NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16487, 28 February 1914, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Speaking at Timaru yesterday, Mr James Craigie managed in that insinuating way of his to extract a very important pronouncement from the commander of H.M.S. Psyche, bearing on the naval policy of the dominion. In supporting the toast of Commander Carr’s health Mr Craigie declared himself “a one-navy man.” He had no love, he said, “for sectional navies or tin-pot navies.” In acknowledging the toast Commander Carr, after explaining that as a navy man he could have no politics, admitted that as a private individual he “approved most warmly” of Mr Craigie’s view. His idea, ho added with the characteristic frankness of his profession, “was one great navy that would uphold the supremacy of the seas and secure the peace of tho world.” The idea is shared by every layman who is not making a party question of tfie country’s naval policy.

Even if Christchurch spectators at cricket and football matches are not conspicuously impartial in the distribution of their applause, they at least are usually good-mannered. Some of the spectators at Lancaster Park yesterday, however, fell rather sadly from grace when they loudly demonstrated their gratification at the early dismissal of one of the Australian batsmert engaged in the cricket match against the local players. It is hard for tho interested spectator not to take sides on such an occasion, but the shouts of delight which greeted the downfall of Dr Dolling did not sound sweetly in the ears of people who were concerned for the credit of the province. The average colonial hates to be told of what “they do at Home,” but it will do him no harm to mention that the crowds at Lords and the Oval and even the little gatherings on the village green set him an admirable example in this respect. Applause during the progress of a game should be reserved for exhibitions of good play, and never employed to express pleasure at tho overthrow of a doughty opponent. It should be an expression of appreciation, not a betrayal of bias.

The old battleship Royal Oak was sold at an auction of “obsolete and superfluous stores” at Sheerness dockyard last month. It is interesting to remember that' this ship, which has never fired a shot in anger, was hurried out of the builder's hands in January, 1896, in consequence of the “ German menace.” The Kaiser had sent his famous telegram of congratulation to President Kruger after the defeat of the Jameson Raid, and the Royal Oak was a unit of the Particular Service Squadron which assembled at Spithead in consequence of liis Majesty’s indiscretion. The vessel was then the pride of the Navy. Her four 13.5-inch guns, mounted in open barbettes, were regarded as weapons of enormous power, though they would not be considered formidable at all by a modern Dreadnought. Sir Nathaniel Barnaby complaineed once that the 3000 tons of armour which protected the Royal Oak bad cost as much as the entire Natural History Museum at South Kensington.

Tales of a plot for the formation of a “ labour republic ” in the Transvaal appear to have been circulated in South Africa before the Union Government ordered the deportation of tho labour leaders. A correspondent of the London “Daily Express” telegraphed on January 15 that the Government had “ discovered documents containing full details and plans for a revolution to take place in April.” Obviously he was mistaken, since any documents of tho kind in possession of tho Government would certainly have .been placed before Parliament in justification of the deportations. “ The scheme comprises the formation of a South African labour-republic,” added tho correspondent. “Arrangements were made by which arms would be obtained, and officers were selected to lead tho Republican troops. At the close of tho July strike, it will bo remembered, open threats were made of another outbreak on more scientific lines, and tho papers discovered show 'that it was intended to have the new Government in working order, if possible, by Jnlv 4. the anniversary of the riots in

Johannesburg.” The moral 6eems to be that Governments, like newspaper correspondents, are liable at times to be carried off their feet by wild rumours that have no foundation in fact.

If Mr Winston Churchill does not mond his ways a local Reform newspaper is going to “ become a convert to the policy of endeavouring to build up a fleet of our own.” There must bo a joke hidden somewhere in these words. The organ which makes tho threat used to be a warm supporter of the “ single, invincible Imperial Navy,” but it changed its opinions with docile alacrity at the crack of the party whip many months ago. it joined in the Reformers’ chorus of praise when Mr Massey and Mr Allen announced the new naval policy last year, and although it has appeared to suffer from qualms of conscience once or twice since it has continued to support*the local navy scheme until loyal enthusiasm. Now it says that certain contingencies may make it “ a convert to the policy” which it has been commending ever since the Prime Minister read his naval memorandum in the House of Representatives.

Mr Bonar Law’s attacks on the Insurance Act recall what Mr Massey and Mr Allen used to say about the State superannuation schemes in New Zealand. Tho Unionist leader professes to believo that the workers insured against sickness and unemployment under the British Act are in danger of losing their contributions or forfeiting the promised benefits because actuaries say that the scheme is “unsound.” What the actuaries mean is that the expenditure may outgrow the receipts in some, future period, and the point they disregard professionally is that the State guarantee ensures the contributors against loss under any circumstances, The stability of the fund will never be in danger, since the State will meet a deficiency should it occur. Mr Massey and his friends used to say the Public Service superannuation funds were “ actuarially unsound,” and not till they gained office would they admit that the State, having given its guarantee, need not make cash payments into the funds before the money was wanted. Experience has suggested generally that it never will be wanted.

