Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, APRIL 7th, 1911.

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1911, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, APRIL 7th, 1911 .

Persons with slig"htly pessimistic lean ings are rather given to listening to and repeating- the doleful moanings that one so oftenhears about Old England being in her decadence. "It is ar.gued, but on no solid basis that can 'be discovered, that because Rome became sublimely great and gradually fell from all her greatness, Britain must surely do the same. But that does not follow, and many sound arguments against so depressing a theory could be shown, if it suited our purpose for the present to do so. But the only object of this article is to show what an intelligent citizen .of Wellington has to say of his impressions of England grained during" fivo months' stay in London. The. geiitleman is >Dr A. K. Newman, a resident of Wellington, and once a mem l>er of the House of Representatives. He was invited by the Editor of The Press (Ghristchurch) to write what he learnt of English politics during* his stay in London. The article is written in a breezy, unconventional s,tyle, but 1 , it ibears -the marks of intelligent observation and the reflections that might be looked for from one whose whole life has breathed the fresher . ad and less conventional existence, of this dominion, as compared with social restrictions and distinctions of soc iety at Home, fft is as well to remem ber, too, in the perusal of 'those disjointed notes that while the worthymedico might at Wellington be recognised as somewhat conservative, in his own grade in"Lon3on, he would doubtless, ibe regarded as al.nost radical in his political views. But ,to begin with his impressions, he thinks that the monarchy of Britain depends solely upon the character of the King, and has no hesitation in. predicting that Kinff George will prove a wise successor to his wise father. It miffht be different were he a mere pleasure-loving monarch like many . crowned heads before llis time. 'His" Qualities wilt keep him out of debt and trouble, while the standard of the Court is clean and high. The Kingr, moreover, is "always on duty" and keeps in close and friendly touch with his Ministers. Besides showing" sympathy with the poor, he may be said ito be essentially a British monarch with no foreign tastes or leanings. He takes a deep interest in the overseas' parts of the Empire, which ho has visited twice, while he and his ,Queen are to V. crowned at Delhi. His . clu-iiactcr ought to make him a 'successful Kiin-. Dr (Newman has but a poor opinion of the Lords, and thinks that their day is done, and properly so, for 'blocking- the people's legislation :»nd tampering with measures of vital public importance. By their action regarding the Budget and the- Veto they committed political suicide. With' the passing- of the Parliament Bill the Lords will be "handcuffed." The hereditary right to sit in the T-ords must go. While they may remain as dukes and earls, they will be debar-, red sitting* in the Lords, and only have single votes like ordinary persons. The "first of the litter" piinciple has received its death-blow. What France accomplished by a 'droid ful and sanguinary revolution is .being- worked out at Home in a quite peaceful and bloodless way. Mr Lloyd Geoige's land . tax, though small to-day, the Lords see will call for another turn of the screw in the future, and they are selling off their lands id avoid it. so that those now wanting-land will be able to get some. When the peers lose their .lands they at once lose local power and prestige. . All parties agree -that the hereditary right should be abolished and the privileges of the -Lords : cease. Public opinion is decided] v in favour of retaining- a second chamber as a revising- body and a steadier for rash legislations, 'but Avith a' handier num-ber.-say about 250. Neither Conser- < vatives nor Liberals have yet fix<jd upon how such a chamber is to be composed. It is only certain that tlic hereditary richt must ffo and the House of Lords must ibe a more, compact and smaller fbodv. In defiling* with; the ■ politicians per-sonallyj-jEIT-Newman, says fin at, whether people like it or not Mr Lloyd

George is the popular favourite, and the recognised successor ot (Mr Gladstone. If Mr Ascuiith died or retired, Mr. George would be, the Prime Minister. He is beloved of the crowdhas great constructive power, and is anything- but a demagogue. Mr Balfour has no enemies, but is not regarded as a practical or sucessful leader, the rising shining- star of the (Unionist Party being 1 Mr F. E. Smith, who is easily the best and cleverjest speaker" on his side. He is of his party, and partakes in their joys and sorrows, not a sort of intellectual recluse, like Mr Balf our. who is only, at home with a few pals of his brand of lotus-eaters. -, One of his great speeches so dissatisfied the members of his party that they asked him 'O make a good fignting speech,'whereupon the posters of the Liberal papers appeared with the heading-, "Mr Balfour to try again." Mr . Asquith is rather overshadowed by Mr George and Mr Churchill, and he is regarded as a ibrake upon them. He does not court popularity as they do, and is neither loved nor hated. Evidently Mr Asquith's intellectual temperament is colder but more judicial than either of" his igifted lieutenants. The suffragette movement is bound to end in the granting* of the franchise to women. One cannot well ignore^ the degree of public enthusiasm represented by meetings attended by 10,000, women, and addresed by women speakers as fluently and as logwnlly as the best of male speakers. On the other hand, there is an Anti T Suffragettc Woman's League, but it is rather flabby. There are many officers and few men in the rank and file. It is astonishing the amount of money that is subscribed in aid of the suffragrette movement, which is exercising- a wonderful influence on the women of the country. The writer pays a fine tribute to the humane side of English society. Everywhere and everybody is pervaded 'by the religion of humanity. The money that is spent on hospitals., convalescent homes, nursing- the «*& and relieving distress of all kinds is really amazing-. While England may be far from being" -,a paradise yet, still great work is being done in many directions for the amelioration of the conditions of the distressed classes. Is Britain decaying? he has been asked by so many that he feels' bound !o answer that there is not the slishtest indication of anything of ,-.he 'k;nd. The merchants and manufacturers., -cV Britain have learned tne lesson, taught by foreign competition and pi on 'ad by it; and they have made tiieii opponents in trade, and manufa^i-::vs r«alise the fact that they are very «<.t!vily alive to their interests, while their universities and technical schools: are turning out scores of clever and gifted young men yearly. Then the.AVorthy Doctor, waxes eloquent on. the amount of British capital that is invested all over the world— iv fnreign countries as well as with the members of the (British Empire. In the United States alone £800,000..000 of British .capital is invested; and he sums up the pqsition*-that the whole world is in pawn to Great Britain; and her Navy is all right. It is therefore pleasant and encouraging to see onft who is "essentialy colonial and .practical being of the opinion that Brituin is advancing in strength and-pros-perity, and keeping pace with the times instead of showing signs of decay. '"_.'-