TWO BOOKS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2187, 27 June 1914, Page 11

TWO BOOKS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

"THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY AND LAW OF NEW ZEALAND. Two recently published books should find a place in tho library of every New Zealander who desires to know and understand the political history of his country. These are "Tho Constitutional History and Law of New Zealand," by Dr. Eight, Professor of History and Economics at Canterbury College, and Dr. H. D. Bamford, the wellknown Auckland ■ lawyer (Whitcombo and Tombs, publishers); and "Democracy in New Zealand," by Andre Seigfried, with an introduction by W. Dowilio Stewart (George Bell and Sons; per Whitcombo and Tombs). _ Drs. Hight and Bamford claim for their book that, "viewed merely as an orderly compilation of facts," it should prove useful to the student, the politician, the lawyer, and the journalist," ana < "should not bo without interest to the general reader as well; if it serves, even in small 'measure, to stimulate an appreciation of tho privileges and responsibilities of citizenship." The. authors deserve high praise for their systematic, usefully informative, and, indirectly, it may bo, valuably suggestive narrative of political history of the. Dominion. Their Book, to employ a hackneyed but useful phrase, undoubtedly supplies q. longfelt want. Hitherto tho constitutional and political' history .of the Dominion has been given pieecmeal and has suffered from strong personal or party prejudice. any such prejudice this new work is laudably free,,, although,' nnd necessarily so, cer.tainpersonalopiu-r ions have found expressions. In tlio first part of'the book we are shown .the, working of the Maori State, with special roferencos. to land settlement and land customs. Next comes tho story of,the advent of the Europeans, the annexation of New Zealand, and of the "spasmodic settlement which precedwl'tho cession of sovereignty. The next four? chapters deal with tlio attitude ofj.the Crown, the , residency,! and tho operations of and tttei-'New Zealand Company,- and tii© establishment of British sovereignty. Chapter'Vlll, entitled "The Government of- British Colonies to 1840,", is special!j'.interesting to the student of constitutional history, for the authors institute' several curious and, valuable comparisons between early and later, systems of British colonial government. In Chapter 1 IX, "New Zealand a Dependency of New South AValcs," we I have an interesting account, much of which will be'new to many TVellingtonians, of tho "Port .'Nicholson Council: of Colonists," which held it's ■ first;, meeting at; Petone'on. March 2, 1840y-and '.of, the, foundation/ of what. is noivviho capUal city of the Dominion;. : The .Constitution of 1840 is'/then examined, the authors, nest outlining the. principal-features.of tho. Hobson, Shortland, Eitzroj;j and ; Grey Administration.'• Tho Constitution of iß4(Sssio suspending Act.of .1848,. and tho' establishment the Provincial Councils ar& then ' Tlio authors gwe an interesting note on Grey's project of 'exten'dihg'Britrsh Sovereignty in the Pacific, which, had it been accepted by the Home Government,' would have had such important* consequences. His idea was to establish,an island federation: undfir the British flag, inducing "the Chiefs of Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and the Loyalty Islands to consent to the establishment of British sovereignty in their territories and the institution" of Customs duties identical with those of New Zealand, the proceeds from which would defray the expenses of a simple form of government. Unhappily "his enthusiasm found no echo in the Colonial Office," and with the exception of one group (tho Cook Islands), which was tardily admitted within tho Colony of New Zea/-. land, long after he, had ceased to have, any official connection with it, these fertile lands were left to: bo annexed to Franco and Germany.' As a matter of fact the above statement is somewhat misleading, for Fiji is British, and Tongd, a British protectorate. Returning to tho narrative proper, tho early land system of New Zealand is described in detail, and an account is given of the New Zealand Company's career, the closing chapters of tho first part dealing with the movement to constitutional yovcrnment; the establishment of responsible government; the working and abolition of the Provincial Governments with a relatively brief note on the continuous' Ministries, .Conservative and Liberal, which held office, tho first from 1872 to 1891, the second from 1891 to 1912. Much of whit appears in this first part is fairly woll known to well educated Now :Zealariders. but the. information is arranged with' conspicuous regard for system and makes a narrative ai readable as it is usefully informative. In the 1 , second part the au-' thors supply an orderly and really masterly presentment of tho actual and practical working • of the Constitution of the Dominion. First wo are given an account of' the powers and privileges of the. Governor, of the Executive Council (to how many New, Zealanders merely a name!), ana of the General Assembly, tho powers,'functions, and privileges and procedure of the two Chambers being , set forth with praiseworthy clearness. - The structure and working of the Judicial, Police, and Defence systems next koines uiidor survey, the closing chapter being devoted to .a careful setting forth, of; the working of the Imperial connection'and control. Lists of Governors \and Ministers, the full text of the Governor's commission and instruction, and a short, but useful, bibliography, arc given as appendices, and a special word of praise is due to the authors for their carefully compiled and comprehensive index. Authors and