The Government organ in Wellington, which does not 6eem half happy over the very cordial reception given to the leader of the Opposition in the south, is urging Mr Massey and his friends to take cheer from the fact that the “Lyttelton Times” once reproached Sir Joseph Ward for not having announced a policy before going to the polls. Just what comfort the Reformers are expected to obtain from the revival of this incident is not clear, but it is quite true that in 1908 when Sir Joseph was in office the “Lyttelton Times” reminded him that it was his duty as Prime Minister to produce a policy for his party. It has lately jogged Mr Massey’s memory in the same friendly way. But policymaking is not the vocation, of an Opposition. There are high authorities on this point, including Mr Massey himself, and a long line of Conservative leaders both here and in the Old Country. The clamorous demands for a policy from the leader of the Opposition will not blind the public to the fact that' the Prime Minister has not yet produced one.

The eager speculator of the North Island is casting a longing eye at a new and very desirable district in the Thermal Country. This place is Tokaanu, on the southern shore of Lake Taupo, a spot which will be a greater Rotorua in the years to come. Tokaanu has a great many hot springs of high medicinal value; a beautiful trout-river running through the middle of the geyser flat, and an environment of forest, mountain and laljie finer than anything close to Rotorua. The place is quite undeveloped so far, however, except for a email hotel, and the tourist usually passes straight on to "Wairakei and Rotorua, not understanding • that Tokaanu is really a more, interesting spa. It is not surprising, therefore, that keen-eyed men of business are anxious to get in early and open up Tokaanu to the world. “If the Government could give perpetual leases or a few thousand acres,” a Wellington citizen remarked to an interviewer the other day on his return from Taupo, “ there would be no difficulty in getting a syndicate to take the matter up and make a modern watering-place. ’ Of course there would not.

There is no doubt that a syndicate, with possibly foreign capital at its back, could make Tokaanu a lively and popular resort if it were given a free hand, and were permitted to hold “ a few thousand acres” of the picturesque country around the springs, and establish luxurious hotels and decorative bath-houses and tea-kiosks and band rotundas and all the other furniture of a modern spa. But ever since the first Thermal Springs District Act was passed in 1881 by the greatest of the country’s Ministers of Lands, the policy and spirit of both Legislature and public have been set steadfastly against such monopoly. It is, unfortunately, true that quite recently there have been indications that the present Government is in .favour of demolishing theState’s ownership of Rotorua town. But it is impossible to believe that this supreme act of spoliation will be carried out. Tokaanu to-day is in very much the condition that Rotorua was in 1881, and less than thirty years kenco it will probably be a far more important placo than the present centre of Geyscrland. A statesmanlike policy would jealously preserve the nation’s property, and certainly would not allow any syndicate to get a perpetual lease of thousands of acres. There is no immediate hurry for the exploiting of Tokaanu, and it can very well wait until increasing population justifies a largo public expenditure upon it.

The time seems close at hand when the sailing ship will be regarded chiefly as an interesting curiosity. Reports fvom London state that tho sailing ships with British register continue to grow fewer and fewer, and that there are only 160 such vessels of over 1000 tons now earned in the British Isles. During the last three years the number has been greatly reduced by sale to foreign shipowners iu many cases at less than" £2 per ton. This is sorrowful news to lovers of the beautiful clippers that until a few years ago were the pride of the ocean. Those who really love the seas can never re-

gard a steamer with the same affection as they feel for a ship of sails.

There was a time when one British Company’s fleet alone, the great Black Ball ljne, in whose vessels many of the old Canterbury settlers came to the country, consisted of eighty-six splendid sailing ships most of which were from 1000 tons up to 3000 tons, manned by three hundred officers and three thousand seamen. This line sailed more ships of 1000 tons and over than were to be found in the whole of the French mercantile marine of that day, the middle sixties, and its fleet numbered more than half that of the whole British sail tonnage over the thousand tons now in service. Of course the British tonnage of to-day, nearly all steam, far surpasses that of any other nation, but the nation’s older pride of place in sail is vanishing. The only trades of much account left open now for the larger ships and barques are ill the Newcastle coal business, South American nitrate, Victorian and South Australian and Californian wheat, and steam is rapidly cutting into these. Still, with all modern progress at sea,' “the wind that tramps the.world" remains the most economical motive power, and .it may be that the future, as fuel becomes scarcer and costlier, will see a revival in the sailings ihip business. But the olden expertness in handling “wind-jammers” will then be a forgotten art.