NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The Wellington South deputation which waited on the PostmasterGeneral (tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes) yesterday with regard to the question of telephone facilities and fees certainly made out a good case for favourable consideration. In vie\tf of the fact that the amount of the fees charged depends upon the distance from the "Central" exchange, it is undoubtedly unfortunate for some of the suburbs of Wellington, such as Newtown, that the Central is not in the centre of the city, bur. at one end of it. As a result of this fact it appeal's that Newtown subscribers have to pay i/11 to £13 u year, as compared with ;C5 to £.< charged for connections in the city. This is a very big difference, and the. Newtown people certainly have good cause for complaint. The Minister, in his reply, did not deny th,> existence of the hardship pointed out to bim, but stated that bs could not at gresoat reduce tho lees. How-

ever, the deputation did not have to go away altogether disappointed, for Mr. Rhodes stated that no doubt the fees would be reduced, and made the saine as those within the city wheu the automatic system was establisheo, and with it a "satellite" exchange at Wellington South. It is to be hoped that, in view of the undoubted disabilities which Newtown is experiencing under the existing system, its claims to early consideration as regards the introduction of automatic telephones will not be lost sight of. Those who control' the affairs of Association football in Wellington cannot afford to pass over in any light fashion the happenings at the Basin Reserve last Saturday in the match between Diamonds and Corinthians. The conduct of some members of the latter team towards the Referee was ■ such that, however much he may have been at_ fault, leaves the Management Committee no option but the enforcement of drastic disciplinary measures. As a matter of fact, the Referee was weak, buv no suggestion could be made that ho was not quite impartial, and the unsportsmanlike and offensive _ behaviour of some of the Corinthians throws discredit on the whole teaas The "soccer" game has been making considerable progress in popularity both with players and the public, the attendances at the principal matches having increased to quite respectable dimensions. If those who attend to witness a friendly contest are to be regaled' with such unedifying exhibit tions as was witnessed on the part of a section of the Corinthian team last Saturday, then the public will bu well advised to stay away. It is only fair to state that this was a quite exceptional case of bad behaviour, and that,, generally speaking, the games are conducted in a good spirit. But this is all the more reason why the Management Committee should take a very firm stand now, and by making an example of the offenders stamp out effectually a menace to a fine game. The rumour that the British Premier (Mr. Asquith) contemplates retiring from political life has been revived, and the possibility of Sir Edward Grey succeeding him is being discussed in political circles. It is, .however, in the opinion of the Daily Mail, improbable that ho will abandon the Leadership of his_ party until there has been a dissolution, or the Home Rule Bill has been passed. There have recently been persistent reports that a dissolution cannot long be delayed, and it is stated that the word has.been passed round by the party managers on both sides that the election machinery should be kept in readiness for any emergency. Only a few weeks ago the Spectator stated that it was convinced that 'there'will'be an appeal to the nation before the third time of asking on the Home Rule Bill, that is, some time within the coming twelvemonth. This opinion is based on two things: (1) The compelling force of sane, sober, non-party public opinion; and (2) the fact that in the last resort it will suit the Liberal party managers, both at headquarters >and all over the country, better to have an election before tho third time of asking of the Home llule Bill than immediately after the Bill is passod. Although too much reliance must not be placed on the present rumour as to Mr. Asquith's early retirement, yet the fact_ that it is being continually revived, taken together with the surrounding circumstances, indicates that there is something behind it. Signs have not been wanting of a cleavage in the Cabinet on , certain questions, and Mr. Asquith has been having a very trying experience, which must in time tell upon the strongest constitution, so that it is quite possible that he may feel inclined at some favourable moment to allow the responsibilities of Leadership to 'be placed on other shoulders. It is generally understood that Sir Edward Grey will be the next Leader of the Liberal party. He has proved a great sue-' cess as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and perhaps no man in the Cabinet inspires so much confidence in the average Englishman, though he may inot be quite acceptable to the more extreme section of the Radicals. The announcement that the Anglican Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Crossley) has resigned owing to continued ill-health will be received