The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1912. SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 28, 30 May 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1912. SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dealing with what it terms the “mysterious uncertainty” which) surrounds the movements of Sir Joseph Ward in the immediate future and especially with regard to the suggested possibility of New Zealand’s cx-Premier taking up the game of j>olitics in Australia, the Christchurch “Press” remarks that this uncertainty is not dispelled by the fact that he is a member of the Empire Trade Commission. That.body meets next month in London for the first time, and will then decide the order in which the various parts of the Empire will be visited. As has been stated previously, it is expected that the Commission will begin its labours by coming out to Australia and New Zealand. But the assertion of a London paper that “the tour of the selfgoverning Dominions of the Empire will occupy about three years” will surprise most people, who anticipated that the work would not take more than two years. If, as has been suggested, India and the Crown Colonies may also be visited, the tour may, of course, extend over more than three years. The “Press” goes on to say: The position as regards Sir Joseph Ward is therefore as follows; —He has promised, or threatened—the choice of the word depends upon the reader’s point of view—to stay in New Zealand and stir up things politically; he may he induced, under certain unexplained circumstances, to enter Australian politics as an opponent of the present Labour Government, whose end approaches; he is due to tour the Empire for the next three years as a member of one of the most important Commissions that has been appointed for many years. Even eliminating the Australian contingency, it will still be impossible for him to take an active part in New Zealand politics, whether as member or Minister, and devote to the Trade Commission the time and labour that its objects demand.

UNREST IN THE NAVY. According to an article in tlie “Daily Chronicle,” the unrest wl.ich is now prevailing among the sailors in the navy, and which is manifesting itsell in their desire to form a trades union, is due to the men’s dissatisfaction with existing conditions in the service, especially as far as rates of pay and punishment are concerned. The writer of the article says:—“lt is time that the nation and tie naval authorities realise what will happen if the Admiralty does not soon start to remedy the complaints of these inn,not) men. If the people do not compel the authorities to measure out justice, the rank and tile wiil form

iin association strong enough to demand redress l»v methods witli waicli tlu' industrial history oi the last year or two has made the country painfully familiar.” WRAPPING PAPER. The question is raised hy a writer in “Harper’s” as to how we should exist if there was no such thing as v raj)’ ping-paper, and an amusing picture shows the possibilities- and impossibilities—of such 1 a situation. Mr Smith is shown on his homeward way with a turkey and a string of sausages in one hand and his silk hat full of eggs in the other. Mr Brown seems far loss embarrassed with an indiarubber hot-water bottle and a baby-feeder, whilst a becoming young lady seems quite at her ease despite the fact that she is talking to young Robinson with a pair of stockings hanging over an arm which, is already supporting a joint of meat. Mrs Tomkins lias quite a martial air with a feather duster on her shoulder, and is accompanied hy her husband supporting a bat of ample proportions and looking—well, just how a man would look in ouch • a predicament; This skit opens up quite a new lino oi thought, though there need ho no immediate alarm that the supply of wrapping-paper will run out.