NOTES OF THE BAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1983, 13 February 1914, Page 6

NOTES OF THE BAY.

While there wns nothing very ne>v or startling in the Prime Minister's speeches at Tc Aroha and Opotiki, tncy will no doubt serve a useful purpose in keeping before the country the progressive nature of the Government's policy. Te Aroha was a happy choice as the place in which to make the announcements relating to the more liberal treatment of borrowers through the Advance* to Settlers. Office, for it was at Tc Aroha a few clays Ago that Siu Joseph Ward discoursed on the ad" ministration of the Massuy Government, The eood people of f £c Arohuwhy 'listened to ttjc Leader of the Opposition w.ould find, it.a.^ljttk , difficult to reconcile his estimate o< the Government with actual facts disclosed by Ministerial actions. .It will be interesting to note whether Sir Joseph: Ward, in his promised political, address., has anything to say concerning the increases made by the pres-jpt Government in ■ the amounts which can be advantcd by way of loans,-to settlors, worken, and local bodies. The Ward Government, it will bo recalled, found it necessary to out down these advances in certain directions, and thereby caused a good deal of inconvenience and, no doubt, in many instances, hardship as well, to would-be ers. Possibly this course of action could not bo avoided, owing to the lavish use made of the funds availcable prior to the general elcctioi.. But when the Inform Government, owing to this shortage of funds, was unable, on first assuming office, to maintain the old extravagant rate, its opponents did not have any scruples in attempting to make political capital against it. Now, however, the .tables have been turilea. The successful flotation of the recent ih million loan has placed to.; 'Massgy Government in a position to supply cheap'money on-a more liberal scale than has been the. case for years past, and full advantage is u, bs taken of the opportunity. This, we suspect, will prove extremely cmbarrafising to those WaSdists. who have been so loudly insjstiftg cm the lack of sympathy on the part of tbi Ministers in the matter of providing cheap money for development purposes. Our Anti-Reform friends will find it somewhat difficult to account for this further falsification of their dismal prophecies.

Owing to the enormous cost ol radium and the shortness a' the supply a movement has been started in the United States to place the radium mines of that country under the direct control of the Government, so that they may be operated, for the benefit of humanity. It is stated that no less than three-fourths of the world's production last year was obtained from American ores which were treated abroad., The whole of the- supply of radium in America is said to be loss than twe grammes, and it is valued at about £24,000 a gramme. All of it has been procured' from Europe, and at present it appears to be impossible to get any more, the demand is so great from all parts of the world. In view of these facts there is a strong . feeling that tuo United States should establish laboratories of its own for the production of radium. There are said to be deposits in Colorado and Utah, and it is hoped that in a- few yea,rs tfoo supply will be largely increased, and the price reduced. A plentiful supply would be a boon to the \vhol<> world, A radium institute such as that which it is proposed to establish lit Palmerstmi North cannot be placed in working order without the expenditure of a good deal of money, but the gonerons response which has so far been made to the appeal for funds nifty bo. taken as a good, indication that the undertaking will soon be an accomplished fact. The Pallnerston Charitable Aid Board has decided to give its assistance, and the Pnniß Sinister recently promised to favourably consider a request for Government aid. In another column we publish the text of a circular drafted by Mn. J. l<. Wilson (Chairman of the Palmerston Hospital Board), niftking an appeal for assistance to local bodies and private citizens throughout the North Island. The circular states that there are only the minutest quantities of radium in New Zea-

land, and all of it is in private I hands. A good oasc is certainly made out for the establishment of an institution whore radium treatment will lie provided for the public.

The Homo Rule question is at present occupying so much attention in England that the Little Navy agitation has been pushed into the background for a while, but if the Government succeeds in avoiding a dissolution during the next few weeks there is almost sure to be a- kec-n debate oft naval The general opinion in France is that Mr. Lloyd-Geohgb's ■ disarmament speeches are plaj'ing into tho hands of the Germans, who are going straight on with their shipbuilding programme. The Temps, in an article entitled "Let Us Be SoHous," declares that one seems to be dreaming in listening to Mn. Lloy>>George., at a moment when thd problem of the Aegean Islands is still undecided, when Sir Epwaud GitEY'd categorical opinion cannot be attacked without prejudice to British prestige, and after tho First tord of the-Admiralty has exposed the political and military reasons justifying the naval effort of his country. The Chancellor of the Exchequer places himself in conflict with his two colleagues, and asksßngland, in_diminishing her force in war, to diminish her force in peace.

"Whit is one to think," asks the "Temps," "of such methods of government F Why did King Edward VII realise tile rappMehcaients with l s wnic.e. mid Russia? They had a common origin..in the heed to establish the balance of power. By in-cessant efforts it , has been reconstituted; is it to be maintained? That is the question. To preach disarmament at this moment is putt> folly. One knows the intentions of tho Government do not respond te the ideas', ©f Mr. Lloyd-George, bwt by these individual mistakes theTriple Entente takes on feily mow and more an appearance of incoherence and paralysis." It is time to reassure English opinion,'* concludes the articlCi "against tho continuance of these blundering attacks on a magnificent diplomatic instrument/'

The views expressed by the Tempi indicate that opinion in Franco is getting impatient, with the action at the Little Havyites,. This continual talk about disarmament, and undignified appeals to other nations to take a naval tend to weak«ri Britain's influence in international affairs, It is a futile agitation, for; it is certain that the nation will not tolerate any reduction in the Navy Estimates while other Powers are increasing their shipbuilding activity and adding t<3 their military strength.