publishers alike merit warm congratulation upon a well-planned and'most useful work of reference, the value of which to the student of New Zealand history—and this is a subject of • which every New Zealander. should be a student—cannot well be over-estimated. (Price, 7s. 6d.) "DEMOCRACY IN NEW ZEALAND." First published, in tho original French, some toil years ago, Andre Siegfried's book, ''Democracy in New Zealand," has only recently been translated into English by Mr. E. V'. Burns. The translation now appears in a well printed volume (G. Bell and. Son; per Whitcombo and Tombs), and is prefaced by a well-written and suggestive preface by Mr. AV. Downie Stewart, of Dunedin. M-. Siegfried is an eminent sociologist, a Swiss by birth, aJteen observer and trained student of politics and society. During his visit to New Zealand in 1904 ho made a detailed and very careful study of our political system arid pocial lil'e. He expresses his opinions with singular frankness, pickil'i" out what he considers to be weak points with a keenly penotrative eye, but commenting upon what he consider' eJ to bo imperfections in no captious spirit, but from the point of viow of a gravol.v reflective, well-informed observer. A large portion of his book Js devoted to the industrial and other legislation introduced by the Ballnnco and Soddob• Governments, more particularly

tho latter, but he finds room for much illumining and, in places, searching criticism of institutions other than political, , concluding with an examination of-tho relation (as it existed in. 1904, and as ho thinks it in the future) between New Zealand, Australia, and England. Mr. W. Downie Stewart, whose. preface is in somo ways even moro interesting—being more topical—than M. Siegfried's text, very rightly attaches special importance to tho Swiss critic's observations on New Zealand's attitudo to the outer world. "Ho treats," says Mr. Stewart, Zealand's external relations in successively widening circles —Australia, the Pacific, and the Empire. With his fine French sense of proportion he realised moro fully thau most students that, however'isolated Now Zealand may be by Nature, and may oven desire to remain, by choice, she will bo forced into taking somo definite line of action as regards Imperial problems." Mr. Stewart elsewhere alludes to the "haphazard opportunism" which, so ho- says, M. Siegfried "so skilfully describes as characteristic of our legislative experiments," and remarks: "The real weakness of Now Zealand is the absence of any well-informed and coercive public opinion on external problems. At tho. present time New Zealand does not consciously stand "for any systematic policy as regards Imperial affairs, and it is difficult for her public men- to arouse much public interest on matters with regard to which the people feel that they,havo no definite responsibility."- M.. Siegfried's , book, in this excellent and useful translation, merits the attention of all who desiro. to pet down to basic causes in our political, industrial, and social system, and to solve those-.many political and sociological problems '-which, as time goes on, and our. population increases, must demand solution even , moro insistently than they do at present. (Price, 7s. 6d.) % AN ARTIST'S REMINISCENCES. Caton Woodville's Racy Yarns. Mr. K. Caton Woodville is an artist whose fino black and white work,' generally dealing with military subjects, has long been a popular feature of "The Illustrated London News." He is also-a painter of portraits, equestrian -subjects, and battle scenes* His reminiscences, published under the modest title of "Random Recollections" (Eveleigh Nash; per Whitcombo and Tombs), were well worth printing. A Londoner by birth, he comes of American parentage. Both his father' and mother were artists. Educated partly in Russia, partly in Germany, at .the ago of twenty, in 1876, Mr. Woodville went to Dussoldorf in' 1876 ,; to ;study art. He tells some 'curious stories of his life in tho German town. 'The-German officers were wont to annoy 'the and American art "students by the airs'.of. superioritx the) .assumed,, and.on moro : than: one occasion a.'duel resulted from what was'a mutual: feeling of enmity. Mr. Woodville tells of one'unfortunate artist'.who was unlucky enough to offend a noted duellist;' an officer... named,, Hauptmiinn .Bisclaffscheuu'"'A.'duel 'was.: arranged, and the artist, who'/ as the challenged man, had tho .first.shot,._fire.d, and .miss-. ed. His oppdnent v '*'n i alke'd'"'up with" the cruellest deliberation to the handkerchief, so that'he was only fifteen 'paces from tho'artist,'a-distance at.whieb/so good a shot could not miss; He pointed his pistol straight up in tho air, and said, "Now, I'm going to shoot .you through tho stomach," and gradually lowering his arm, fired with deadly accuracy. The unhappy artist died three days afterwards in groat agony, and Hauptmann . was tried . by courtmartial, but, pleading an insult to his clothj he was given, only a year's detention in a fortress." How an American Mat a Challenge. The artists did not, however, always oomo off second best with tho Prussian bullies. Mr. Woodville tells us, for instance,'how an American artist, named Storey, a big, powerful man. got out of a duel by his unorthodox way of receiving a challenge.' A German count, an officer of the rosorvo, who frequented the cafe where Storey used to go in-the evening, had a nasty trick of flourishing his cane about in a lordly way, and as he passed along the tables eiving them each a rap as he went bv. Two or three times he rapped on Storey's table, and tho American had begun to resent the liberty. A third day, the Graf came along in liie airy way and repeated his curious trick. Mr. Woodville thus relates the sequel:— '■ "•As the Graf's cane touched the