The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. KEIR HARDIE'S UTOPIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 206, 9 December 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. KEIR HARDIE'S UTOPIA.

CURRENT TOPICS.

Whatever else in the (matter of news of world importance is kept from us by the cable man, he never forgets to let us know the latest thing, about Keir Hardie. As a poseur there is nothing in British politics to approach Keir Hardie, and he is so insistent on self-advertise-ment that an odd revolution or two following some of bis ravings would surprise nobody. Already he has advised Egypt to, rebel, he is a friend of Indian "nationalism.," and) he discountenances war. That's the strangest point about Keir Hardie. He is a fighting peaces monger, who, while advocating universal brotherhood, advises the innocent ploughman to beat his share into a sword to slay Keir Bardie's fellow Britons withal. Keir Hardie is a universal adviser, and, in his own imagination, ; the saviour of nations. He is equally at \ home instructing German Socialists as to their line of conduct , (and they don't agree with him), telling the colonies that the only thing to do is as Keir Hardie 'dictates, or stirring sedition and bad blood in India, Egypt or elsewhere. It k is, therefore, refreshing that someone in England) does not over-estimate the power of Keir Hardie over the King's dominions. "The dominions," says fche Pall Mall Gazette, "are not ready to make obeisance to President Keir Hardie." Keir Hardie's panacea for all . social troubles is, "Vote labor." Nothing matters but that. Every social wrong would be righted if Labor ruled. Human nature would alter if Labor ruled. No t one would) have any ambition to accumulate more money than the other fellow if Labor ruled. There, would be neither landlord nor capitalist if Labor ruled, and the "indisposition of Imperialism" would cease if Labor ruled. To effect all these glorious results it is necessary that nothing but "Labor" should have representation. Nobody and i nothing but Labor is worth a thought. Labor will dethrone capitalism, Imperialism, sinecurism, landlordism. Every- . body—except the classes Labor detests and which pays Labor in, wages—will be equal. The detested classes will have no "say" in the scheme of Keir Hardie's Utopia, and; Keir Hardie will shine resplendent in the firmament of a purged world. Perhaps the most curious thing about Keir Hardie, who cursed the Whitehaven colliery people, slanged the dead King, and generally exhibited his spotlessness by all-round vituperation of everything but Labor, is that he is the great apostle of disarmament and universal peace. We have been treated lately to widespread exhibitions of the "fightableness of Labor. We have been given illustrations of hated "capitalistic" methods used in Labor camps; we have seen the infinite trouble Labor has in quelling fights within its own ranks; we have heard of bottle fights, of mannings and killings, lootings and all the rest of it. Hearken, therefore, to the ' fighting peacemonger's words:— If nothing else will stop war, and the German war-mongers and the English war-mongers are likely to have tneir way, you trade unionists in England, you organised) colliers and dockers and other trades, invite your German comrades to a conference, and you both swear as brothers to strike the day war is declared. It is a drastic, remedy, but we are dealing with a drastic disease, and we have to make up our minds whether we are going to be masters in this matter or to allow ourselves to be driven into war like cattle into the shambles." As hearty advocates of President Keir Hardie, we invite every worker in New Zealand as soon as the first foreign warship is seen on the horizon to throw the whole commerce of the country out of joint, because Keir Hardie says so. The moment the smoke of a foreign funnel is discernible we pray every true New '/ear lander to hide in the rocks or bury himself in the bush or to dig himself ip somehow or somewhere. Thus was the Empire made, and thus will it be saved. But Keir Hardie says that "Imperialism is a huge imposition," so that if this great genius had his way, there would be no British Navy as far as New Zealand is concerned, or, indeed, as far as any of the territory not yet controlled by Keir Hardie is concerned, and we should depend for our safety from aggression

on the celerity with which Labor refused to work and hid 1 itself. Keir Hardie ihas lately 'been stirring up loyalty and patriotism with a "two-edged sword." He is trying to achieve peace with verbal dynamite, anxious for "the people's welfare" and the downfall of everybody and everything opposed to Keir Hardie. Here is an extract from one of his peace speeches to workers at Bristol:— "There is a new power coming into force:. The rule of the King is passing away. The King without a crown is apt to be rather a pitiful object. When that poor creature stole here in the dark the other night, and was landed at Plymouth like a bale of smuggled goods which had not paid duty, there was no thought of kingship about the man. He is simply an ordinary (man, and the rule of the noble is passing away and the rule of the people is beginning to come. If need be, our national history should be rewritten so as to dethrone the King and bring to the front the interests of the common people." As a safeguard against war, therefore, vote Labor; in order to kill poverty and . sickness and' capitalism, human frailty, greed and monopoly, vote Labor. Give ; the monopoly to Labor and all will be ' well. And do not forget to pray three J times a day that the first President of . the Republic of Britain and the Republican dominions beyond the seas shall be , Keir Hardie, the man who would wade i through the best blood of his race to achieve his end. t

