NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

Next to the Prime Minister tho most worried man just now in the British Cabinet should be Sir Robert S. Horne, the new Minister of Labour. Certainly the task with which he is confronted is one of ever-increasing anxieties, and not merely to the Minister himself but to the whole nation. Though little is known by the public of the qualifications of Sir Robert Horne for his new post, those who have been brought into contact with the man and his work during the war regard his selection with a good deal of satisfaction. He is known as a "Sir Eric Gediies man," the Daily Mail states, which means that he was selected by Sir Eric Geddes to assist him in the great task of reorganising transport services in France, and so much was thought of his work there that his chief brought him back with him to tho Admiralty. Sir Eric Geddes's partiality for strong, capable and forceful men—men who get things done and done in the speediest and most efficient possible way—may be taken as an indication of some of the qualities with which Sir Robert Horse is endowed; but he has move than this to commend him for his pj-esent_ office. . He has been associated with the Labour since leaving the Admiralty, and while there is said to have displayed marked ability in adjusting industrial differences. He exorcised jurisdiction over 2500 firms employing over half a million men, and he is said to have gained a clear insight into the causes of labour' unrest as the result of investigations as a member of a Special Committee of Inquiry into labour troubles at Coventry and elsewhere. By profession he is a lawyer, a K.C., who gave up a lucrative practice at tho Scottish Bar to do war work. * » » * No doubt there is a good deal of truth in the remark made by General Maurice to a Canadian paper regarding disagreements at the Peace Conference. These alleged disagreements, according to the General, who has been in Paris during the sittings of the Conference, and in touch with things, are largely imaginary. They exist, he says, in the imaginations of those outside (he Conference. With representatives of the Press of practically the whole world assembled at Paris, each eagerly seeking to peer beneath the surface of the official reports of the .Conference, button-holing the man with a grievance, and anxious to he the_ first to inform the readers of their papers of the probable course of events, it was to be expected that there would be a good deal of speculation and guessing in the messages sent. There'are bound to be differences of opinion at the Conference, and at times disagreements, but sufch instances no doubt have been multi' plied and exaggerated by correspondents over-eager to make what in the newspaper world is known as a "scoop." If we were to take too seriously such things as tho comments and opinions sent us from time to time regarding the aggressive activities of Mr. Hughes, the Commonwealth Premier, we might almost regard the members of the Conference as' on the verge of coming to blows; whereas, tho fact probably is that Mr. Hughes is merely "playing to the gallery," and enjoying him , self immensely. In spite of the very great difficulties which have to bo overcome, the Conference appears to be making quite good progress—better, indeed, than most people expected. * * * * A correspondent, who signs himself "A Landless Soldier," makes complaint that "wealthy landed settlers'' in certain districts have declined requests to sell their land under section 3 of tho Soldiers' Settlement Act. This section is designed to enable returned soldiers or groups of returned soldiers to arrange privately with existing owners to take up land, subject to the approval of the local Land Board. If the board approves, the Land Purchase Board may purchase the land under tho Land for Settlements Act and transfer it under the usual conditions to the soldier or soldiers interested. The purpose of clause 3 is a good one in so far as it encourages reLurned soldiers to look around for themselves for land in the localities which best suit them. It is of assistance also to the Government, which is endeavouring to secure suitable land for all who require it. But it does not follow in all cases that a landowner who does not wish to sell his land is behaving badly in declining an offer for it from a returned soldier. Nor does it necessarily follow that because a returned soldier desires to acquire a particular holding on which he has set his fancy it is in his own interest that he should be permitted to acquire it. That must be a question left to expert opinion, as is provided by the Act of 1917. But on the other hand, there undoubtedly arc cases in which large landholders might reasonably be asked to sell a portion of their holdings to individuals or to groups of returned soldiers, . and they should be glad to do their shave in this way to assist the men to make their fresh start in lifo under the most favourable conditions possible.