table, Storey snatched it out of his hand, broke it to pieces, and threw it out into tho road. The Graf stopped and glared at the American, drew out a card, and threw it /on the table. This was a challenge, but Storey'flipped the card , into tho road after the broken atick, and went on reading his paper. Tho Graf glared moro fiercely than ever, but as Storey took no more notice of him he stalked oft". The American went back to his studio, and before very long a lieutenant of Uhlans came in, and, clicking his heels together, presented a cartel on behalf of his friend, Graf Von Buckeburg. Storey never looked at the : challenge, tore it up, and taking the lieutenant by the scruff of the neck, throw him down the . stairs, telling him to eend his principal. Evideritly.' these , transatlantic methods did not appeal either -to the lieutenant or; to tho-Graf, for : Storey never heard any more of the I ' matter." ■ . ' •.' Another Yankee' artist,, threatened 'by a Prussian lieutenant'with a swordstroke in a cafe, tho artist having inadvertently taken the officer's usual seat, came tho next evening and sat down in the same place, and with a pair of long revolvers on each side of his plate, awaited events. He ate his 6upper in peace. The Guards In Egypt. Mr. AVoodville has travelled much in Eastern Europe, where ho has acted as war artist for various papers, and met with many curious experiences amongst the Albanians and other peoples of the Balkans. He was in Egypt, too, during the war with Arabi Pasha,, afterwards getting a commission to design the uniforms for the futuro Egyptian Army, then being organised by Sir Evelyn Wood. He was also commissioned to paint a picture for the Fine Art Society of the -charge of .the Household Brigade at Kassassin. Concerning the Kassassin affair, Mr. Woodvillo says tho adventures of tho bngado were really remarkable. "I was told by many at the timo that tho brigade had lost their way, and wandered aimlessly through tho desert. Early in the evening the order was given for the men to throw oil their hay-bags, as they would have been considerably hampered by them if attacked. Next tho brigade camo upon a large body of troops and prepared to charge. Just as the word of command was given a British officer galloped tip and wildly gesticulating, cried out that they were about to attack a . British regiment. Tim next thins was a charge against infantry, evidently lying down,-and when they • rode against them they found they

had defeated their hay-bags, thrown oil earlier in the evening. ' Tho third charge eeemed to havo been ronlly against a force of Egyptian infantry. How much of this* chroniquo scandaleusc is true, only Tommy, who happened to be there, can toll." Some Reminiscences or Royalty. Mr. Woodvillo has had many commissions from' royalty. For Queen Victoria he painted a picture of tho Duko of Connaught and tho Guards at Tcl-ol-Kebir, and tho wedding of Princess Beatrico to Prince Henry of IJattenburg. Ho also painted a portrait of King Edward VII. His Majesty carefully examined the picture—an equestrian full length— and said: "Oh, what a pair of magnificent legs you have given mo! But look at my 'short ones. You will have to mako these much shorter." Apropos to tho painting of this particular portrait, Mr. Woodville tells a very curious story. Chatting with His Majesty at one of the sittings, tho artist asked "if there was reallv to be war withthe South African Republic and the Orang'o Free State. "Nothing of the kind," ho said, " all will fizzle out; and if war ■should break out, of which I don t think there is the slightest possibility, 50,000 men will go over the whole.of South Africa like the proverbial steam roller." "Well, your Majesty," I said, "do you know, sir, that it might not be quite so easy, considering Kriigcr alone has bought 60,000 Mauser rifles and enough ammunition to last at the-wildost.ex-.. penditure, two years, besides Max- ' ''nis." And how do you know that? was his question,.with an astonished look on his face. I then- explained to him that a friend of imr.o was a certain Mr. -— , a director of and Co., and also director of ,' which manufactures rifles for the German' Government. Mr. was sent for by the War Office tho next morning and interrogated, so the authorities know for tho first time of tho truth' about the Boer armaments. Within two or three months the Boer War broko out. "Rats! Rats I" One day tho present King, then Duke of York, visited the artist's studio, and was shown a Mauser rifle, which the. Duko compared with a Lee-Metford. At this time Mr. Woodvillo had ft very talkative parrot." The Duke examined tho two rifles carefully, and at last expressed the opinion that ho thought our rifle better, or at anyrato,. just as good, as the Mauser, when a voice came from behind his back with tho rude remark: "Rats!" , It was my parrot. Tho Duko wheeled round. "Who said that?" ho asked, and the bird again repeated "Rats! rats 1" During a, visit to India, when he accompanied the late Duke of Clarence, Mr. Woodvillo was present at a display of fireworks, given by the Nizam of Hyderabad, which cost that potentate no less than £18,000. Mr. Woodvillo painted an equestrian portrait of this prince. Mr. Woodvillo gives some . racilywritten descriptions of Bohemian' life in London in tho days when tho famous Pelican Club was so much in evidence, and his account of trips to Morocco and various yachting and shooting cxoprieuces, are also very entertaining. There are, of course, a few chestnuts in the book, but for the most part tho stories , arfi now, and certainly loEO nothing in their teiling. Tho illustrations include reproductions of somo of tho artist's best-known battle pictures. Tho book, which is a most n"ulr>ble production throughout, is published at 12s. Gd. (New Zealand price).