NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The suspicion expressed by a correspondent, whose lotter appears in this issue, that the brewing interest is working with the Opposition to secure a dissolution, and thus cheat the people out of tho Licensing poll which in the ordinary courso of events should take place next year, is, as he shows, not without justification. Some littlo time ago we directed attention to this phase of the political situation, tho Brewers' Journal, which is the local mouthpieco of the Opposition, having stupidly shown its hand in the matter. There is no doubt at all that the brewing interest exercises greater influence with the Opposition than ever, and that it would very much like to make use of Mr. L..M. Isitt and some of the other Prohibitionists associated with tho anti-Iloform party to serve its' ends. It is a littlo amusing to find Mr. Isitt, who for many years was a recognised champion of tho Prohibition party, How championing the cause of a journal practically owned and controlled by the brewing interest. Ho made complaint last week that The Dominion had secured certain information from Ministers an hour or two earlier than tho organ of tho brewing interest was supplied with the same information. Wo do not know whether ho is right or wrong in his statement of the facts of the case, but it is a little curious that he should go out of his way. over such a trivial matter to show his sympathy with the journal in question. The explanation no doubt is' to be found in the fact , that Mr. Isitt is more tho politician than the Prohibitionist to-day, and would even welcome a dissolution _if he thought it would be prejudicial to the Government. Tho simple thing for Mr. Massey to do to checkmate | the attempt of the big brewing interests to dominate the politics of tho country is to pass a short Act providing that in the event of a dissolution at any time beyond the half-way term of a Parliament's ordinary existence, the Licensing poll shall be held at the same time as the General Election following on the dissolution. .

There are several Farmera' CJo-op-erativo Societies in New Zealand, especially in the South Island, and it cannot be said'that many of them are conspicuous successes. Taken on the whole, they have dono only moderately well. The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., is, however, exceptional, for in the 32 years of its existence it has achieved a wonderful succcss, and this is amply demonstrated by the "balance-sheet just issued for the year ended July 31 last. The association is one of the concerns of New Zealand, and is doing a very big business. The paidup capital is £313,000, while the subscribed capital is £551,665; the reserve fund amounts to £111,154: the company holds £242,967 of fixed deposits, and £216,125 in current account balances. The stock of goods in stores stands at £233,002; advances against stock, grain, etc., £351,010; sundry debtors £175,453, and cash in bank £27,825. The "Farmers' Co-0p.," as it is familiarly known, may be said to be the largest department store that we have in tho Dominion, and the total turnover in all departments during the year under review amounts to £3,272,330, of which general merchandise accounted for £506,539. Tho gross profit amounted to £126,523, as against £116,025 in the previous year. The working expenses and losses aggregated £70,202, against £65,014. The net profit for the past year was £56,321, equal to about I7i per cent, on the amount of tho paid-up capital. The main features of the balancesheet were exhaustively reviewed by the chairman at the annual meeting of shareholders held in Ohristchurcn on Saturday, and a full report of the speech will bo found in this issue.

These are some things lacking in our University life in New Zealand that cannot very well be helped. This statement was made by the Hon. James Allen at a dinner of University graduates on Saturday night, and the fact was impressed upon him by what he saw and heard during his recent visit to England. The shortcoming is on the social side, and is no doubt largoly due to thefact that, owing to tho lack of residential facilities, there is but little opportunity for the development of that corporate life which converts a body of separate individuals' into a society, and bringß out certain social qualities which might otherwise lie dormant- A University should be something more than an institution where sufficient knowledge is put into a number of young people to enable them to pass certain examinations. It ought to be one of the best schools of citizenship, and the Btream of students continually passing through our colleges ought to have a very real influence on the life of tho community. The ideal should bo the formation of the complete man. In discussing this subject recently, Professor Steele, of Queensland University, stated that tho University could reach the many only through the few—the body of citizens only through their leaders. It must thereforo attract a 8 its students as many as possible of those who would bo leaders in tho next generation. In the University every branch of knowledge, although taught and studied for its own sake, should be a means to _ a definite end, namely, the cultivation of character and intellect., The uplifting of the wholo peoplo should be_ one of the final aims of all education and all research. The University must cultivate and inculcate tho idea of service. So would it, through its graduates, exert an influence of good on the community and on future generations. This "ideal of service" on which Professor Steele lays stress is what tho community has a right to cxpect from those who have received a University education. It is part of the outfit of "the complete man," and our colleges are not fulfilling their highest functions unless they are turning out men who realise that they owe a duty to the State as well as to themselves, and that the training they have received ought to bo used for tho good of tho community, and not wholly for personal advancement. Higher education misses its mark unless it makes not merely better men and womon, but hotto oitiMua.