NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Another example of the desperate expedients to which Opposition newspapers are driven in their efforts to discredit tho Government is disclosed in tho editorial comments of tho Lyttelton Times regarding the sale at auction of a Cheviot section, in connection with which it was alleged that improper influence had been employed. The unanimous report of tie committee which inquired into this latest mare's nest entirely exonerated the Prime Minister from all blame; hut this of course did not suit the Ohristchui'oh Anti-Reform journal, which states that "the report of a committee dominated by his own political friend's is not exactly the kind of acquittal a more sensitive man would seek from the suspicions his very unusual proceeding has aroused." The Lyttelton TimM carefully, but very improperly, conceals from its readers the all-important point that Mr. Forbes, at whoso suggestion tho matter was referred to the committee, had himsolf voted for the report which declared that the' allegation of improper influence was without foundation in fact. In addition to concealing such an essential point as that referred to, the Lyttelton Times is also wrong in its statement of fact. It declares, for instance, that Mr. Masbey "actually talked out the motion for the adoption of the report." This is quite untrue, for there was still time to put the question when Mn. Massey sat down, Dut both Mr. Witty and Mr. Buddo rose to speak, and the former was' still talking when the hour for adjournment arrived. Methods of controversy which mislead the public both by what is said and by what is eonoealed have during the past few months become so characteristic of oertain Anti-Re-form newspapers that it is quite evident that the campaign of misrepresentation has been deliberately and systematically embarked on. Foul fighting of this kind can never win for those who use it any material or lasting sireoesfl.

The extreme sensitiveness of ttio Opposition just now is something to marvel at. Over an hour of yester- ; day's sitting in tho House of Eepresentatives was wasted tho Minister of Finance in answoringa question on tho Imprest Supply Bill stated that a portion of the extra amount required under the Bill was i wanted becauso the Government ! wanted to clean up the vouchors each month more thoroughly than had hitherto been the practice. Slit Joseph Ward, who knows quite well that it is a common thing in business to talk of cleaning up accounts by a given dato without it being a reflection on anyone, professed to believe that the Minister's remark meant that there was something unclean about tho Ward Government s finance. Even after Mr. Allen had explained that he had merely used the term in tho ordinary sense of getting as'many of the vouchers as possible through and out of the way each month, there were members who persisted in declaiming on the immaculate past of the Continuous Ministry and the snow-white purity of all their actions. As so often happens they rather overdid this part of the business. It is not always a wises thing even for 'the most virtuous to prcaoh unduly of thoir own

excessive- virtue. It is liable to set people thinking. But it remained tor that humorous gentleman, the member lor Ohristchurch North, to put the finishing' touch to the petty display of childishness. He, forsooth, objected to the Minister's 6mile. Ho in all seriousness charged tho Minister with having smiled at the Opposition in a provocative manner, and delivered nimself of quito a characteristic outburst on that ground. It is to bo feared that in striving to live up totheroleof a serious politician Mb. Isitt is losing his sense of humour. Ho should keep to his little jokes, and storyettes, and those fine-eounding denunciations which he developed to such a fine art when professionally engaged as a platform lecturer. He has a place in politics—he can amuse and entertain; but ho must learn to endure the smiles of his opponents aa they have learned to Buffer in silence his appalling loquacity.

The Publio Health Committee of the Christchurch Board has discovered a new occupation for the Boy Scouts. It is suggested that their services might bo utilised for the purpose of examining countrv streams—especially those from which water supplies are drawn—with tho object of detecting sources of pollution and reporting the matter to the board. This would give the boys an excellent opportunity of putting their training to practical use for tho benefit of the community, and it is satisfactory to know that their officers are in favour of the idea. The underlying principle of the- Seout movement is to train and encourage tho boys to make. themselves generally useful. The best way to keep a lad -out of mischief is to give him an intelligent hobby—something interesting, and having a touch of adventure in it. It should also tend to quicken his senso of responsibility and make him alert and self-reliant. A boy must do something, and Geneeal Bapen»Powell's idea is that this something ehaO be- worth doing. Therefore, in hia pledge, the Boy Scout declares: —" I will do my duty to Qod and my country. I will do my best- to help others whatever it costs mo. I know the Scout law, and will .obey it." Dutv, helpfulness, and obedience I The pledge nolds up a fine ideal, and is an excellent foundation of character and good citizenship. Phinoipal Griffiths, President of the Education eection at the recent meeting of the British Association, declared that in tho matter of primary education we were proceeding in the wrong order, in that we fjavo greater prominence to the acquisition of knowledge than to the development of character. Ho said ho regarded Sib Hobert BabenP dwell as the greatest educator of our'time, and was.of opinion that the Scout movement was rendering greater service than our complicated State machinery in. preparing those who were brought within ita influence for tho_ struggles of life. He only wished it were possible for our political system to admit of the appointment of Baden-Powell as Minister of Education, with plenary powers for the next ten years. Coming from suoh a source this is high praise indeed for the Boy Scout movement, and it will, put the lads on their mettle to live up to tho reputation they have gained. .Such a task as that which tie Christchurch Hospital Board proposes to sot them will givo more reality to, their work and will make them feel that they are of actual use to the oommunity. If they succeed in improving tho state of the Canterbury streams by their'vigilance, similar work will probably be found for their fellow Scouts in other parts of tho Dominion, and they will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are putting their pledge into practice for the benefit of the country in which they live.