NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2205, 18 July 1914, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

It seldom happens that a sitting of the Racing Conference is held without some arresting comments on tho subject of the sport falling from tho President, Sir George Clifford. At the Conference just concluded the Presidont, in the course of h'is most interesting 'survey: of the,, year's events and the outlook for' horse racing generally, touched on several matters of- outstanding' importance.' He discussed the question of the sport as a healthy form of recreation; he indicated the improvement in the; standard of, excellence in horse racing in' , the Dominion which has followed on,the appointment of stipendiary stewards; he touched lightly on the error of-the" Lesislature in needlessly curtailing racing dates; the subject of gambling was excellently handled; and the bookmaker received the unqualified denunciation he has always'met with from Sir George Clifford , . But the outstanding feature—the dominant note running through; the whole address—was the insistent emphasis which the President >jaid on the necessity for all associated with the sport working to keep it on the highest possible level as a clean and healthy recreation, such as might fairly deserve the support and approval of a sports-loving people. Few men, we imagine, would have ventured to take the bold step advo : cated by Sir. George Clifford, and adopted by the Conference, of placing horse-owners on their honour not to bet with bookmakers. Yet, as the laV stands, it was the only possible course for the governing body of the sport to take, setting as it does the high-standard enunciated by its President. It may be that the rule adopted \yill be difficult to enforce should there-be horse-ownprs dishonourable enough to break it; but the mere fact that the Racing Conference has, taken such a step; as indicated above must have a wholesome effect; Sir George Clifford has done so much to raise the standard of the sport of horse racing in New Zealand, and has championed its cause so ably over so long a period of years, that any suggestion of his possible retirement from the active leadership of the racing bodies of the Dominion would be most unwelcome to all who have the interests of the sport at heart. The members of tho Conference showed this very clearly yesterday when they unanimously reelected him as their President for another term. . '. v

There is rather a good joke- in the current issue- of the somewhat' obscure publication 'which officially 6peaks for the "Liberal" Party. Under big black headings concerning "Slanders, ■ Repudiated, ,, ' it paints an heroic ' picture of Sir Joseph Ward nobly resigning. the leadership of "Liberalism" in order that he might, not "be used as a butt to injure" his party. Most people will recall the real circumstances of Sir Joseph Ward's retirement, and they may well smile at the attempt to convert them into anything, approaching the heroic? Sir Joseph Ward was beaten at the elections; and everyone knew it. Ho cliing to offico_ as long as possible, and when Parliament met escaped defeat on a Want-of-Qonfidonco Motion by the casting vote of the •' Speaker'. But even then he had been only, allowed to escape the ignominy of defeat by undertaking to resign. The member for Otaki was pledged to turn out the Ward Administration, and admitted it; and the reason he gave for not voting against, Sir Joseph Ward in the No-Confidence division was "that the Ward Administration has given an undertaking to this House that it is going to resign," and therefore it was unnecessary for him to vote to turn tho Ministry out. Of course, Mr. Robertson's reason for breaking his pledge went further than this—ho did not want the Reform Party in office—but that does not alter the fact that Sir Josepii Ward could only tido over the NoConfidcnw , Motion by promising to resign. Now wo arc- told that his retirement was proof of a "gorjorous, chivalrous spirit" and the public, are expected to forget, the unedifying spectacle tho exit really was,

The .latest available particulars regarding the Post Office Savings Bank funds show a gratifying increase in the amount of deposits and also in the ratio of deposits to withdrawals. The following totals for the past quarters are taken from a return laid upon the table of the House of Representatives'' yesterday by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. R. H. Rhodes) i ( Year and Amountof Amount of quarter. deposits, withdrawals. 1913. ,-S . JC ' March 2,717,914 2,77a,035 Juno 3,015,5G5 2,618,138 September 2,801,100 r "' '2,775,195 Deccmbor ...... 2,715,732- 2,G72,454 1914. March 3.075,951 2.754,801 i Juno 3,204,282 2,809,209 ~ The figures for the June quarter may' bo subject to slight alteration, but are . substantially correct. The amount of deposits for the quarter constitutes a record, a state of affairs which will no doubt, be' very satisfactory to those financial 1 critics of the Government who have labour- ! Ed hard to show that the Savings Bank is going to wreck andoruin in its hands. The figures as they_ stand aro an encouraging indication of general' prosperity; There- are 'occasions when 'the Leader of the Opposition succeeds very well in making the members ol the House of Representatives undei • stand what ho means and wishes to say, but at other times he .wanders into a labyrinth of obscurity through which the ordinary man finds it impossible to fdllow him. Sir Joseph Ward appeared in this second character yesterday afternoon when he took occasi6n of the introduction oi the annual taxing Bill to make some misty and complaining 'remarks about land taxation. No one knew' exactly what He was aiming at, but he demanded to be informed as to the effect of a new stepping system applied to the land tax. He was not satisfied when the Prime Minister told him that the'e. were no steps in the ordinary land tax and that it had not been increased in any way, but it had to go at that, f.or Mr. Massey was compelled to confess in courteous terms .that he had. found it somewhat difficult to follow the right hon. gentleman. Sir Joseph Ward's excursion landed , himself and the House in confusion,, but the fragmentary discussion which he precipitated not entirely unprofitable. Amongst other things it gave the Prime Minister an opportunity 1 to put on record corrections of some of Sir Joseph Ward's, blunders as a financial critic during the recess campaign. Naturally Mr. Massey did not forget a famous blunder made by the Leader of the Opposition when he stated at Win ton that since the Massey Government took office the taxation of the people had risen by 10s. 2d. per head and had to admit immediately afterwards at Dunedin that all save 3s. 4d. of this increase had been incurred while the predecessors of' the Massey Government were in power. The Prime Minister also cleared up the erroneous statements of the Opposition Leader about an increase of indirect taxation. There is no need to traverse the .whole of yestel'day's discussion on this subject, but the essential points are worth bearing in mind. ;Sir Joseph l Ward, mentioned an increase 'of indirect taxation as a point 'against the Government, and' it would be quite a natural mistake' on the part of those who heard his speeches' and were not, acquainted with the facts to assume that Customs duties had been No such increases have been made, and the increase in indirect revenue mentioned by Sir Joseph Ward was due simply to an increase in the amount and value of imported goods., Sir Joseph Ward's criticism of the Government on the subject of indirect taxation was therefore tantamount to finding fault with.it.because the trade of the country showed' an expansion which was, a sure indication of prosperity. . v . > The forcible feeding phase of the Suffragette movement. is once, more brought under notice by the doc-: tors' deputation of protest recorded this morning. The protest it seems from the cable message came to northing as the Home Secretary refused to allow a reporter to attend to take notes. Upon this the deputation, we are told, withdrew. Its members apr parently desired not to so much to address themselves to Mr. M'&enna,. as to use him as a means of securing publicity in the_ Press for their eloquence. The attitude is typical of the Suffrajrettes and their supporters. Forcible feeding is not a pleasant process, but tbose who dislike it have their' own remedy. Its adoption, together with the passing of the so-called . "Oat-and-Mouse' Act, has effectually outwitted the designs of Mrs. Pankhurst and thoso of her friends who sought martyrdom of starving themselves in the gaols. How the situation would be improved by its abolition it is difficult to see. Whatever else the Suf-fragettes-have done they .have'convinced mere man that he is unequal to dealing with the problem they present.