NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2425, 1 April 1915, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

Mr. Fisher on his departure lor Canada to-day will carry with him the good wishes of a large circle of personal friends and political supporters. Eight years ago he entered politics an unknown tyro, but he soon proved his mettle in the House. In Opposition he was a fearless and independent critic, and in office he showed himself an administrator capablc of sound and rapid decision. _ His ability is recognised by political friend and foe alike as distinctly above the average of Parliament, and the tour abroad on which lie is now embarking should broaden his outlook and increase his capacity for useful service in public affairs. _ His disappearance from tie House is a distinct loss, and there are many who will join us in hoping that it will not be long before tho late member for Wellington Central is once again a candidate for political honours in the Dominion,

An expenditure thoroughly justified that, approved by the City Council this week for the erection of bathing sheds at various points on the shores of the harbour. Seabathing is one of the most healthful and beneficial of pastimes, and it is good to find that the already liberal accommodation is insufficient. It is onlv in recent years that the civic authorities have taken any steps to entourage bathers, and the dressing-sheds erected at trifling cost are themselves as good a.n investment in the widest sense as any the Council has made. Where bathers were to be seen in former summers by twos and threes they aro nowadays found by scores. Big extensions are to be made at the Kilbirnie sheds, and it is to be hoped that extra accommodation, which is badly needed, will also be availablo at Lyall Bay before next season.

It is satisfactory to know that the inspectors of the Wellington Education Board are in a. position to report "some improvement in history and civics, in respect both of tho method of instruction and of the 'pupil's knowledge of historical events." We pointed out some time ago that it would do New Zealand no harm to take a lesson from Germany as regards the teaching of history. The inspectors are evidently impressed with the same idea, for they state that the results attained in Germany emphasise the need of a more systematic study of history and allied subjects. It is not, of course, intended to saturate the minds of the young people of New Zealand with the idea that the British have a Divine mission to impose" their special type of culture upon the rest of the tffirld at the point of the sword. The present war is one of the methods of inspiring an enthusiastic belief in their country's greatness. The Germans have cultivated the-art of making history an inspiration to patriotism. Our oWn national history might easily be made the most interesting lesson in tho New Zealand, school course. 1

Unintentionally perhaps our evening'contemporary has done the Government a good service in inducing the Minister of Defence to make known in some detail what has been done by New Zealand in the way of helping tho Mother Country in the present great struggle. The Post raised doubts as to whether we are doing enough. The Minister's reply shows very plainly that in proportion to. population the Dominion has done and is doing more than any other of the overseas Dominions, aud far in excess of what the British Government asked for or expected. This fact is not mentioned in any boastful spirit, nor" is it meant in tho slightest degree to disparage the very excellent service rendered by the sister Dominions; but it is advanced in contradiction of the suggestion that New Zealand has failed to rise to the occasion. Ministers arc inclined to be somewhat too reticent regarding their own achievements. They perhaps overlook the fact that the country has been accustomed for very many years to Ministers who could do nothing without proclaiming to the world the excellence of their performance. A Government which is content to do its duty in a matter-of-fact way and to keep in the background its very real achievements during the most trying period of the country's history is liable, in the circumstances, to be misunderstood by a not inconsiderable section of the people. We would not suggest that tho MasseV Government should closely follow the unedifying example of its predecessors iu constantly boosting its own virtues—far from it—but we do think that Ministers at times needlessly play into the hands of their opponents by failing to give u proper publicity to policy and administrative decisions and actions for. which they are justly entitled to credit.