The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, May 16, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 992, 16 May 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, May 16, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

For every advance towards the far-off “ union of the churches,” a relatively stronger advantage is gained by the friends of sectarianism. At first sight there may not appear to be any harmful principle in the formation, under the new Territorial scheme, of companies of cadets representing the various religious denominations ; the proposed arrangement, which has the approval of the Commandant, is to apply only to corps which contain lads from 14 to 18 years of age. Nevertheless, it is to be feared ; it is insidious. The Auckland district commander, Colonel Wolfe, says the scheme will be absolutely free from any suspiciou of sectarianism, but therein he has uttered a fallacy. The establishment of a corps under the auspices of an individual religious body is in itself an act of sectarianism. How far the Gove* nment will allow dissensions of faith to influence national affairs will probably be gauged during the coming session of Parliament. It is not yet clear where the boundary lies in.ithis matter of church and defence ; there is no provision in the regulations for forming cadet or any other companies in the interests of sects. A Christchurch priest, interviewed regarding the formation of units by local Catholics, said he was afraid 11 a sufficient number ot adults ” could not be brought lorward, although cadet companies were being formed. Perhaps the General’s attitude has beer misunderstood in this case ; it seems improbable that he would sanction a division of the army into denominational corps. With such a departure from uniformity, the Highlanders would receive additional justification for their plea for the retention of the kilts.

A latk report from the Philippines states that the year’s records of tobacco crops in the islands are the finest on record. There has never been anything to approach them in the brief history of tobacco culture in the Manila district. In the opinion of experts finer crops have never been produced. This

news is not without interest to certain primary producers of this country—the hemp millers, for upon the extent of the production of Manila hemp depends the market success of their fibre, and it other plants than that of tobacco can be grown with a greater prospect of profit in the Philippines, then they will be cultivated to the exclusion of the fibre-producer. The American control of the islands gives colour to the prediction that tobacco and other tropical crops will in future receive much greater attention in the Philippines than they have in the past.