PASSING NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1928, Page 8

PASSING NOTES

(Otago Daily Times). Sir Joseph Ward’s view of tlie political .situation is simplicity itself. A sound view, moreover, and 1 am happily in agreement. (Jet him off the tlieme of fabulous millions to be had for the asking. Sir Joseph speaks with the wisdom of Nestor advising the Greeks in their camp before Troy, and .rith the persuasiveness of Major Bagstock piloting liis friend Dombey, though the Major's account of himself—“J. D.. sir. old and tough and de-vil-ish sly”—is not in the least relevant. 1 have always had a sneaking regard for Sir Joseph, and more than once in this column ventured the suggestion that .Mr Cdates should offer him a portfolio. But, dealing with things as they are, Sir Joseph has made a statement to the Wellington Evening Post: It is obvious that the Government is in a minority in respect of the elected memeers, and that it en.iinot expect liis Excellency to accept its advice in the circumstances. ->.<),st true. Not even for a day should his Excellency he without advisers, yet •nilnot he expected to accept advice from a. Government in a minority. And in that we hear the knell of the Coates party. But the alternative, the \Vard party, in relation to the whole House, is in as had a minority, and again his Excellency “cannot be expected,’’ etc., etc. 'flic minority of l’ii? Holland party is more abject still. What remains hut that Mr Coates and Sir Joseph should put their heads toother, or that sv.merino should knock their heads together— that Reform should form up with the I’niL’d.s and the 'Uni teds unite with Reform. The alternatives to this seems to lie another general election or the lunatic asylum for all concerned. “Seem to be” I say. Observe my caution. In politics one never knows. Archbishop Julius in Christchurch has i.een unveiling and dedicating a sundial, a duty that tas new tie him, he said. He had never consecrated sundial before, liis address was in- ■ resting Archbishop Julius invariably .oiif ’ ivos to hold attention. “The sundial was .simple in structure, it needed no winding up; it never made a fuss; t was always there to do what it was intended. People thought that heir clocks and watches told them the true time; they told only artificial :ime. ft was the sundial that told the ijme time.” No doubt; but under ’•auditions. The Archbishop did not .'lnote the motto: “Horns non liiimero nisi sereuas”—“Out of the sunlight I am of i;o use at all.” A fact to- he •emenihored when we have to do military training, whose conscience, forseot h, is an infallible sundial. Hero .1 may firing in some remarks bv another Archbishop— at Perth. Western Australia ; “Of all the humbugs in the world, the greatest are those who talk about peace,’ 5 said the Chaplain-general, Archbishop Riley, when addressing the annual congress of the Returned .Soldiers League. “During the war these peacemongers never did a thing to tight or bring about peace.” said l)r Riley. “Now they want to get rid of us. and do away with armies of every kind. I guarantee Hint if there were the slightest chance of trouble the first people to s<|ueal and say, ‘Where are the soldiers ?’ would tie those who are talking loudest about pence.” These are the people whose conscience is an infallible guide—a sundial that they keep in a cellar and inspect by tiie oglu of a lantern. CTVJS.