CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 298, 11 May 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE KING'S STOLE. Momentarily Australia may give up worrying about such trifles as a possible invasion from the east in order to discuss the important matter of the King's coronation garment. South Africa can afford to smile at the native peril while it has his Majesty's kingly stole to think about. All the same, that stole is gointf to be a garment of some historic value, c and it will settle in its own way the emblems by which the dominions will be known. Possibly these, emblem* were chosen in most solemn conclave by liersons who had the vaguest ideas about, the dominions. The idea of -South Africa being represented by Australian wattle blossom is a little curious. South Africa is largely treeless, and its people have imported Australian timbers for plantations. They selected blue gum and wattle as useful friends, for both thrive excellently, but are not more African than the starling is a Xew Zealajuler or the "wacht eenbitje" an Australian bush plant. The King's stole designers were apparently near enough to Canada not to confuse the maple with the New Zealand cabbasre tree or the Australian boronia with the African "silver leaf,"'and sc Canada will be .satisfied with its part of the drapery. It seems to have been definitely decided that thn "southern cross" helonars to Australia, South Africa and Xeiv Zealand might with equal right have claimed this stellar combination, for the same everlasting .stars shine down on both countries, His Majesty's sartorial advisers evidently knew'so'little about the flora of the dominions as to be unable to stick to floral emblems for each dominion, Tf it were necessary to indicate a dominion by means of stars, it would have been more reasonable, perhaps. to have given Australia a "group of stars"—say a. combination of seven, one for each state. Evidently the King's tailors did not see the All Blacks plaving or ?w>\v Zealand soldiers at work. They would have noticed that New Zealand is partial to the fern emblem—a much more artistic emblem for a kiiisrlv cotlar than "a. group of stars." It is probably too late to countermand the order for the King's vestments, and. anyhow, nobody will know whether the wattle means his own native land or "Darkest." whether New Zealand claims the "Southem Cross" or the "Seven Sisters," or whether the Commonwealth has developed a penchant for maple. When't.he royal garment has lived its short public life, it will fade from memory, and the dominions will probably go on 'using their

own emblems, forgetful of the quaint mistakes of the King's tailors.

GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING. ' Major-Gcneral Godley, commanding tlia New Zealand military forces, is visiting New Plymouth for the first time. He has been welcomed in New Zealand because it has been generally recognised that he is a man who can unravel the defence tangle. He lias come, too, not only with the highest possible credentials, but at a time when a new system gives him greater scope for the exercise of real command than any other commandant has had in the peace history of this country. Lord Kitchener and Colonel Kirkpatrick gave New Zealand a scheme intended to supplant the travesty that formerly existed. It is n6w the privilege of a distinguished soldier to administer a system which is a modification of the Field Marshal's scheme. Lord Kitchener was especially insistent both in Australia and New 'Zealand, and General Sir John French was equally insistent in Canada, that military matters must not be tainted by politics. The inference, of course, was that in all three countries politics had, to the time of the great change, been allowed to dominate military matters to the damage of discipline and the real esprit de corps that must be the basis of any useful service. MajorGeneral Godley consequently has a "free hand," It has already been shown that he is keen, tactful, and absolutely impartial, that he has an eye for men, considering only essential qualifications in the officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers, who arc the backbone of the service, and who are to make it a success. In all - re;, t undertakings, success is achieved by loyalty to a principle. The person who lays down the principle is the pattern for his subordinates. The example of a man whose inflexibility in the discharge of great duties is acknowledged, is the foundation on which the superstructure of our defensive system will be built It is possible for the general officer commanding to create a national pride in the organisation which he leads, for as his keenness and ability are the standards by which his staff will be guided in their duties, so must the keenness and desire to "soldier all they know" be handed on to all ranks in the territorial force, the compulsory training section, and tlie cadets. We believe the efficient organisation of cadets to be the most important work under the new scheme, apart from the adequate training of officers, and it is therefore a gratifying feature that the G.O.C. has selected for duty in organising cadets officers :of skill and keenness. The visit of Major-General Godley to a town that has a eherished'rnilit'ary history will be useful, and an incentive to citizen soldiers to recognise the urgent need for unselffish and loyal service.