PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1927, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

BRITAIN’S SEA POWER.

Tho technicalities of the Geneva discussion are somewhat beyond the quick apprehension of the ordinary man, who is apt to confuse questions of tonnage and type. The main principle to ho grasped is that Britain cannot afford to limit naval armaments on a basis of relative “standards,” without reference to her unique need for cruiser protection of her long sea lines of Imperial communication. Great Britain is not bellicose, and she will never enter, as some people seem to fear, upon a competition in naval strength with the United States. What she needs is merely adequate sea power for the performance of her policing dutfies on the Empire trade routes. This sea power is of a nature to make essential, for her, (lassos of vessel which, by agreement, might possibly be eliminated amongst the nations for work with the fleets. It is here that certain difficulties have arisen. —“Yorkshire Post.”

“ONE OF THE MOST MORTAL DISEASES.”

‘Practically speaking, every death from heart disease under the ago of 10 is due directly to rheumatic infection,” writes Sir George Newman, principal Medical Officer to the Ministry of Health, in a foreword to a report on “Acute rheumatism in children in its relation to heart disease,” issued recently. “The national importance of rheumatism cannot he doubled. It is, in its various forms, one of the most insidious, disabling, and mortal of all the great diseases. “The gravity of acute rheumatic fever in children lies in two facts. First, it is a serious illness in itself which entirely disables the child; secondly, it tends to produce permanent injury to the heart, which may terminate life prematurely or produce lifelong invalidity. Only by the early, continuous and thorough treatment of this infection can we hope to save life or prevent crippling.”

ON PROFIT MAKERS “There has been too much talking against profits,” said Sir Arthur Balfour in a speech reported in the ‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph.” “If you want to have well-run concerns, kept up to date, to look after its workpeople and pay high wages, you have got to make profits; you are not going to do it on losses. These people with brains are the people we want, and if we don’t get them we shall go down. What wo want in this country is more people with the capacity, genuine courage, and or.ganisir,T; ability to make profits. This cry against the people who make profits is ridiculous. The only way you are going to improve the lot of the working man is hv having in business sufficient profits to renew plant and machinery, and to do things for the workpeople instead of cutting down because you cannot make ends meet at the year end.”

A LANCE FOlt THE FLAPPER “On the whole the temperament of women as it is developing is conservative in the fullest sense of the word. The well-to-do citizens arc apt to like things left alone. They do not care for excesses. Their interests lie in the home and the market-place, cheap rood, advantage to their children ; and the most down in the world have often but one ambition, tliat their children should have a better chance then they have had. Let anyone Watch the crowds of young women moving through our streets and stations to their daily toil, light-hearted, carefully dresed, self-reliant, and courageous, are they not the material out of which, as good citizens are made as their contemporaries in ages and status? What is the use of crying hysterically, ‘Flappers,’ and what is there in the cry? A man at twenty-one is often far behind his female contemporary, and we argue he develops later. Perfectly true, but why should he not wait for that development?”— Lady Frances Balfour.

HOW WILLIAM CONQUERED. Nine hundred years ago William the Conqueror was horn at Falaise. Normandy celebrated last July the ninth centenary of her most famous son. There were processions and pageants at Falaise and elsewhere, conducted with the elegance and the sense of history which belong to the race. And yet, perhaps, it is on our side of the Channel that the tribute of respect is more piously due. For William, Duke of Normandy not merely conquered this island of Great Britain, which had defied the attacks of many invaders; he set so deep an impress upon us that we have never obliterated the traces of his influence. The feudal system, which he brought with him, has died many times, and yet it still affects, quietly and insensibly, the life of England." It is his greatest glory that he had not only invaded England successfully, but so strongly secured his victory that no one was able to dispossess him or his posterity of the kingdom which he had gained. A sudden invasion may succeed by a stroke of good luck; the proper settlement of a country and a dynasty can be achieved only by a wise and far-sighted statesmanship.— “Blackwood’s Magazine.”