The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1913. THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 21, 23 January 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1913. THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

The latest Australian papers to hand plainly indicate the interest being taken in the christening of the Commonwealth Capital City. Dozens ol correspondents attack the suggested names in all seriousness and in every figure of speech. As our readers no doubt have gleaned from the information concerning this question of nomenclature, that has already appeared in our columns, the list of names for the Capital has been culled until only three now remain, the final choice being reserved for the christening ceremony, which is to be celebrated with due eclat in March of this year. The trio are “Myola,” “Fisher,” and “Canberra.” Which of these will bo decided upon no one here can, with confidence, at present say, but that there is still great diversity of opinion exercising the minds of residents on the island continent is only again evidenced in amount of correspondence appearing in the Australian press. Excerpts from this correspondence are both diverting and instructive, as disclosing the drift of public opinion—to us, who, as spectators, are said to see most of the game. Certain it is that we are, or should bo, little less interested in this matter, when it is remembered that every day the necessity for the tie that binds Britons closer together in the common weal being cemented is brought home more clearly. “Defence of the Empire,” and an “Australasian Navy” are significant, even synonymous terms, and the underlying sentiments expressed by quite a number of writers in reference to the Federal Capital tell their own tale. Says one:— “] never could understand why a ‘White* Australia should deem it necessary to smudge its literature, journalism, art, conversation, and nomenclature with aboriginal!sms. ‘Myola, with its girly sound and feminine termination (‘a’), and its suggestion of myopy or myopia, has only one claim to recognition—its five letters can be transposed to read ‘O’Maly.’ Karly in the Balkan War it struck me that a certain place-name, if slightly altered, would about fit this Commonwealth Capital. Change Kumanovo to Kumanava and we get a real Australian name, signifying hospitality, or my shout; euphonious and, as another correspondent says of his awful Brit-Cambria, easily written. The ‘a’ termination in the case of Kumanava can be passed with acclamation, for

tlio invitation to the wide, white world, must, oi' course, embrace the women of Australia.” Another correspondent with a distinctly Imperial vein runs as follows: ‘‘Apart from the rather suspicious fact that a slight rearrangement of its letters would for ever immortalise the name of O Malloy, tins new city is being built by, Anglo-Saxon brains and energy, and it looks like a last absurdity to de-

sort her own virile language ami select its title from a race and longue which is dying for lack of that very virility we are so proud of. Classical or oldworld or aboriginal names may be very pretty for lesser localities, but when it comes to naming our Federal City, the effort should be to crystallise as far as possible the aspirations and thought of the people. And I, this week, sent to the Minister for Home Affairs and the Premier the suggestion that “Xewera” would ho a most suitable name for our Capital City. Such a name should please all parties, and lit our case more appropriately that when New Plymouth, New York, and New Jersey founded their communities. And it is pregnant with that promise of peace and power which all parties, Labour and Liberal ■alike, hope to see realised in the future of this fair spacious land which our fathers pioneered, and we now possess. The name is in spirit prophetic. We are striving to initiate a new era, and if only wise and conciliatory councils continue this event may prove the most significant milestone of our history.” The hon. secretary of Royal Anthropological Society of Austral-

nsia has this to say: “I have written on behalf of the society, suggesting ‘Boorpah,’ meaning the circle within the circle, the most select circle on this Bora ground, wherein the ceremony of initiation into manhood is gone through, where the candidate's invested with the belt of manhood, and taught the traditions of the tribe by the kooragi. It is also the name of the centre star in the Constellation of Orion. It also means a rendezvous where the men who have been initiated meet on particular orcav.ens to discuss matters pertaining to the tribe. This aboriginal name, I think, would, therefore, be a very appropriate one for the Capital of Capitals of Australia—‘Boorpah,’ the circle within the circle, the Capital of Capitals - the rendezvous of tho lawmakers and teachers.” Here is still another in a different vein: “A name should be distinctive not significant. To most of us native names are pleasant for that very reason. If we must have .1 >'gnificant name it should be in the language oye all understand. ‘Janies Cook’ wrhild he the best if we <-'* si :e to honour a great man, but if we care to get out of the conventional rut, ‘Fairplay’ is a very good name. \ lt is English, has an appeal that goes to every heart, is euphonious, and of good omen, and pays tribute to the sporting element, in ,o,ur acter.”

Seven reasons are given by one w!m writes: “The following are good reasons for naming our Federal Capita; ‘Freedom’—l. It is a two-sy'uable

word, easily remembered, and improves on acquaintance. 2. It is a dignified name, the embodiment of honest national pride and fiberty. 3. As a name worth living for, and to

inspire patriotism in the hearts of the people, it deserves consideration* 4. Unlike personal names, it would cause no confusion, mistakes, or party envy. 5. It is a name with a selfevident and lofty meaning, capable of being understood throughout the world. G. Our continent of great distances, open air, free life, and free in-

