NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Every credit is due to the member for Auckland West (Mr. A. Myers) for the consistent manner in which he has treated the defence question on broad, national lines, refusing to drag it into the arena of party politics. He has no sympathy with those people in and out of Parliament who have endeavoured to score agaipst the Government in connection with Mr. Allen's statements regarding tho expeditionary force. He pointed out in the House of Representatives yesterday that Mr. Seddon had made a similar proposal at an Imperial Conference years ago, and contended that Mr. Allen's action was not only justifiable, but highly commendable. Though Mr. Myers mentioned no names, his frank expression of approval of the action of tho Minister for Defence _ may be regarded as a decided rebuke' to those persons, including at least one of his former Ministerial colleagues, who have_ vainly tried to stir up public feeing against' the Government over the matter.

Another Opposition canard was exposed by the Minister for Justice in the House of Representatives yesterday. Some of the anti-lleform papers and politicians have been endeavouring to . make capital against the Government in consequence of the dismissed constable. All his Smyth. _ A quite circumstantial story was built up by the champions of the dismissed constable. All his misfortunes, apparently, were due to his acceptance of the Minister's invitation to the members of the Auckland Police Force to speak their minds freely, without fear of victimisation. He spoke, telling the Minister of his grievances, and was promptly removed to Greymouth, where he was a few weeks later dismissed from the Force for some trivial neglect of duty. So this precious fabric of misrepresentation and untruth was built up. It crumbled to pieces yesterday, when the Minister quoted dates and facts. Smyth had not seen the Minister at Auckland as alleged; and not only, had he not seen him, but he had actually left Auckland and been transferred to Greymouth before the Minister, had tho interview with the Auckland police at which Smyth was asserted to have earned his disfavour. Then as to Smyth's subsequent dismissal from the Force there are very few people, we imagine, who, in face of the Minister's statement of the facts, will fail to agree with him that the step taken was fully warranted. Perhaps the most interesting portion of Mr. Herdman's remarks concerning the Police Force was his intimation that the Government has no objection to members of the Police Force belonging to the Civil Service Association. Those members of the Force who have been asserting that it was necessary that they should have some organisation through which to press their claims to consideration have not a Bhred of excuse left now for continuing the movement which has dragged thera into association with the Labour-Socialist leaders.

| The Anglican Synod of the Diocese I of Wellington, which will probably ! conclude its business to-day, was not i called upon to consider any questions of great public importance except tho proposals of the Biblc-in-Schools League. These proposals were supported by the Bishop of Wellington (l:«. Si'p.ott) in his presidential address, which was probably the ablest statement of the case for the Jjeague. which has so far been placed before the public. In a closely-reasoned argument, Drt. Si'ROTT dealt- with the various aspects of the controversy. The address, which will no doubt be circulated throughout the Dominion, deserves the careful attention of. everyone who desires to arrive at a right judgment oil this much-discussed question. Tho Synod, on the motion of.a prominent primary schoolmaster, unanimously passed a resolution expressing strong approval of the League's proposals. The decision to increase the present quite inadequate pensions provided for the clergy will meet with the hearty approval of Churchmen, the only question being whether it could ba done without endnngenng the stability, of tho fund, which has been_

built up almost entirely by the clergy themselves, and owes very little to the generosity of the laity. Mr. Shibtcmffe warned the Synod against being too liberal in allocating the new maximum, as the Committee which had considered the matter had gono further than tho advice of tho actuary warranted. Another matter of interest which came up for consideration was the celebration of the Marsden Centenary. Such an important event in the history of New Zealand could not be allowed to pass unnoticed. The Hev, Samuel Marsden, originally a Yorkshire blacksmith and subsequently Senior Chaplain of tho Colony of New South Wales, was not only tho first preacher of the Gospel in New Zealand, but also tho founder of our wool export trade. Ho introduced the first sheep into the country in 1818, and in 1824 eleven bags of wool were exported to Sydney, and brought 2s. 6ai per lb. Church and State both owe this remarkable man a great debt of gratitude, and it is to be hoped that the coming Centenary will be an unqualified success from every point of view.

The Home Rule Bill has now passed its third reading in the House of Commons, and in accordance with the provisions of tho Parliament Act will go for a second time to the House of Lords, where it will probably be a second time rejected. Many close observers of political events are of opinion that before the third time of asking there will be another general election. The Unionists have good ground for asserting that the country is turning against the Government. The testimony of the by-elections, the importance of which as tests of public opinion has been increased by tho passing of the Parliament Act, is very significant on this point. Since the general election the Unionists have won no fewer than ten seats;from the Coalition (Liberals, Labour, and Nationalists), tho only seat, lost being Londonderry. The Coalition majority has thus been reduced from 126 to 106. The Home Rule question was certainly one of the main issues placed before the electors at the recent Altrincham contest, which resulted in an increase in the Unionist majority there from 119 in 1910 to 1262. The Liberals made a great effort to capture the seat, and the result of the polling was a surprise and _ disappointment to them. The significance of the Altrincham election is intensified by the fact that it followed close upon the Newmarket contest, at which tho Unionists captured the seat from their opponents. Commenting on these facts, the_ Morning Post states:—"The Unionist party have tho country with them; but they must fight to destroy the superannuated ascendancy of the Government. Home Rule has got to be defeated, and the Liberal party have got, therefore, to be forced to lay it before the country. If Home Rule is laid beforo the country, wo have no fear as to the result. Altrincham and Newmarket should set at rest all doubt, if any doubt remains."