CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 322, 8 June 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

MARYS AND GEORGES. Mary, Marchione.*s of Bute, if she had previously no greater distinction than her nobility, will be mentioned in history as the authoress of a particularly ridiculous suggestion—the raising of a sum from the Marys (and ladies of allied names) throughout the Empire, to present to the Queen, who doesn't want it. Just as no Mary was ever consulted by her parents at the registration of her name, so was no infant George approached as to whether he should be labelled with that name of plain Peter, William, John, or Henry. By some procaw of reasoning, known only to themselves, some enthusiasts have suggested a "George and Mary" subscription as an evidence of loyalty. The Jacks and Jennies are not of it. It doesn't matter whether they are loyal or not. Nobody asks them to buy the good opinion of their Sovereign or his Queen with a shilling. By the way, the common wharf laboring George, who trots along his shilling, or the poor little household Jane, who denies herself chocolates to buy a Queen a present, will be entitled to all the honor that a Golden George or a Marchioness Mary are to .have, because sums are not to be mentioned. That would be too businesslike. Up to now the New Zealand Georges have subscribed £l4 to the George Fund, and the Governor is forced into the position of begging letter writer. Frankly, we hope the fund won't grow, simply because of its absolute uselessness as an expression of regard for our revered King. It is as sensible an idea as presenting Mr. Rockefeller with a tin of kerosene; sending a bag of ironsand to Carnegie; or awarding the British coal kings a sack of "Mokau." The King and Queen can' 4 help themselves. They have to bear these unnecessary gifts." We take consolation in the hope that those eminently sensible people, the Royal George and Mary, will ask the. Marchioness to hand over the present in cash, and that it will be handed out again to somebody who needs it.

BRITISH DISCIPLINE. The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth has noticed that English people in the mass are bettor behaved and more orderly than Australian people in the mass. He found that on the r::r,d tn a great race meting, and at Epsom itself, the police were almost superfluous. Mr. Fisher has probably not alto«eth.r grasped tl:-. reason for British orderliness. It is ingrained. In Britan -t is neither considered to be to serve or to respect superior qualities m one's fellow man. National discipline is self-respect and respect for others The London traffic could smash the single policeman who holds up his hand. It is a deep reject for constituted authority that restrains the traffic-and the policeman would be the most surprised person in the world if his action was resented. A Svdnev push" could not exist in London.' The people wouldn't stand such a violation of decency and discipline. The reason iintons in the mass respect constituted authority is because its great men respect it. If British universities have one use greater than another it is that their colleges inculcate and insist on the nameless niceties of conduct, uncommon in most countries outside Britain. Consideration for others is not a national feature in alleged ultra-democratic countries. A high-minded, bighh-educatod ruling class set the pattern for their esser brethren. British people are the host mannered and iriost considerate poopie on earth, although the least demon- s strativc, because in her stressful history her leaders have set a pattern in discipline, sell-control and unselfishness. Everybody who goes to London marvels at the power of the policeman. Even the Australian Premier has mentioned it. It isn't a question of the policeman at all. It is a, matter of national ingrained discipline, hard to explain, and almost unknown m anv overseas British possession. " .