NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

A violent, appeal is made •■by a. correspondent on behalf of what he describes as the '"'sane moderate majority of New Zealand citizens" who are being "handed over, gagged and bound, to the apostles of ruin and destruction at the. next general election." The trouble is, he explains, the "diabolical jmcfc" be- ( tween the two. main political parties, including the party Press, which is smothering all propaganda of a. political nature, and by so doing playing into < the hands of' the Bolshevists and extremists who stand to gain their ends by reason of the existing apathy of the public and the prospective vote-splitting through lack of unity on the part of' the moderates, at the coming general election. Though the fears of our correspondent may be greater than is warranted, there is no doubt some ground for uneasiness in the existing condition of politics. So far as is generally known the political truco which is tying the hands of both of the main political parties in the matter of party propaganda. will not be continued beyond the cnext session of Parliament. Many people had hoped that out of the Coalition a "National Party would be born—that the association of the past three years />f Reform and Liberal Ministers; 'brought together under the stress of war conditions, would result in the removal of misunderstandings, the breaking down of old- party barriers, and agreement on a, common programme on progressive lines. The problems which lie immediately ahead of the Dominion will tax the capacity of the strongest Government this country is capable of producing fromv the ranks of all the political parties. Unfortunately the signs at present point to_ a reversion shortly to the old political party lines, with Reform and' Liberal candidates cutting one another's throats to the advantage of Labour-Socialist extremists. •

The secret; treaties bearing on-the fate of the Ottoman Empire which, are mentioned in one of to-clay's messages are apparently identical with those which were made public ,by the Bolsheviki in the latter part of 1917. 'It may be.' doubted, however, whether they are regarded, as tbe message alleges, as remaining in full 'force so far as France and Britain aro concerned. The Allies have no reason to be ashamed of their proposals under which the Turkish Empire* would be broken up into independent arid autonomous States with the degree, of protection necessary to safeguard their own interests, and no doubt Franco and Britain are cven_ more firmly determined now than in the earlier years of the war that these, nrobosals shall be carried into effect. But in regard to the execution' of the projected reforms the outlook has since been broadened, notably by the, prospect of_ American cooperation in liberating and safeguarding- races hitherto subject and oppressed. It is safe to tirf;, 1, that France and Britain are not_ more determined to liberate tho victims of Ottoman tyranny than ready to_ accept the co-operation of the United States and other nations in this humane enterprise. , '

An intimation that the State of New South Wales is now free of influenza, though it does not carry final evidence that Australia, has escaped' such a disastrous epidemic as lately swept through this country 'and others, points suggestively in that direction. Should it prove that the organised measures of tho Health authorities in Australia have prevented the entry of .the disease in the malignant fornl which it assumed in so many countries the achievement will stand as omvof the most remarkable of its kind in history. Available information suggests that Australia was saved only by efficient quarantine measures. The disease, certainly, was at the gates of the Commonwealth, and numerous cases were isolated in quarantine, and there were some 1 deaths. The inquiry about to open

in this country-ought to take account' of .the measures respectively instituted here and in the Commonwealth. A. systematic comparison ought to throw much light on the question as to whether the epidemic in this country might have been averted, and it should be an essential aim ah'-o to ascertain. whether we may profit by the experience of the Commonwealth-in creating safeguards against a similar visitation in future. ,