CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 16, 13 July 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

SIR ELDON GORST. j Wo announce this morning the death of Sir Eklon Gorst, wlio some 'months ago returned from Egypt to Britain suffering from paralysis. His work as British Minister in Egypt entitles him to be regarded with great interest. He succeeded Lord Cromer in 1007 in Egypt. It was always held that Eir Eldon Gorst was a little too modest for his position, that he did not insist sufficiently on the dignity o! it, and that he was —in a word —too democratic. He wont to Egypt as a member of the Diplomatic Corps when lie was 28, and distinguished himself . Lord Cromer made him adviser to the Ministry of the Interior, and later Financial Adviser. He and the Khedive became firm friends, and it was because of this it wns believed he would fill Lord Cromer's shoes as successfully as had that great man. The difference in the system of Lord Cromer and Sir Eldon Gorst lay in the fact that the former allowed no sentimental ideas to stand in his way. He was tolerant but not indifferent. Sir Eldon was probably too tolerant. In short, because Sir Eldon Gorst brimmed over with the milk of human kindness ihe was not a pronounced success in dealing with a subject people who talked "nationalism" and other heretical ideas to he execrated by British officialdom. Our hold on Egypt was perceptibly lessened because Sir Eldon jvas too kind. He was required to be a stern potentate, and was unable to affect the position—and his recall had been suggested. For the man's brilliant work in Egypt before he became British Minister in Egypt lie will be remembered with gratitude by all people who can appreciate tihe self-sacrificing task put on the sliouldcrs of the great and noble British men who have made modem Egypt.

"SHUNTER KILLED." The above headline is too common to New Zealand newspapers. So many shunters are either mangled or killed outright that people have come to regard the killing or maiming of shunters as a necessary part of the railway system. There is nothing rapid or astonishing about the New Zealand railway Bystem. It is a leisurely system that in itself does not suggest constant danger to railvvaymen. While it is noticed that many shunters are men of ripe age, and therefore apparently not active enough for the work, the fact remains that the shunters who aro killed and mangled are usuallly young, smart, active men. The layman is unable to assign a- cause for the frequent killing of shunters. He only knows that New Zealand kills more shunters on her slow railways than any of the great British companies do. on their excessively intricate systems. We cannot admit that the British railwayman is either more alert or more expert than his New Zealand comrade, and if it can be proved that the New Zealand shunter is as good a man as the British saunter, the death-rate in New Zealand mast be attributed to the system. The importance of lives to New Zealand is very great. Tho minutest precaution should be taken to ensure a diminution of the death-rate. In questions affecting ; property or the rights of people who run no risk in their daily avocations politicians can always be found to whirl: a blade. In the case of the frequently killed shunter it is different. Of course, the usual careful coronial enquiry is made and tho invariable verdict is that nobody has been to blame. We suggest that the frequency of deaths of railwaymen while shunting necessarily implies, blame, and it is high time tho b'iame was fixed. It is time, for instance, that the qualifications of men required for shunting should be minutely enquired into., It is time that shunters should be restrained from working overtime, or when from exertion their faculties aro weakened. It is time that dreary railway yards in which shunting after sun-down is done shall be well lighted, and it is time that a maximum age should bo set after which a man may not be employed at this dangerous occupation. It is not sufficient to pretend that these deaths must always be a feature of railway work. It is hern suggested—without' any hope that the Minister of Railways will take tho slightest notice—that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the last half-dozen shunters killed on the government railways be carefully con-i sidered by persons who aro not'bound to find as they aro ordered. The question of age, physical fitness, eyesight, hearing, the time of day, the lighting of tho yard, the hours that had been worked by the victim on the shift that ended in his death, are all matters for urgent enquiry. It may appear ridiculous to the heads of a system that anyone should bother about the deaths of half-a-dozen shunters, but the fact remains that the shunter is as important a consideration to his wife and children as a Minister is to his immediate relatives. Tho people would probably he relieved to know why these fatalities are so common. and as the railways belong to the people their servant, the Minister of Railways, would favor them by assigning causes for them. p

COMMAND OF THE MEDITERRANEAN According .to tlio latest Home files, arrangements are being made under which France will this year concentrate her naval force chiefly in the Mediterranean, thus giving Great Britain an opportunity of making a similar concentration in the North Sea and the English Channel. It will thus be seen that the complete understanding which exists between the two countries is once more being put to a practical use in a manner that will strengthen the naval disposition of each to a considerable extent. At present it may be pointed out that the French navy is about equally divided between the English Channel and the Mediterranean, for the protection of France's interests, and to counter the combinations of naval force that might be brought against iher in both waters. This disposition means that Great Britain lus to keep a large fleet in tho Mediterranean for -the same purposes, and her ships for. service in the Channel and the North Sea are correspondingly reduced. A fewyears ago an arrangement similar to the one which has now been made was in forco between the two countries, but when the late French Government came to power it was altered, much, it was said, to the displeasure of Great Britain, With the advent of the now French Government, the plan is again to be adopted. Tho political and strategical results of this plan will be to give France a preponderance in tho Mediterranean as against Austria and Italy, the allies of Germany, and Great Britain an even stronger command of tho northern waters. The principal ships which will form France's new Mediterranean fleet' will be the six now and big battleships Diderot, Danton, Oondorcet, Mirabeau. Vergniaud and Voltaire. Each of these is over 18,000 tons, snd is armed with four 12in and twelve 9.4 in guns. Sixvessels somewhat less powerful will also form part of France's force in the Mediterranean. There will thus be a force of twelve battleships. A secondary force of six avmored cruisers and twelve destroyers will act with them. In the Channel France will only retain six reserve battleships, with nucleus crfews, but Great Britain, her ally, will be immeasurably stronger.