NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The election of M. Deschanel as President of France is a surprise even amid the quick changes of French politics. M. Deschanel, as President of the Chamber of Deputies, has ruled over the wordy warfare of that body since 1912, but is more widely known as a literary man than a politician. That he should defeat M. Clemenceau—for the latter's withdrawal was apparently only to avoid an actual defeat—is possibly due to the French predilection for an eminently "safe" man as President. It has been said that the King of England reigns but docs not rule, that the President of the United States rules but docs not reign, and that the President of France neither rules nor reigns. The election of M. PoiNCAitB in 1913, after his distinguished career as Minister, was hailed as marking a new era and an abandonment of the custom of electing nonentities, such as President Falliehies. The matter is purely one for decision by the French, hut outsiders may be pardoned for thinking that a more opportune time could have been chosen for reversion to the old order than by denying this office to the most eminent Frenchman alive to-day.

Wellington throughout its history has suffered because the City Council has not always_ looked far enough ahead. This criticism docs not apply to the Mayoral programme for remodelling the main highways of the city put forward by Mr. Luke. The principle that the main arteries of traffic through the city need improvement will command general approval, but the necessity for a new road between Lambton Quay and the Terrace from the Public Trust Office to Boulcott Street requires further demonstration. The improvements Mn. Luke suggests should stimulate discussion, and have the useful effect of bringing under review all the alternatives to his plans. The immediate need is a. more effective regulation of the traffic in the streets as they exist. In this respect a good deal might be done bv the making of island refuges, which would have the effect of separating and directing the different streams of traffic at their busiest junctions, and at the same time minimising the risk to pedestrians.

One of the aftermaths of the war has been the washing of a good deal of dirty linen by superseded naval and military officers ironi command-ers-in-chief downwards. Most of this has hitherto been done on the European side of the Atlantic, but America is now taking a turn. Rear-Admiral Sims, of the United States Navy, is aggrieved over, the distribution of American war decorations, and before the Senate Committee of Inquiry is proceeding to let a little daylight on to the shortcomings of the Navy Department. The Department, he says, told him when he was sent to England "not to let the British pull the wool over your eyes," and also declared, "we would just as soon fight the British as the Central Powers." It does not appear whether this was the official dictum of the heads of the Department, or merely the conversational remarks of some, unnamed individual therein. The view is that of a minority—a considerable minority—of Americans, and its public statement is a timely reminder that it is our soundest policy to do all the business we can with our own kith and kin in the Empire i who offer us an unquestioned corI diality and good will.

The Government has been rather slow in publicly disclosing the details of a immigration policy, but on the facts supplied by the Piujie Minister at Christchurch on Saturday it.seems to have been exerting itself in this matter to fairly good purpose. According to Mn. Massey, arrangements are in train not only for getting back some three thousand New Zcalandcrs who have been engaged in Great Britain on other] than military service, but for subsequently bringing out 2400 immigrants nominated by people in this, country who are ready and waiting for ships. It is still desirable, of course, that the Government should definitely map out such an immigra(.ion scheme as would make impossible to undertake an enterprising programme of public works develop ment. The actual inauguration of the. scheme would necessarily be contingent upon the satisfactory vecsiablishment of soldiers in civil life. Assuming, however, that industrial peace is maintained, and that due enterprise is shown by the Government, local bodies, and individuals, there is no reason why the Dominion should not absorb a big body of immigrants in the near future with all nossiblc advantage. It should ho a definite aim to cooperate in the measures under which the British Government is paying the passages of ex-Service men and women and their dependants to any Dominion.

Those New Zcalandors who grumlilo at Hid adverse rate of exchange to America, can imagine the chagrin of (lie Frenchman 10-day who finds that lie has In give :!9 francs for in Knglish nolind as against 25 hefore the war." It has been prophesied tliat this spectre of "exchange" will destroy the good will among the Allies unless some means can he found to remedy it. The influential memorial which wo are told to-day is being presented to the leading Governments is a slep in the right direction. International action, however, cannot be fully effoetivo in .restoring financial stability if the

currency policies, loan polio-inn, and fiscal systems of the different countries arc managed by a central board. Such a surrender is unlikely, but affairs are coming to such a pass that recommendations by an expert international board would carry the greatest weight, and probably lead to the ending of some of the, "worst abuses even though Ike board itself lacked all executive power. a * * » One of to-day's cablegrams mentions that the final report of the Nitrogen Products Committee which has just been issued in Great Britain affirms the practicability of making the Empire independent of external supplies of nitrogen compounds. This is important not only on account of the essential value of nitrogenous manures, but because an adequate supply of nitrates would be a vital matter .should the Empire again be involved in war. According to the report, Canada, "with its exceptional water-power and the accessibility of its seaboard, could produce nitrates much cheaper than any other part of the world," but it'is added that New Zealand-and Tasmania also offer possibilities of cheap manufacture of synthetic nitrogen products. The pre-emi-nence credited to Canada perhaps refers mainly to the supply of European markets. At all events, some parts of New Zealand offer altogether exceptional facilities for the economical manufacture of nitrates. Prominence was given some time ago to the fact that at the Bowen Falls water-power which would suffice to run a nitrogen-production plant on a considerable scale is available right alongside deep water berthage. The Government rejected an offer bv a private syndicate to establish tbe manufacture of synthetic nitrates at the Bowen Falls, but the time now seems to be fully ripe for giving the enterprise practical consideration.

Correspondence laid before the local Industrial Association last night showed that measures arc in train under which New Zealand students will be enabled to obtain first-hand and practical acquaintance with the details of manufacturing industry in British factories. The Dominion obviously would have everything to gain from sending periodically a fair number ,of students to be trained on these lines. !•'ven if a proportion were lost to Lhcir own country, those who returned would be able to render important service in assisting to improve the technical organisation of existing, industries, and in connection with the establishment of new industries and branches of industry. The letter to the High Confmissioncr from the Trade and Industry Committee of the Royal Colonial Institute which was _ laid before last night's meeting indicates that British manufacturers in most eases are quite ready to afford the necessary facilities for training, and the opportunity evidently is one that ought to be turned to the fullest possible account. Conditions are in many respects favourable to a rapid expansion of secondary industries in the Dominion, and it is clearly essential to effective progress in this direction that means should be found of keeping touch with the latest developments in modern industrial organisation.