NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

It is to be hoped that a definite announcement will bo mado soon about the colours presented 'by His Majesty the King to the service battalions of the Expeditionary Force other than those of the llille Brigade. The conference of senior officers which concluded on Friday decided that in order to comply with an Army Council instruction, the colours should be handed over to tho senior available officer of battalion at the timo of the armistice. Regimental colours, however, ought not to be treated like sporting trophies "won outright." Presumably the duty of each senior officer entrusted with a stand of colours will be to find for it some public resting-place whero it will serve as an ever-present reminder of the deeds of the regiments concerned. In Great Britain many colours, no longer in the custody of regiments that bore them on service, are deposited in cathedrals and churches and other places of public assembly. In this country the town hall or municipal building of a given district might be, more generally favoured. In any case the colours of the fighting battalions of the Expeditionary Force ought not to be stowed away, eve.n in the most trustworthy keeping, out of sight and out of mind.

More than one question of practical importance is raised in the latest report of the Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power League. Besides pointing out that tho progress of development work at the Mangahao source is much less rapid than could bo desired, it urges that tlis provision and supply of hydroelectric power should be entrusted to a separate department, and emphasises a contention that the present method of carrying out large public works has been shown by experience to he unnecessarily dilatory and wasteful. The League does not say exactly what it means by the creation of a separate department, hut undoubtedly there are strong arguments for placing all details of public developmental enterprise, as distinct from the determination of broad policy and ultimate financial control, under independent expert management. It may be agreed also that the caso for such a change is particularly strong where a cle.arly-defmed enterprise like' hyclro-electvifi development is in question. There is the move need of giving prominence to the problem of establishing more efficient methods of public works control since it is evaded habitually by politicians of all parties. Candidates ought to be compelled during this campaign to face the issue squarely, and say in plain.terms whether they stand for a parochial or for a national policy of public works. At Mangahao, according to the League, "the staff themselves would put the work through in three years if given a chance, hut the present 'red tape' . methods are tying their hands." Very similar things might be said of practically, all branches of public works, and it is full time that in this matter a had tradition was broken and cast aside. Probably the electors cannot tatter contribute to that result than by returning a strong body of progressive members pledged to forward a genuine policy of progress on sound lines

People in all parts of New Zealand will extend good wishes to Mn. Clutiia Mackenzie in his candidature for Auckland East. It is one of the most admirable features of his campaign that he, scouts the idea of seeking sympathy on account of the heavy disability, he incurred while serving his country in the field. A really gallant spirit breathes in his expressed desire "to prove thai blind soldiers arc capable of other things besides organgrincling and basket-making." There is plenty of scope in Parliament for men of that spirit, whether they arc blind or of normal vision. Handicapped as lie is, Mr Mackenzie has shown himself ( a capable platform man, and already has given proofs of political knowledge and capacity that ought to stand him in good stead in the fairly formidable task he has undertaken of storming a Liberal stronghold.

"The candidate said that tli« Parliament to bo elected was to lie, the most important one that New Zealand had seen, as all matters relating to the aftermath of tho war had to be attended to." The can-

dictate was Mil. A. L. Monteith, the Labour nominee in Wellington East, and liis observations on this occasion were eminently sound. Ho neglected to add, however, that tho aim of the Labour Party, as declared by its leader, is by supporting a Wardisfc no-confidence motion to compel the early dissolution of the "most important Parliament New Zealand had ever seen." If the Labour-Socialists achieved their aim "all matters relating to the aftermath of the war" would be unceremoniously deferred and postponed in order to permit undivided concentration on party strife.