NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The public will not quarrel with the decision of the Defence Department to abandon the Territorial training camps this year. It is curious, though, that in its public explanation of its action the Department should wholly ignore the soundest reason for not holding the 7 camps.' The step has been taken, we arc told, wholly because of the shortage of officers and material. A shortage of material one can undcrsland, but a shortage of officers capable of training Territorials seems a strange thing at a conclusion of a four years' war. However, this is by the vtny. The soundness of the Department's decision residesin the fact that indus-, trial conditions arc much too un-

settled and the shortage of labour far too acute to justify the withdrawal of fifteen or twenty thousand men for a spell in camp. Next season it is to be hoped that conditions both in the Department juk! outside will warrant the resumption of the camps.

The demand put forward by the Welfare League for publicity in industrial disputes, the outcome of which is likely to affect the general public, will be very generally ' endorsed. There was a time when the view was held, and with some justice, that private conferences where there was no reason for "playing to the gallery" were more productive of satisfactory results than by conducting the proceedings in public. But times have changed, and after all it is the public that usually has to foot the bill when agreements are arrived at which affect the cost of handling or of production Therefore it is only right that the public should know what is going on behind the scenes and how far its interests are being considered. The great problem to-day is not the wages problem but the return given for the wage paid. The tendency is to increase wages and reduce output, and the more publicity that is given to this evil feature of our industrial life the better it will be for all classes, including the wage-earners themselves.

Thh; Germans continue to prove themselves bad losers in their dealings with the Allies. To-day we are told of their cunning in stripping the additional warships they have been compelled to hand over in consequence of their perfidy in sinking their fleet at Scapa Flow. The open revival of German militarism and the monarchical reaction' supported by large classes give little indication of a real change of heart. Germany may be merely giving vent to her bad temper and attempting to bluff the Allies as she bluffed them during the war. On the other hand she may be building hopes on dissensions and weakness iiinong the Allies in consequence of the failure of the United States to ratify the Treaty. The German Foreign Office used to declare that nothing could bring the United States into a European war. It was German policy itself which achieved this impossible feat. It may be that German deceit and evasion will before long make the American Senate realise, that the ratification and strict enforcement of the Peace Treaty is a highly desirable step. Such a con-1 summation is devoutly to be wished. I

Hydro-electric power is very much in the air in the North Island just now. Mangahao is in hand by the Government, but at a painfully slow rate of progress. In the Wairarapa there is talk of harnessing the Waiohine llivcr instead of waiting on the chance of some day drawing power from Mangahao. Nc\v Plymouth borough is contemplating extending its existing plant, but is much perturbed to find that an extra 7100 norsc-pc.wer which was estimated in November, 1018, to cost £108,000, is now'likely to.absorb £2:!3,000._ On the East Coast Gisbornc, having abandoned hope of Government power from Waikarcmoana for many years, is trying a policy, of self-help. A promise of a license from the Government is stated to have been obtained for a hydro-electric project at AVaikohu, a source estimated to be capable of yielding twice, as much, power as Lake Coleridge. Meetings are being held in the district and appeals' made for money on a co-opera-tive basis—the investors to receive six per cent, on their money and all profits thereafter to be divided equally with the consumers. This enterprise is one that is worth watching.

There is still room for some interesting developments in connection with tlie alignment of parties in the Commonwealth House of Representatives In recent statements of party strength the Nationalists, led by Mi;. Hughes, have been credited with 38 seats in a House of 75. Some of his supporters contend, however, that Mn. Hughes is entitled to reckon in his majority two members of the Farmers' Party who accepted and used the Nationalist endorsement and support. This view is taken by the Sydney Sunday Times, which maintains that Mii. Hughes has forty supporters and that the remaining forces consist of members of the Fanners' and Labour parties, aggregating 35. "In no conceivable circumstances, however," it adds, "can the Farmers' members vote with the Labour Party, as they secured their election on an opposing platform; so that Hie real strength of the parties in the House is: Ministerial (Hughes and his followers, direct and indirect), 49:_ Opposition, 26." This, no doubt, is straining the facts as far as they will so. or somewhat farther. _ The vital condition of co-operation between the Nationalists and Farmers, however, is prbbablv the ability of Ma. Hughes to the somewhat dictatorial methocTs ho has been wont to pursue.

\ new departure in immigration is suggested by Cojimissioxek Laud's statement published yesterday. Tens of thousands of unwanted children from two to five years old eVist in Britain to-day according to the Commissioner. New Zealand needs population, and the younger the immigrant the better the prospect of acclimatising him to overseas conditions. The Government should shortly have its hands quite full enough with adult immigration to make it averse to taking in hand the rearing of infnnts. Many of these unwanted children will drift into institutions fjueh as Barnnrdo's Homes. Can we not give the manniremonts of selected institutions with satisfactory records in bringing up children '.snipe •special inducements to establish honi"s in New Zealand and brine die British youngsters out and rcer them here? Money snent in th''s war would vield a solid return in adding to the man and woman powo'of the TWin-linn i'n n few "p n vo' time, and the children would be given a much hetfer chance in life than they could otherwise hope for.