CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 16 September 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE XAYV LEAGUE. The New Zealand branch of the Xavv League is a gentle body of peaceful folk who are banded together because of the enthusiasm of one gentleman. The branches will now and again pass a resolution about the two-power standard or the throe-keel ideal. They import navy literature from Home and give school children members nice little trips to the warships, award them pieces of copper from the Victory and bits of sailcloth from the Fourdroyant. Occasionally lady members have ''afternoons" aboard the flagship and admire the brawny sons of the sea and patronise them freely. On the whole the Xew Zealand League is an exceedingly nice, harmless little society, which gives liesured people many pleasant hours. It is not certain that resolutions passed in Xew Zealand move the Admiralty to action. One does not like to say that the British Government would increase the number of Dreadnoughts even if the Wellington branch passed the most vigorous resolution in this direction. But in dealing with maritime matters affecting Xew Zealand, the League, although it i» almost entirely an inexpert body, is within its rights. It is pardonably insistent that if it is necessary to have compulsory military training, it is also necessary to have compulsory naval training for a proportion of the youths of New Zealand. There are in Xew Zealand ports a very large proportion of youths who are adept on (and in) the water, and who would form the nucleus of an excellent force. To concentrate entirely on land defence is, of course,' a compliment to the ability of the Royal Xavv to keep us safe, but it seems quite as reasonable to train boys for sea service as for land service. Xo one. of course, is misled about the Amokura. She has nothing whatever to do with the navy, and most of the boys who leave her either go back to civil life or into the mercantile marine. If tliev go into the navy they go exactly on the same terms as any other boys who leave their homes for the purpose. At any rate it is rather remarkable that in any island country there should he so little done to encourage sea-going or sea-defence. Britain owes her position to the seafarer, and it is not too much to say that some day Xew Zealand may owe her continued existence as an independent State to the ''men who go down to the sea in ships."

A SAFE HAVEN

Once upon a time when Nicolas of Russia was visiting England, he remarked that he would give his crown and all that it meant to spend his life quietly "as an English country gentleman." It is a remarkable tribute, to Britain that foreign royal personages should spend so much time in it, that deposed sovereigns should live in. it. that ex-Dictators should shelter in it. and that even more or less uncivilised potentates should choose il. as being much safer than their own countries. Ex-I\ing Alanoel, formerly of Portugal, has assumed the role of "English gentleman." and it is curious that he. is received with open arms by British ltoyal society, while he contemplates (or is reported to contemplate) wresting his kingdom from the hands of I lie republicans. It is likely therefore that England is at the momejit the home of plots to foment a Royalist war in the poverty-stricken and unhappy republic. It is also a curious coincidence that Manoel, like id,her rulers, was careful to have much of his private fortune in countries other than his own, and it is not unlikely that the ex-King is drawing cheques on English banks to stir up the Portuguese Royalists. As far as may be seen the Portuguese Rnvalists are not so partial to Alanoel as to the privileges they lost when .Manuel was dethroned. That is to say, the aristocrat", could they establish a government to give them their old privileges, would lie quite content (o allow Manoel to stay in England in safetv and comfort.