NOTES OP THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 308, 22 September 1920, Page 6

NOTES OP THE DAY

At each stage in the fixing of their salaries members of Parliament are opening their mouths wider. At the beginning of tho session the amount talked of was ,£4OO per annum. When tho Bill appeared it wis with .£l5O inserted. In the ensuing debate tho alternatives seemed to be J!<so plus .£SO to be paid into a superannuation fund, or ,£SOO straight out. Yesterday the Bill returned from the Joint Committee with a recommendation that tho amount be JJSOO, and that in addition the State establish a fund for assisting ex-membera and their families. At the beginning of tho month we expressed the hope that it was not premature to congratulate the politicians on the moderation of their demands. Evidently it was. The Bill has to go through further stages before it becomes law, and there is thus a likelihood of a continuation of tho present unedifying spectacle, A payment of J:500 a year to members is a reasonable thing, but the creation of a special charitable aid bureau for ox-members and their families is preposterous. If members are so conoerned about their fiuancial future it is quite open for them to establish a contributory superannuation fund themselves. * * * * The suggested, provision of a private secretary for tho Leader of the Opposition is a step which can be cordially approved. The position will bo complicated, however, if half-a-dozen Leaders of Oppositions appear in the House.

There arc indications that 6uch a thing; is within the bounds of possibility. 51". Isitt, it is true, averred on Monday that the Liberal Party lias reached rook-bottom. Less optimistic observers will ba willing to concur that it is at least distinctly upon the rocks. However, if the worst comes to the worst and the rival Opposition Leaders of the Liberal Party, tho Extreme Labour I'arty, the Moderate Labour Party, and the Independents cannot agree as to who is to have the private. secretary they may find a way out of the difficulty by raffling him among themselves, or may carve his services up between them. There should be a clear understanding that they are not each going to ba given a private secretary, * * * * The State coal miners have gone on strike for four days. It is in doubt whether tho strike is because conscientious objectors are in gaol—there are not any in gaol, by the way-or because two mfen at the mines' did not subscribe to tho Broken Hill relief, fund, Probably tho

men don't know themselves. The essential thing is that they are not working and do not intend to work for four days. Their programme is to have an "irritation strike"- each fortnight. Whether it is proposed to go through the farce of producing a complaint of some sort as an excuse for the strike each time remains to be 6een. These men are not the "sweated slaves of private greed," but workers in a nationalised undertaking controlled by a Parliament elected by adult suffrage. If they had any real grievances we may be quite sure that they would not bo worrying about conscientious objectors who aro not in gaol or men who have not provided their halfcrowns to maintain the Broken Hill miners in indefinite .idleness. The situation at the State mines makes "it clear that the nationalisation of industry is futile

as a way out of industrial difficulties. The miners, taking advantage of the fact that they are producers of an essential product, have apparently-determined on a prolonged hold-up of the community. The situation is one that is capable of being met, but the fact is sufficiently established. that it will not bo met by further temporising and concession. * * * » These are fateful days in Britain, fateful for the peoplo of the Motherland, and it may be for us overseas also. If a prolonged and bitter industrial struggle is entered on it cannot be long before its impoverishing and crippling effects are felt by Now Zealand producers. The real question behind all the unrest with which the British Labour movement is seething is whether new conditions are to be sought by a process of stable evolution, or whether a short cut is to be attempted by using the organised strength to override Government and dictate policy., The Labour unions, by the progress of their organisation, have acquired great power. Power brings in its train great and the greater the power the greater the . temptaticn. If Labour adopts tlio policy of "direct action," it will enthrone anarchy in the seat of democracy. Many of the Labour leaders see and are trying to avert this peril. Mr. Clynes has pointed out. time and again that direct action now will give every other section of a community Tinder a Labour Government the right to imitate its bad example. Looking ahead," says Mr. Clynes, "I can see Labour in the seats cf power, and I want Labour's laws to be respected and observed, just as I ask Labour to observe and respect them now." Anarchy is the prelude, if not to tyranny, at least to dictatorship. All history, from the days-of Greece down to these of Russia, 'teaches this lesson. There is no doubt that an active and hot-headed minority is doing its utmost to push the British Labour movement over the precipice, but we dcubt whether the usually sound horso sense of the British workers will succumb to the voice of the tempter. '

« # • * If The intensely partisan spirit which dominates American political contests is illustrated in tho declaration of Mr. Charles Hughea (the Republican Presidential nomineo in 191G) that Article Ten of t'he League of Nations Covenant—the Article which guarantees the independence and territorial integrity of League members—would enable tho President to deolare war without consulting Confess. As a matter of fact, one of tho two reservations advocated by Governor Cox, the Democratic candidate for tho Presidencyi covers this very point. The reservation reads: "It will, of course, be understood that in carrying out the purpose of the League the Govnrnment of the United Staton must at all times act in strict harmony with the terms and intent of the United States Constitution, whioh cannot in any way be altered by (ho. treaty-making Power." This in itself seems to offer an adequato safeguard ngainf* tTie "danger" alleged by Mr. Hughes, but still further safeguards arc provided in tho second reservation approved by Governor Cox. TM9 points out Ihat the League of Nations was dovised • for the sole purpose of maintaining peace and amity amongst the notions, and adds that the co-operation of the United States will naturally, depend upon tho adherence of the League I to tUt fundamental pui-pow.