stitutions suggests such a name. 7

‘Freedom’ is a most appropriate name for the Capital of the only -eminent that has never experienced bondage or oppression, and which we glory in calling ‘the land of the free. ’ Another correspondent suggests three names, any one of which, he says, would be appropriate: “1. ‘Brotherton,’ an indicative of the fraternal spirit that unites all Austral'ans. 2. The name ‘Engirscot,’ composed of the initial syllables of Bngliud, Ireland and Scotland, expresses at cnee its own appropriateness. 3. The native name best known to outsiders and at the same time singularly expressive of the grand military ;.phi'of young Australia, is ‘Boomerang. Why not, then, ‘Boomerang City?’” No one appears to know what “Canberra” means, and therefore, says .no “there is no harm in applying some of the very little imaginativeness knocking around and attaching to Canberra the meaning of ‘a billy of beer.’ ” Among others, “Phillip,” as the name of the first Governor, claims attention. “Austral” would be a fitting title for the Capital of Australia, is also suggested, as it has the necessary dignity, is purely Australian, and would not even require the addition of Australia to locate ’t. Yet another says that the most suitable name, and one that should be given, is that of the first white man kcome to those parts—Hamilton Hume. “Everyone,” lie continues, “must admit that Hume is a pretty name, and they must also admit that ho deserves his name being honoured as an explorer. ‘Hume City’ would be a veryappropriate, easy name to write, and also a pretty name.” One who signs himself “l)a(y) Labo(r)” suggests to the Minister, “King” O’Malley, the advisability of perpetuating the T.mt scheme of the party by calling the Capital “Dalabo.” An evident admirer of Madame Melba has suggested her name; another has proposed Kingfisher, or a word that embraces —and might immortalise—the names of two members of the Ministry—Mr. Fisher and Mr. “King” O’Malley. A lady lias recommended Princess Marysville; accompanying the suggestion is a series of arguments in favour of the title. One is that Queen Mary is the only lady of Royal blood who lias slept in a bed in Australia. Other names proposed are: Boomerang, Wallaby,

Australloomanah, Deakin’s a s> Isaac’s Crescent, \Vattlebaik, an Hillgangie. A lady has written a small poem in advocacy of Edenvale. Tho above are only a few suggestions, but the selection throws clearly into relief striking characteristics of the people of the land “down under”—-self-reliance and initiative-* without which there could not be faith and hope as there is in the gieat future of the land of their bit tit 01 adoption. A FIVE DAYS’ WEEK.

Discussing a proposal that there should be no work on Saturdays, bu« that each Saturday morning should be devoted to military training, the Sydney ‘Daily Telegraph’ expresses the view that such a proposal is ‘ one of the many signs of humanitarianism’s well-meaning mistakes,” and goes on to say that if we docked Saturday off the week the next thing would be a proposal to dock Friday, and so on until we came down to a three or four days’ week, with “reformers” agitating to make the working time shorter still. No doubt the week is long enough, as people who have to strive and toil for their living find. And work is to many what it is so often called, Adam’s curse, the penalty imposed on ancestors for j whom this and many preceding ages work and what it involves have become necessities to supposedly wiser

j generations. They mean discipline, ap- [ plication, healthy exercise of the faculties, and other things lacking which people would lapse into what President Grover Cleveland called innocuous desuetude. And such is the greediness of man that given a free Saturday ho would add that to his “days off,” and use it for his pleasure or his idleness. The idea that the youth of the country should devote Saturday morning to military training is plausible, hut only momentarily so. Why should young people work when the rest of the community was free to rest or go fishing or shooting or cricketing? Another objection to shortening the week is that people have to earn their living. If we could ordain these things as we pleased and say that the prices of products should bo as ,we fixed them, it might not he necessary for any worker to toil more than a day or two in the week. But forces and laws and conditions which individuals cannot control are, universally at work, and these demand a certain amount, of effort from each worker in order that he may earn his living in the face of universal competition. . • ;<1

ENGLAND AND GERMANY. ' $ In a recent article in the ‘Berliner Tageblatt’ Herr Theodor Wolff points out to certain French critics the unMdtdtel of their I 'suggestion that London has been chosen as the meeting place for conference through an intrigue of Germany. Germany’s relations with England, he says, have improved. But that does not mean that Germany is trying to break up the Entente Cordiale, Is it really necessary, he asks, to cry out so loudly at every exchange of greetings between England and Germany? “Even those who consider the Anglo-Russian partnership the most unnatural and criminal of all political artifices,” he continues, “are very certain that the amity between France and England will hold for many long years. That Germany and England are trying to come a little closer together can only bo a subject for congratulation to every peace-loving man, especially m France, which is so near to the danger zone of any possible conflict. Such attempts to construct a few more bonds between England and Germany were already started early in the summer. It is no secret that, during the short period of Baron Marschall’s activity in London, the way was laid for a revision of earlier treaties relating to colonial possessions in Africa, and in the Foreign Offices of Berlin and Loudon are piles of documents dealing with the claims of German .colonists in what was formerly Boer territory. Better, of course, than all these platonic dealings in colonial treaties is the clear proof that England during the present crisis is running no campaign against us on the Continent and is making no attempt to stir up a Russo-German conflict. We Germans, at any rate, shall be able to look without envy or jealousy over to London, where the world is grouping itself round two grebn tables.”

OIL FUEL. The utilisation of oil as fuel on the great Atlantic liners has been brought appreciably nearer by a decision of the White Star lino in connection with the alterations being made on the Olympic by Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Belfast. The alterations include the construction of what is virtually an inner or second hull, divided from the outer bull by a space of three feet. The owners were at first . concerned as to bow that space be- ~"> tween the shells could be utilised, for unless some use was made of it there would be a permanent loss of about a quarter of a million cubic feet, it has now been decided to utilise the space adjacent to tho forward and after bunkers for the carriage of oil, which will be used in one of the boilers as fuel for an experiment. The owners are hopeful that the experiment, which will begin at once when the Olympic resumes sailings, will be entirely successful, and in that event provision will be made on the new White Star Liner Britannic, now under construction at Belfast, for the utilisation of oil as fuel, the whole of the space on that vessel (which will bo a little larger than the Olympic) between the two hulls being set apart for oil storage.