NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 1 August 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The action of the present loaders of the "Liberal" party in throwing their principles overboard in an attempt to secure a working alliance with the forces of Socialism appears to have astonished the Sydney Daily Telegraph. A cable message

which will 1m found in another column sets out the views expressed by the Australian journal, and its comments on the revolutionary nature of the change involved will no dr.libt be read with interest by those who have supported the "Liberal" party in the past, and who resent the attempt now made to drag them at the heels of the "Bed" Federation. There would probably bs less astonishment in Australia over the desperate plunge which the "Liberals" have taken if the people of the Commonwealth were as familiar as we are here with the decadence which has occurred in the once-powerful "Liberal" party, and the unhappy position ill which it is situated in the matter of leaders. Not only has the party dwindled in strength throughout the whole country during recent years because of the obvious weakness and incapacity of its leaders, but the control of its affairs has now fallen into the hands of men still less capable of inspiring en* thusiasm, and utterly unfitted to lead a great cause or to command public confidence by reason of their qualities of statesmanship. It is a significant fact that the only member in their ranks to whom they can turn for guidance is the gentleman who came into the Premiership with a ready-made record majority, and who in the short space of less than six years completely dissipated that enormous majority and led his party to disaster. Our Australian friends do not follow New Zealand politics closely enough to appreciate the desperate plight of the remnant of "Liberalism," and so arc astonished that the leaders should be guilty of such an act of stupendous folly as to attempt to persuade their followers and the public that "Liberalism" and Socialism are natural allies, each working in their own way towards the same goal. Here the position is better understood, and it is recognised that those in Parliament who profess to speak in the name of "Liberalism" are a disunited faction torn asunder by petty jealousies and mutual distrust, eagerly grasping at any expedient which seems likely for the moment to stay their downward course; regardless of principle and unheedful of their own past professions and those of the men who once led the party and mado it the most powerful political force this country has ever seen. Those Liberals of sane and moderate views who realise that in political warfare a party which has no binding principles—a party whose leaders have the one dominant idea of office at any cost influencing all their actions—can never hope to win or hold public confidence, are gradually severing the ties which have bound them. Their ' loyalty has been strained to breaking-point.

The ancient Kingdom of Persia seems to be in a very deplorable condition. A cablegram published yesterday states that Lord CJuitzoN, in a speech in the House of Lords, said Southern Persia was given over to rapine and disorder, and was being Practically financed by British doles. Commenting recently on the latest Persian Blue-book, tho Times declared_ that the perusal of this "astonishing publication" conveyed an impression of the utter hopelessness of tho situation:

■ "Tho child Shah, the absentee Regent, the helpless Cabinet which resigns once a week, the Treasurer-General wringing his hands ill agonised appeal for money to fill an empty Treasury, are only tlio more conspicuous figures adrift upon a sea of dismal anarchy. Wherever wo look in Persia the snmo spectacle of a lapsed civilisation is presented in varying forms. It is not misrule, but tho absolute disappearance of all ordered- and coherent rule. The position in the South almost passes belief. We knew it to be bad, but the collective statements ill the Blue-book make us rub our eyes."

Tho break-up of a kingdom is a matter of international interest,, for the territory cannot be left derelict. It must be controlled in some way, and British interests must be safeguarded as far _as possible. The Times is of opinion that the time is coming when Britain will either have to shoulder fresh and dangerous bur-

dens in Southern Persia or ab'andon her interests in that region altogether. Neither alternative is satisfactory, but existing conditions cannot continue much longer.

Mr. Facing-all-ways would have found himself quite at home amongst our Opposition friends. For weeks past they have been shrieking aloud their disapproval of the appointment of Mr. Boyd Garlick to the office of Physical Instructor. Most cowardly attacks _have_ been made on that gentleman in his professional capacity on mere hearsay,- under cover of the privilege of Parliament. Demand has been made for inquiry into the appointment, and wild charges and mean insinuations directed against the Gpvernmcnt in connection with it. And when to the amazement of the noisy band the Government takes up their' challenge and proposes to set up an inquiry before which the whole of the documents and papers relating to the appointment will be open to scrutiny and investigation, there is another outcry to cover up the confusi&nV into which the critics have been thrown. No doubt it will be very unpleasant for some of the gentlemen who have been talking so wildly and so recklessly to have to substan-

tiate their allegations. They do not like the idea at all. Moreover 'they see the prospect ahead of them of losing the only definite ground -of complaint against the administrative actions of the Government in the way of appointments which they have been able to discover. It' is really time they found someone to take charge of them. Their repeated blunders in and out of the House are

ill-concealed by their attempts at bounce and bluster. It was only a few days ago that they made charges in connection with the AVestport Harbour Board, and when the Minister for Marine challenged inquiry and moved to set up a committee which would bring out the facts they made wild endeavours to dodge the issue. Now it is the same thing over again—bold talkers, but a sorry lot when it comes lo facing their responsibilities and proving their words.