TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1913, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

"The news agency must have its pound of flesh, an absolute A Deal in secure monopoly for Antarctic News, twenty - four hours, though nerves are wracking and hearts are breaking," remarks the Lyttelton Times in a frank comment on the suspense in which Australasia was held as to the fate of Captain Scott and his companions. This secrecy could be broken only by permission of the London agency, which had a hard-and-fast contract with the expedition. We have no evidence yet that the agency was asked to have a matter of sensational news value (quite apart from the sad tragic aspect) disclosed before the papers concerned in the deal had published the report. Even if the agency had refused pitiful requests to give a line of news outside the pale of the syndicate, it would have been within its rights and would, have been able to quote precedents, though this procedure would not lessen the indignation of people sorely grieved by suspense. Our concern is not so much with the agency's insistence on exclusive rights to information for which it paid heavily as with the system which permitted such a monopoly of news in the case of-events of world-wide importance — the news of an expedition helped far more by public funds than by the fee for a, news agency's "scoop." The British Government alone gave £20,000 towards the cost of the exploration, and Australia and New Zealand helped genero^y with money and materials. The general public of the world, the larger givers of funds, had to rank behind minor contributors. This is really bad, business management. The keen disappointment and irritation caused in this instance will not soon be forgotten, and the sequel may be a reluctance to offer aid to future expeditions unless the people are assured of early news of momentous events. The officers of the, Terra Nova also made a mistake m going into a populous district to send their despatches. They were naturally besiegetl by reporters, but the terms of the contract Sealed their lips. In the circumstances they were compelled to give evasive answers, from which one reporter had an impression that Captain Scott was on the ship. A phrase used grandiosely by Mr. Seddon when laying the "Money fotmdation-slone of a no Object." wing of Parliament Library was — "Money no object." The burly democrat had the large manner in his references to public funds. Something of the Seddonian. spirit of free-and-easy expenditure seems to be in the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. Holland, who is inciting the citizens to agitate for the imposition of a third Government House on the general taxpayers. He remarks that Government bonds would bo accepted, "in lieu of cash,"' and argues that "it is only fair that a Government House should be provided for the South Island, especially as the North Island already has two." This implies that the North Island delights in having two, but it Is an unshakable fact that (he majority of people in this island would be content with one. The North has two because the Ward Government, which rightly resolved to economise on the Auckland establishment, was scared by the Queen City's gruff voice. Commoneense called for retrenchment, but the northern agitation prevailed, and inflicted a, needless expense on the public of New Zealand. It is plain that the interests of the people generally deserve a limitation of Government Houses to one, at the capital, rather than an increase to three or four. Why also should the South Island be dragged into the little scheme of a section of Christchurch folk ? What good would a Christchurch Government House be to the people of Dunedin, Nelson, Greymouth, and so oti? The name of the property for which bonds, "in lieu of cash," would be accepted is "Holly Lea/ 1 pretty fotvsooth, with such a molody of syllable and dear association that it may appear iniquitous to oppose the purchase. . Moreover, as Mf . Holland says, it has "a unique conservatory, growing ripe bananas and pine-apples at the present time." Is it not vandalism, then, to blot out the prospect of a Governor plucking bananas from the Crown's trees? Yet we have to take the risk of ignominy. We have to say that tho acquisition and maintenance of a third Government House \vould be a piece of scandalous, stupid extravagance, a grow waste of public fundn. Porfirio Diaz, once President and dictator of Mexico, banished in his Another old age, ha 3 been avenged. Diaz. His enemy, Madero, has been pushed from his Presidential place in the capital, and another Diaz, General Felix Dinz, nephew of the former potentate, is dictator. The mind and heart of the fugitive Madero must be bitterly regretful to-day, because not long ago lie had Diaz junior in his power, and whs inclined to end his days. Yet presently Madero may be glad to bo

well out of the turmoil. The successor of the veteran Diaz inherited grievous trouble. Mexico has been in a perpetual state of tumult. There has been no respite from revolution during the past two years, and sometimes three or four districts have had separate insurrections simultaneously. -The country had grown wea-ry of the hard hand of Diaz, but it was soon plain that Mndero was not the man to reconcile warring factions and establish ft regime of national prosperity by wise, firm statesmanship. The exiled Diaz prophesised failure for the new Pre* sident, and the fulfilment has not tarried. Madero found difficulties at every turn. He was accused of procrastination with Jiis promised reforms, and even when he tried to do right—for example, in disbanding troops-~he stirred up powerful enemies. The whole country has suffered sorely from anarchy and enormous destruction of property. The cost of this disaster has fallen heavily on in« vestors of the United States as well m Europeans. The United States Govern* ment has bean frequently urged to inter* vene. not only by European bondholder** but by Americans. Madsro - was not friendly to the United States, for he believed that the revolutionaries were re' ceivmg aid from that country. It Js probable that great pressure will be exerted on the new Democratic Government to induce it to take a strong part in safeguarding American interests in i Mexico.