NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 68, 14 December 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

That much time is wasted on the Wellington wharves and needlossly lost is a well-established fact. Some aspects of the matter were discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, but befor.3 things can be righted it will be necessary to go deeper into the underlying causes. Before the war direct liners used to spond about four weeks in New Zealand waters discharging inward cargo and taking in outward consignments. Today anything up to eight weeks may be lost in these waters between voyages, and we believe we are right in 6aying that the shipping companies are well pleased as tilings stand in getting an outward dispatch within six weeks of a liner's arrival. This means an appalling wastage, the burde'n of which falls on tho community. In tho old days a iieet of iivo steamers could maintain a four-weekly service each way between New Zealand and Britain.. To-day a fleet of the same size has difficulty in providing sixweekly sailings. This is a reduction in efficiency of one-third. It is duo mainly to delays here consequent on go-slow methods and lack of coal. As the cost of operating shipping has increased enormously, the total load when decreased efficiency is added to higher working costs becomes urushingly heavy, and tho restrictive effect on tho development of the country is bound to be marked if the existing state of things is long continued. A check to the expansion of trade means fewer. ,and poorer opportunities for all. If ever there was a .penny-wise and pound-foolish policy it is the suicidal one of "go-slow." It'is their own and their children's throats that those who advocate it must eventually cut.

Cork, with a population about equal to that of Wellington, is tho principal city in the south of Ireland. If the destruction that has taken place there were envisaged as occurring in Wellington a vivid idea can be gained of the condition of things in Ir el and. With its Town Hall and Public library gutted, two theatres destroyed, eighteen of its principal business houses blown up or in nshes, and 450 dwellings burnt—about as many as in the whole of Eastbourne Borough—Wellington would be in the position of Cork to-dav. It is an napalling picture, and it is an appalling state of things that exists in Ireland. .Sinn Fein ,has resorted to violence and intimidation, and nuirder has begotten murder. It has sown t.he wind and it is reaping the whirlwind. The state of affairs in the south of Ireland has reached a pasj whero the difference between it and open warfare becomes a matler of- no great moment. The Sinn Feiners have chosen the argument of physical force, and theonly counter in that' is the exercise of still greater force, and. a struggle that must continue until onu side or tho other Mr. Lloyd George a little while ago declared that Britain could only concede the Sinn Fein demand for independence if beaten to her knees. There is little reason to doubt that in saying this the Prime .Minister did no more than voice the sentiments of the bulk of the 12 millions of Clreat Britain. 41 * '' « « Wellington, is scarcely likely to quarrel with Auckland for possession of the I able on which the Treaty of Waitanai ivas signed. This historic picco of furniture it appears has been unearthed somewhere in the far north, and it fins Keen proposed to transfer it to the Parliament Buildings in Wellington. Mr. Gunson, Mayor of Auckland, however, interposes his veto. The table, wo aro informed, Is a memento of "one of tho most historic events, in the Auckland Province." From fliis one gathers that what the Treaty of Waitangi really achieved wan tho cession of Auckland Province to the Crown, with the unimportant remainder of New Zealand thrown in as a make-weight. It looks as if New Zealand history will have to be rewritten for consumption north of Taumarunui.

It will not 1m in keeping with tho intentions of their founder if the choice of future Rhodes Scholars lias to be restricted to the sons of well-to-do families. Tho cost of living goes up, tout the funds of tho Rhodes Trustees do not increase in proportion, and they now announce that all future scholars must be prepared to finance themselves to tho extant of -t'so per annum. The income of .£3OO was ample whom tho scholarships were founded, but conditions have changed so greatly since then that even with the addition of £o0 present-day scholars will still bo fnr from the original busis. New Zealand will normally have three Rhodes Scholars in residence at Oxford—there are more at present in consequence of the war—and the task of supplementing their incom.; will not involve a great outlay. Tho tendency is nowadays to leave everything of this sort to tho Government, but a wealthy Jfdw Zralandpr might-, make a much worse uso of his mon«y than in keeping this door to a first-class education wide open to all. A closer personal touch between New Zealand and its Rhodes Scholars might also result In tho return of more of them to the Dominion after completing their courses. It cannot bo said that any particular interest has been takpn in this aspect of the question, and for lack of openings in their native land most, of our scholars look for employment olscwhero and aro lost to us, This la not us it should be. ■

Those rpsponsiblo for the schools tonnis championship tournament, tho finnl games in which were completed .yesterday, aro to bo congratulated on llio success which Ims attended this yaw's contests. Kxcellent form was shown throughout the tournaniont by both girl and boy contestants, and the finalists included players well above the average. As a rule tennis players have to be caught young to produce champions, and it may 1)0 that there were future Davis Cup competitors included in the ranks of those who displayed their skill on the Brougham Kill Club's courts yesterday. Certainly it is fairly safe to say that it is doubtful if any of tho world-famous players now practising at Auckland could at the same age handlo a rackct with such skill and judgment as the mite of a boy who 'contcstod the final of the singles championship with his elder brother. This lad was so small that, his head barely reached to the top of the net, and he had to hold tho racket with two hands for Iwth his backhand and forehand strokes. Yet his length and placing were admirable, and he also varied his pace with good judgment, while at the same time accepting the ill-fortune which came hig way witli a philosophic good nature that told of a tine sporting spirit. The tremendous advance which lawn tennis has made in popular favour in recent years, especially in the schools, augurs well for the future of the game in New Zealand, though 'it has created something in the nature of a problem to provide sufficient playing grounds. There is an abundance of good material developing in our schools to ensure that with proper coaching the standard of play in the Dominion will be considerably raised during the next few years.