NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1836, 23 August 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Though the actual celebration of the centenary of the arrival of the Rev. Samuel Marsden 'in Now Zealand will not be observed until next year, the Anglican Church authorities are wisely undertaking some educational work with the view of preparing the people to commemorate tho interesting event with intelligence as well as enthusiasm. Of course we all ought to know something of the life story of the man who first preached the Gospel in New Zealand, but unfortunately many of us, young and old, havo to admit that our knowledge of the early history of our country might be more correctly described as ignorance. Still a great many people are sufficiently acquainted with Marsden's career to realise that he was one of tho makers of New Zealand in the best sense of the term, and that tho centenary of bis arrival in this country pught to bo allpwed to pass without noticc. The big meeting held in the Town Hall on Wednesday night afforded tho speakers ail excellent opportunity of telling New Zealanders what they owe to Marsden both from the religious and secular points of view; for lie was not only a Christian missionary, but also_ a very practical man, who did his best to divert the attention of the Maoris from war to work. He was the founder of the wool industry. He brought the first sheep to New Zealand in 1818, and in 1824 tho wool export trade was inaugurated by the shipment of eleven bags to Sydney, which brought 2s. 6d. per pound. It is to be hoped that the Anglican Church peoplo will make a real offovt to ensure that the memorial fund will ba worthy of suoh an

inspiring occasion. If tho matter is taken up systematically and enthusiastically there should bo no great difficulty in raising the £20,000' which is asked for. It will probably be the first centenary to be observed of an event in Now Zealand's history, and in view of the importance of tho commemoration it ought to be a great success from every point of view. Owing to the absence of one of . the Liberal members, it looks as if the fate of tho Australian Federal Government will depend on the casting vote of the Speaker when the division on the censure motion is taken. The Labour Opposition seems determined to block all business, and to resort to every possiblo political manoeuvre which may confino the inevitable dissolution to tho House of Representatives. Having a largo majority in the Senate, the Labour party is quite content that_ things should remain as they aro in that Chamber, and with that object in view its ta-ctics appegr to be to prevent any Bills being sent up to tho Senate in the hope that_ that branch of tho Legislature will not bo involved in any dispute with the House. The Fisher Government had to resign because they were in a minority in the House of Representatives, and even if tho present Ministry are prevented from carrying on tho business of tho country the Opposition would be equally powerless, and an appeal to the peoplo would be the only way out of-tho deadlock. The question is whether that appeal will involve a dissolution of both Houses or only a dissolution of tho House of Representatives. Tho Government will of course do their utmost to secure that the whole Parliament shall face the electors onco more, and they will probably find means of getting their way in this matter.

The close of the Financial Debate yesterday will enablo the Government to now press forward with tho numerous measures which they have outlined as part of ' the session's work! We must compliment the Prime Minister on the very _ complete fashion in which in . bringing the debate to an end he answered the Budget criticism of Opposition members. It is true that the attacks of the Opposition were on the wholo singularly weak and ineffective. Seldom indeed has an attack Government's policy and proposals been so weak and ill-directed; and in consequence llr. Massey's task was not a formidable one. But he covered tho ground bo completely and carried tho 'war into tho enemy's camp so vigorously and with such abundanc© of evidence to support his onslaught that he gave the Opposition a very uncomfortable time. There has undoubtedly been a good deal of "hitting below the beltr as the Prime Minister put it, during the debate, several of the Oppo'sition spoakers deliberately attempting to convey an impression as to actions of the Government which they must have known was false. Some members for instance in apito of tho facts will persist in pretending to believe that the Government has been for the high price of money, and it has even been suggested that Ministers have endeavoured to raise tho price of money to benefit their friends. A more monstrous suggestion could not possibly bo If those who make it know anything at all of finance, they must know that money has been dear not only in New Zealand but the world over, and from causes utterly beyond tho control of anyone in this country. It is the height of folly and ignorance to pretend that the Massey Government has been responsible for the high price of money, and no fair-minded person with any knowledge of affairs would for one minute endorse such a pretence. Yet some of the opponents of the Government descend to attacks of this nature, and apparently salve their consciences with the belief that anything is fair in politics. The Opposition, however, are not likely to progress very far in public esteem by the use of tactics of this description. They lost their hold on tho confidence of the people of New Zealand by the distrust they created in their honesty of purpose and by their lack of principle; and they are not going •to regain, it by descending deeper into-the miro of political trickery and deoeifc. '

• If, as would appear to have been tlio case, there is a leakage of information concerning confidential matters from tho Publio Trust Office, the Government should see that the question of who is to blamo is very fully probed. It seems that the member for Avon has been supplied with certain information relating to the office which had not been made public, and which should not. have been known outside the office. Mr. Kussell sought tb turn this knowledge to advantage by making it appear that the Minister in charge of the Department was withholding, for personal reasons, some information which it was customary to lay before Parliament. Mr. Herdman showed very clearly that tho particular report referred to was not a public document at all, and that the law did not provide for it being laid beforo Parliament, nor was it the rule to do eo. It has been part of the Opposition's polioy for some time past to endeavour to create an impression that the Government is attempting to cripple the Public Trust Office. Unfortunately for tho critics of the Government their insinuations and assertions have been completely discredited by the Bill recently introduced to strengthen the Public Trust Department, and increase its sphere of usefulness. Now a now and equally baseless line of attaek is being re'sorted to. Tho only point of importance is the seeming leakage from the Public Trust Offioo itself. This is a matter of much moro concern to the public than the attempt of the Opposition to unfairly make political capital out of an incident which they are striving to distort to suit party cnds.'_ If there are officers in the Public Trust Office who have so little sense of their obligations as servants of the State as to disclose to outsiders confidential matters relating to tlTcir Department, then they are unfitted .to hold responsible positions in the Public Service. ,

Ode overling contemporary is sorely troubled because _ Parliament may be asked next session to sanction a referendum on the Bible-in-Schools question. In such a procedure it professes to see the betrayal of a "great trust." This is a most perverse way of looking at the matter. The schools belong to the people, for whom the Government may be regarded as the trustee; and now we are told that it would be a betrayal of trust to lot tho people docide thin important .Question of edu-

cation policy. To oome to a decision without consulting the electors might properly bo so described; but how can it be a betrayal of trust to trust the people 1 Our contemporary calls upon the opponents of tlie Biblc-in-Schools movement to "prepare for the worst without delay." And what is this terrible "worst" J It is that the people of New Zealand should bo permitted to say .whether Bible lessons which no child is compelled to attend shall or shall not bo given in their own schools.

Those members of the Houso possessed of any sense of the ridiculous must have enjoyed themselves yesterday when the member for Nelson attempted to teach the Native Minister a lesson in Parliamentary tasto and good manners. It was quite in keeping with the conduct of Mn. Atjiore since he gained a placo in the House of Representatives that he should havo constituted himself a censor of the manners of his fellow members. His fondness for roles for .which he is particularly ill-fitted appears to be quite an obsession with him; but even so, one would have thought that ho would havo been possessed of sufficient sense of tue fitness of. things to have avoided posing as an authority on a question of political good taste. The member for Nelson is slow to learn his very obvious limitations.