with surprise and regrat by Anglican Churchmen throughout New Zealand. A week or two ago Dr. Crossley experienced a sudden breakdown, and was ordered by his medical advisers to take a prolonged rest. He then left for Australia., but his health did not improve, and now it has been found necessary permanently to relinquish his work in Auckland. It is only about two yearß since he was consecrated, having succeeded Bishop Neligan, who after a very short term of office had also to resign owing to serious illness. The Diocese of Auckland is a large _ and scattered one, and it is very difficult for the Bishop and his staff to keep pace with the growth of settlement. The need for creating a new dioceso in the North Island is generally recognised, but nothing has • actually been done in this direction. Dr. Crossley came to New Zealand from tho Diocese of Melbourne, where he occupied tho position of Archdeacon of Gcelong and Incumbent of All Saints, St. Kilda. Since he became Bishop of Auckland ho has done good work in conncction with St. John's College, the extension of the Church in the backblocks of Auckland and Taranaki, the Marsden Centenary celebration, and in many other ways. He also took a keen interest in social problems, and won the confidence and respect of both clergy and laity. The people who at the outset of the Grey election contest were so very confident that Mr. Michel had little prospect of success in what had been for so long a "Liberal" stronghold are already beginning to revise their opinions. The anti-Reform section are somewhat astonished at the progress which the Government candidate is making. As a inatter of fact some of the forces which in the past have acted in favour of the so-called "Liberal" party now do similar service for Reform. The weight behind'a Government candidate by virtue of the fact that he is necessarily in closer touch with the powers that be than one standing in the Opposition interest is an important factor in most elocti6n contests, and especially so ou tho West Coast. In that part of the Dominion, too, tlw distinction made between parties takes the line of Government and Opposition, rather than "Reform" and "Liberal," although in the present instance Labour is a disturbing element. The Grey electors know quite well that they have much more to look forward to from the present Governmont than irom a disorgan-

ised and leaclerless party which has been rapidly dwindling in strength for the past six years. They know also that their own late member, who had served them so well for over 20 years, had only a few weeks before his death expressed his confidence in the new Government which hau ousted the old party he himself had supported. They 1 are, furthermore, learning that in the candidate which the Government has brought forward they have the opportunity of securing as the member for their district a strenuous and determined fighter, capable of holding his own in or out of Parliament, and well qualified to voice the needs of their district. All these things are having their effect in the present struggle. ■ Mr. Michel is handicapped in having bv> little time in which •to cover the ground, but wherever he does speak he improves his chances of success by his straightforward manner of dealing with political matters, and by his breadth of view and grasp of No one can pretend to predict with any confidence how the struggle will end, but it is safe to say that Mr. Michel's chances have been materially improved by his campaign work. The first day's sitting of the Unity Congress, judging from the official report of tne proceedings, indicates that there is a possible ground of cleavage in the proposal to divide the Unity organisation into two separate parts—industrial and political. It would seem, teading between the lines, that there is an element opposed to this division and another section which "objects to the industrial movement being associated with the political, and perhaps hampered thereby. It is a little unfortunate for the cause of Unity that on so important an issue there should be a oonfiict of opinion, particularly in view of the fact that each side appears to be strongly represented. One of the most interesting incidents of the day's proceedings was the decision to admit Mr. Hanan, M.P., as the representative of the Southland Bootmakers. ' Mr. Hanan's position is a curious one. He is a I leading light in the "Liberal" party, and had the distinction of being a member of the "ten-minute" Mackenzie Ministry. The present Unity Congress has for its object the crea-. tipn of a political party to annihilate the "Liberal" and all other parties. What then is Mr. Hanan ? Has he forsaken his old friends in the "Liberal" remnant, and thrown in his lot with Labour? Or is it that he thinks he can do ' his "Liberal" friends good service by getting into the camp of the enemy and winning them over to serve under the discredited banner of "Liberalism." Mr. Hanan is a member of the legal profession, and the simple and confiding toilers who have admitted him to their_ councils in the guise of a representative of the workers in the bootmakirig industry are no doubt expected to bccome ready victims to his arts as a special pleader. We shall see.'