of education. The remedy is not to be found in leaving the people in a state of ignorance, but in providing a system of education that will strengthen character and produce good citizens. At present the masses are ignorant and superstitious, while a _ limited number of people are receiving a defective and one-sided course of instruction which is probably doing more harm than good.

The expenditure of public money-on the Federal capital at Canberra has reached a total of about .£120,000. This includes the cost entailed by tho sclcction of tho site and the expenditure on naval and military colleges.. Tho total area of alienated land which tho Government has acquired is 88,591 acres. It is proposed to issue an ordinance shortly to provide for the systematic destruction of rabbits within the Territory. Tho total number of men employed in the Territory at the end of April was 542, of whom 332 were engaged in the construction of roads and engineering works, and 210 in building operations at Duntroon and Acton. The receiving office for telegrams was opened at tho Parliament Buildings yesterday. There is tho usual sessional- attendance.