STRATFORD SHOW. The settlers of the Stratford district are noted for their energy and progressiveness, and so when they decided to hold an agricultural show it was felt that it would not be their fault if success was not achieved. It is certain, however, that the most sanguine never anticipated such a measure of success as marked their effort of yesterday and the day before. It was a show that any oldestablished society or place could justifiably feel proud of, and at once established itself as being among the most important shows of the North Island. The entries, particularly in the cattle classes, were large, and the quality among the best along the coast, which means in the Dominion, while the ring events were unusually interesting. The arrangements and appointments were surprisingly efficient and complete. The promoters left nothing to chance. They seemed to profit by the shortcomings of the other shows, and l provided accordingly. Indeed, their handling of the whole proposition from its inception was highly creditable, and not without its lessons to outsiders. A strong membership secured—nearly seven hundred — they decided on the purchase of a ground! of their own, just outside the borough —a convenient and pleasantly situated place it is. A grandstand, accommodating eleven hundred people, with other buildings, pens, etc., was next erected, andl so the promoters went on, having faith in their undertaking, arranging and: building not for this year but for next year and the years to follow. Their judgment, faith, enterprise and work had their reward, as they always must, the public attending yesterday in their thousands, and voiding without dissent their admiration of the great work that had been done in such a short space of time, the smoothness with •which everything passed off, and the excellence of the show presented. There can be no dbubt about the future of the Society. It is assured, so long as the lines upon which the Society has so far worked are followed.

A NECESSARY REFORM. New South Wales contemplates a reform that this paper has advocated on many occasions for some years. "The Deserted Wives and Children's Bill" introduced by the Attorney-General provides that a man who is imprisoned for failing to maintain his wife and family shall be put to remunerative work and the proceeds devoted' to the upkeep of those he is supposed to maintain. Under such an Act, the wife and family of a ne'er-do-well and the public will be better off while the man is in gaol, for his wages and himself will be under very necessary control. There is a very large and constantly increasing army of men in New Zealand who make a point of avoiding their responsibilities, and it is hoped that the New South Wales BUI, whether it passes or not, wall spur some New Zealand politician to push a similaj reform. Justice at present is "satisfied" if it feeds and clothes and works a misdeamant and leaves outside charity to support his family while he is in gaol. There is never any real guarantee that a waster who goes to gaol for avoiding his responsibilities will not avoid them with equal determination when he leaves prison, and it is obviously fairer to make him support his family while the State has control of him andi his output. Among the overwhelming mass of legislation passed during the just-ended session such a Bill,' repeatedly advocated in New Zealand, might easily have been sandwiched in, and it is hoped, now that New South Wales has shown a disposition to effect a great reform, New Zealand may find time to consider a similar measure.

LORD ALVERSTONE. Harold Begbie, the wiell-fcnown author and journalist, attended the trial of Crippen, writing his impressions for the Daily Chronic'f. The following remarks on England's famous Chief Justice (Lord Alverstone) will be read with interest:— "The Judge rose and left the Court, which became instantly filled with the loud murmur of excited conversation. In four minutes he returned, and silence came with him. He sat in his great chair, filling it with the bulk of his scar-let-robed body. The large, handsome, fresh-colored face, under its grey wig, marked l with all the solemnity and courage of office, was ibent for a moment over the books and papers on the desk before him. Then, sinking a little lower in ihis chair, resting an elbow on the oaken arm, his hand supporting the side of his face, he turned his eyes upon the jury— Crippen watching him—and began to speak in a quiet intimate way to the twelve men on his right side leaning forward to hear him. One felt, almost with a thrill, watching him and listening to him, wonderfully proud of British justice. One felt that here was a man of purest rectitude and unswerving courage, who was neither for the prisoner nor against him, but for something after which the human race has striven in all its martyrdom and struggled for throughout its immemorial evolution from barbarism to civilisation—for Truth and Justice. He seemed to be there, not as a man, not even as law, but as the historic determination and the god-like courage of humanity to find truth at all costs, and execute justice whatever- the consequences. It was difficult to think of him as a man devoted to music, who lias a love for church _ singing, who, is known for his domesticity and social pleasantness of his disposition. He made one feel only the courage and honesty of British justice, and only that spirit of earnest endeavor after absolute truth which is the real and only true history of the human race."