NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

"We know that one of these days we are going to be up against it," said Colonel Heard at the Yorkshire Society's dinner on Monday night. Self-preservation is the first law of Nature, and we cannot expect to preserve our national existence, in the day when wc are "up against it" if we do not take the necessary steps to place ourselves in a state of readiness. Defence costs money; but the cost is infinitesimal compared with the value of wh'at we have to defend. It is not only Britain that feels, she will be "up against it" some day; but the same feeling exists in almost every civilised country. Germany and France know that a trial of strength must come sooner or later, and both are preparing for the inevitable struggle, llussia and Italy and-"Austria are also increasing their armaments, and the present difficulty between the United States and Japan over the immigration question has emphasised ' the possibility of an appeal to the sword. All the nations are aware that they must prepare for the day when they will be "up against it. No one begrudges the expenditure on armaments more than Mr. Lloyd-George, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, and yet he admits it must go on. In a recent speech he made use of the following striking words:

"I am genuinely alarmed about tho expenditure upon armaments. But thue is not the slightest prospect of a reduction. The prospect is all tho other way, and there is 110 use concealing the fact. It is becauso,,every country in tho ivorld is, for the moment, somehow or other, being lured on to expenditure. It is no use apportioning the blame. . . . Until there is complete understanding, with co-operation, to arrest expenditure on armaments you cannot stop it. I cannot see how it is going to be stopped. One country dare not stop it. It is much too perilous a thing to do. One country can stop up to the point of danger, but once you pass the point of danger and something happened disaster would come,, and of that wo oannot run the risk!"

No responsible statesman of any of the great Powers dares to run the risk of reducing dcfenco expenditure. To do so would simply invite disaster.

New Zealand has been very fortunate as regards the type of men and women who came out from the Old' Country in the early days, and laid the foundation's of 'the colony. Those pioneer settlers were men of enterprise, industry, and character. They were not afraid of hard work, and their women folk endured hardships as a matter of course which people in these softer and more luxurious days would regard as intolerable. The task which the_ early colonists.performed in establishing British civilisation in this part of the world deserves to be kept in everlasting remembrance, both as a mark of honour to those to whom we oweso much, and as an inspiration to the present and future generations. For this reason, as well as from the social point of view, the annual reunions of the Early Settlers' Association have become extremely interesting functions, and the gathering on Monday night proved that the interest shows no sign of In these days, when travelling . has been made so easy and, comfortable by luxurious steamers, trams, trains, and motor-cars, we can hardly realise the amount of 'Walking the early settlers did, and probably they were all the better for it. If they did not have the opportunities for amusement that we have, they undoubtedly enjoyed their recreations more thoroughly, and so they had their compensations. They did their work well; they sowed, and we arc reaping. The epitaph on the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren, in: St. Paul's Cathedral, is quite appropriate to the pioneers of New Zealand: "Si moniimenium rcr/uiris, circumspicc" ("If you seek their monument. look around")- Their monument is this thriving, civilised country in which we are now living.

It is a well-known fact that the suffering caused by strikes and lockouts falls most heavily on the wives and children of the men engaged in tho dispute, and it has been suggested more , than once in these columns t-llafc the wives should be consulted before a strike is commenced. The reasonableness of this contention is recognised by the Dunedin Suburban Drivers' Union, who have resolved that members' wives shall in future be full members of the union, and have an individual vote on all questions. It is to be hoped that other unions will follow this good example. The next step should be the adoption by all unions of the secret ballot, which could not fail to have a- steadying influence, and would probably have the effect of frequently saving the workers from serious mistakes caused by too precipitate action. The secret ballot would enable, each worker to deliberately express bis independent personal opinion without fear or favour, and it is the height of mconfor aaxwie who to

be guided by democratic principles to object to this method of voting, for in no other way can the _ real mind of the majority be ascertained.

What promises to be the most keenly fought political campaign in the history of New South Wales has now commenced. It will be a desperate battle between the forces of Liberalism and Labour, and judging by the bitterness which has characterised the debates in Parliament, there is likely to bo sonic very plain speaking on the platforms. The present Parliament is just bringing its stormy career to an inglorious end, and the people themselves will soon have an opportunity of deciding whether the Government's policy and administration entitle it to a further lease of life. During the present year there have been many signs of dissension within the Labour party in New South Wales, and a change was recently made in the Premiership, Mr. 11'Gowan being replaced by Mr. Holjian. The change, however, does not appear to have allayed all discontent, for rumours are still current of acute disagreements. The Labour Ministry has been kept in office by a very narrow majority, and its position has never been quite secure. Since the last State elections in New South Wales a general election for the Federal Parliament has taken place, and as far as New South Wales is concerned, 'the Liberals had decidedly the best of the battle. This has naturally raised their hopes regarding the comiftg State election, and they certainly have good grounds for btheving that their position in the country has improved since the last' appeal to the people. They will have the help of the party organisation, which did such good work during the Federal contest, and which has been kept in working order, in readiness for the present campaign. The Labour Government has certainly not realised the expectations it raised, and lias probably alienated many of its friends. Still, it has the advantage of being in office.

The situation in_ Ulster grows worse. ' The provisional Government scheme has been prepared, and the military organisation is now being made as effective as possible. Sir Edward Carson has repeatedly challenged the Government to interfere, and it was rumoured some time ago that a warrant for his arrest had been signed; but nothing happened. Finding that ridicule has failed to stop the Ulster campaign, the Liberal newspapers are now getting angry, and they declare that the time has arrived for putting an end to Sir Edward Carson's incitements. One paper suggests that his name should be removed from the list of Privy Councillors, and another demands that he and his generals shall bo prosecuted. The Government, however, are well aware of the extreme difficulty of the .position, and arc evidently disinclined to take the risk of precipitating a conflict, as public feeling has been worked up to such a pitch.of excitement in Ulster that serious trouble might occur at any moment. The proposal for a conference, with a view to a settlement by consent, has so far come to and Mr. Asquith still remains silent. Tho tonsion is becoming so great that it is quite possible that the climax may be reached before the Home Rule Bill is finally passed. Feeling runs so high that the smallest spark might set Ulster ablaze.

The death of Sir William Russell, M.L.C., which occurred at Hastings, and news of which reached us at a late hour last evening, is a distinct ldss to Parliament and to the country. He had rendered valued service in the House of Representatives as a Minister -of the Grown under the Atkinson Government, as Leader of the Oppositifan at a. later day, and also as a private member; and his recent appointment to the Legislative Council was viewed' with widespread satisfaction as a. fitting recognition not. only of his past services, but of uie value of his ability and experience in the Councils of the Nation. He was a distinguished figure in Parliament, respected by friend and opponent alike, setting for himself a standard of conduct which while it may have lost him many a tactical advantage won for him the admiration 9f .all who were associated with him in public or private life.