NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

Tho decision of the Government to introduce the necessary legislation to enable Customs duties on foreign goods to bo paid either at the pad' value or at the ruling rate of exchange, as may be most advantageous to the importer, will remove an unjustifiable handicap on French goods. As wo previously pointed out in referring to this subject, tho proctioo. of assessing goeds for duty on tho par value of exchange has been advantageous to American manufacturers with the exchange in their favour, but means prac-

tically double duty on French goods because of tho decline of the franc. Of all our Allies, there is nono to whom we should bear greater good-will than to France. ,It is not eo long ago that we had as our guests tho French Mission under General Pau. Tho object of that mission was. to pave the way for closer relations between New Zealand and France. The Government's amendment in the Customs method of Valuation for duty is a slight recognition of tho claims of our staunchest ally, and may be taken as an earnest of a desire on our part that something 1 tangible may come in the way of a development in closer relation? with France. * *• * * . After many trials, the tong-fought contest between the Resolute and the Vanite for the honour of defending the America Cup against Sir Thomas Linton's latest challengo has resulted in a victory for the Resolute, a Herreshoff-built boat. Both.yachts have broken the record on tho Sandy Hook course, and both are understood to be several seconds faster this season than ever before. The'cup \ has been in American possession since 1871, although' in some of tho subsequent twenty-seven challenges it has been retained by only the narrowest of margins. This season sees Sir Thomas Lipton make his tenth challenge. Once in 1901 ho had the satisfaction <sf finishing first, but lost by 41 seconds in tho time allowance. Shamrock IV, this year's chaKengor, has been built by C. B. Nicholson on original lines, and American critics have a feeling that she may either startle the maritime 'world with her speed and general

nbif.ifcy on the great day or else prove n fizzle. They declare that they do not believe that her builder himself knows what she will or will not do. It is at least certain that blio will have to be fast indeed to lift the cup. Sir Thomas Lipton, with his perennial challenges, has shown a fine sporting spirit, and all will I wish him at least a straight-out race this year, and not a finish in a fog as happened Hast time. * ' # * #.''■• If President Wilson accedes to the request of the Allies- that he should convene n meeting of the League of Nations he will bo in the curious position of summoning an international body created on the demand of the American President, repudiated by the American Senate, and in whose deliberations no American representative • wili bo entitled to take part. It is a strange position. America is. still technically at war with Germany, and her inability to accept the peace signed by her President leaves her as much outside the Assembly of Nations as the late enemy States remain for the timo belnjr. The League of Nations has to-day much more work on hand than, is generally 'recognised. It is governing the 600,000 inhabitants of the Saar basin, and in eastern Germany administers the affairs of the city of Danzig, which lias a population of 200,000. The League is also being pushed by the Supreme Council into taking the mandato for Armenia, declined with thanks by the United Stales, and many would have it assume some sort of control over- the Flume district. The defection of America and the new burdens proposed to be. thrust upon it from different quarters make desirable a general review of the situation by a meeting of the full Assembly.

The proposal of the Educational Institute -to erect a. cenotaph in the Parliamentary grounds revives the question of whether Wellington is to-do' anything in remembrance of the men from tho city who gavo their lives in the war. Christchurch has now definitely docided on the form of its. memorial, and is placing a monument in Cathedral Square, and a Bridge of Kemcmbranee across the- Avon. Auckland is planning to build a war memorial museum. Wellington has as largo a proportion of its eons lying dead overseas as any other centre in the dominion—a ' decidedly larger proportion than most. Yet Wellington still lags behind, too engrossed in other things to.spare thought for tho men who did not come : back. Whatever else wo may decide to do, it would at least bo an excellent thing to securo por-. traits of all Wellington men who lost, their lives in the war, and place them in panels in tho corridors of the Town Hall. An energetic committee would not have much difficulty in collecting the photographs,-as in most cases a publio appeal through the Press would probably suffice. It is possible also that the collection once made would beget a feeling that would lead to tho erection of » more durable and adequate memorial. * * * *

Particular interest attaches to ttas tennis championships at Wimbledon, now in course of decision, because of tho light the results may throw on the possibilities of the coming Davis Cup contest at Auckland later in the year. So' far as the singles championship rounds have, progressed, the American team is doing best. All the members of the British Davis Cup team, with ono exception, have gone down to American players, but in the process' the crack American player, Johnston, was also eliminated-by Parko, perhaps tho best of tho British team. Tho French contingent,' a brilliant but 'somewhat erratic team, have all been beaten. At time of writing it seems probable that cither Tilden or "Williams, .of the American toam, will reach the challengo round of tho championship, and meet Patterson (Australia), the holder. In the preliminary rounds of tho Davis Cup contest tho struggle rests between America, Britain, and France, and their respective prospects rank in that order. It was thought prior to the Wimbledon championships that the American team would have an easy win over Britain and France, but it is quite possible that the British team may prove a hard nut to crock. Tho winners will meet the Australasian team, tho present holders of tho Davis Cup, at Auckland in Decern? bcr, and the meeting should produce the greatest and most spectacular struggle, that has yet taken placo for tho coveted tennis trqphy.