NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 16, 14 October 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

In the coming retirement of Sir William Kkasei; from active participation in the political life nf the Dominion the House of Iteprosontatives will lose the valued experience of. a member who • has many years of useful public service to point to and who has invariably held the respect of both political friends and opponents, Though not politically one of the oldest members of the prestnt House, Hih William Eraser may be classed with the veterans, and he is now concluding something over a quarter of a century's association with the Parliament of New Zealand, with seven years of uffice as a Minister of the Crown. This record is one in which hi: might Justly take' pride. Both as a private member in Opposition and as a Minister in charge of important. Department of Public Works he has been singularly free irom much of the pa>4.y pettiness which disfigures our political life. A searching critic in Opposition, lie has been enually candid and oiitsipokeri as a Minister, as many deputations in search of votes for public works of various kinds could testify. _ At a time when truckling t« sectional clamour has been an outstanding and an tinedifying feature of our public life Sin Wilmam Ff;ASF,n has displayed r.n unconcern for such influences that has won him the respect of those even who might disagree with his views. It may be honed that though he has now decided to retire from (he Tiiilitieal strife of the House of Eenrenentatives the country may still have, the, benefit of his wide experience, ripe judgment and plain speaking in the less strenuous atmosphere of what in nolitieal parlance is known as "another place."

The ominous situation that is developing in the Baltic States sets all possible emphasis upon the necessity of getting the League of Nations speedily into working operation. As reports stand formidably organised German forces, nominally repudiated by the German Government, are attacking and invading the Baltic States with a view to clearing the way for an advance on Pelrograd. With some assistance from the Allies, the people of the three Baltic States— Esthonia, Livonia and havo been fighting and making head against the Bolsneviki, but according to one of yesterday's messages the Eslhonians -will probably cease fighting against the Bolshcviki and make common cause with them, against tho Germans, whom they regard as the most dangerous enemy. The Allies are fairly well placed to rendor effectual aid to the Baltic States, but paßt experience hardly encouragcs them to undei# take new military adventures in Russia. The position is seriously complicated by suggestions that Denikin and Koi.chak, the chief anti-Bol-shevik leaders in Russia, are in close and intimate touch with tho so-called "West Russian Government," which is largely a screen for German filibustering. The Allies obviously will bo faced by a serious dilemma if they find that the only powerful faction in Russia other than the Bolsheviki is intriguing with the Germans, and incidentally against the independence of Poland and other States to which the Allied nations have protection. The one obvious line 6f action open to the Allies at this stn«e seems to be to take sueh concerted action against the German Government as will compel it -to withdraw from Russia the, German troons which fire operating in that, country. Blockade and other measures .firmlv token would no doubt brock sn p edily throngh the pretence that, these troops arc actinc in define of their own Government. IJnitnrl ac f 'on bv the Allies is manifestly tf l * supreme need of the moment, Unfnvtun'-t.e-fv it i= narti<mlarl,v nbiin that ■nidi "ction will nfit' easily be compassed. * • t * The two countries'which are mdst impeding effective concorted action by the Allies are Italy and America. Italy, as a result of the failure of her rulers to cope_ with tho antics of D'Aknuszio, is in a state approaching internal chaos, and tho long-drawn-out wrangle in the. United States over the ratification of the Peace Treaty must be onlv less encouraging than the condition of Italv to the adventurers who arp making the most of" their opportunities in Russia. As will be seen from one of to-dav's cablerrrnms, Senator Lopge's latest con-, ti'ibiition to the debate on tho Treaty is an unmeasured denunciation of .Tnpnn. How far his susnieions of that country are warranted it is imposs'lvlfi to s-iv, but it is self-evident, fb.-it bo is obstructing the onl| hoiieful method of imposing an effective cheek on ilannu or any other countrv which mav be inclined to exploit its neighbours. . RenAtoh Loogr and those with him who have, hnd so mvh to sav about the ineouitv of the Sh.nntunf seHlement offer nn alternative to the Leafruo of_ Nations as a means of protecting weak nations and so safeguarding the neane of the world. The real effect, of their ■obstruction is_ to withhold protection from China and nt the same tinw to impede, pcrhans make imnossihle, such concerted action bv the A"'ps as misht enable them to deal effectively with the dnnsrerous "niulit-ions t.bnt ni-o developing ill Tripsin, on the Adriatic, and oisc where.

The Colonial Motor Companv, which own 1! Hip "Vovd" iieeiiey i'nr Now ZeaInlid, intends to piwf a nine-story warplioifp oil the filp of the present liiiildim: in Conrtenay Plnee. n building t'ir:f will lie the tallest in Wellington. The new premises will run right, naok to Ynrk Street, and will lie erected in sections s'i as to interfere with the business as little as ])(i?sililt>. That half of the luiilding which is to f'ice York Street will lie erected first. Some 7!io tons of the constructional -teel required for this big liuilding has men unbred frinn K""land, and it is expi'eM t'-nl a stn>'t will lie made after the ClirMinas linlidnys, The architect is Mr. J. M. Daw-on. under w'liosb supervision tho building will bo erected.