TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8289, 17 November 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Whou the leaders of the lude pendent, V Labour party at; Homo stated their, intention of sending out representatives to the colonies to investigate the industrial conditions prevailing here, says the Auckland Star, we hoped and believed that, a mission conducted with Buoh an object in view would be productive of nothing bat good results. Mr Ramsay McDonald, who was chosen for this important work, is a man mho has given proof that ho possesses inunv valuable qualities and capacities, and we expected that be would approach this arduous task in an nnpre judioed spirit. But if we are to takn Mr McDonald's last utterances as representing the views be has formed about Labour in this colony, we fear that he can hardly claim to have considered the matter in an unbiassed and open minded way. On Monday Mr Mac Donald passed, through Inveroargill on bis way to Australia, and in tMo coarse of au interview he summed up bis convictions about the position of New Zealand industrialism as follows: that Trade Unionism at Home was very different from that in New Zealand where "the Arbitration law bad knocked all the fight out of the Unionists," and that in England the unions are "more active anil alsrt and ever vigilant against encroachment on their rights." In other wordß, Mr MaoDonald objeots to our unions because they are uot oorabativo and aggressive enough, and implies that because tbey do not employ the methods of labour warfare usual elsewhere they are not able or willing to defend the rights of Labour. Mr Kamsay MaoDouald objocta to our Arbitration system because it has "knocked aU the flgbt out of tbe unionists." The only possible meaning of hid re. marks is that it is the duty of the union to fight the employers, and that the wage-earners ciannot hopo to aeoure their lights except by deliberately engaging in industrial war. Mr Mao Donald is, therefore, of opinion that ik ia a grave disadvantage J;o the industrial classes that strike should be abolished and

that the Arbitration system does not offer any effective substitute for the strike as a means of attainiog the objeota or realising the ambitions of Labour. lo state the oaee in thisway is to reveal at onoe the palpable absurdity of Mr Mao Donald's opinions. Happily for tbe peaoe of the world there seems ever) probability that tbe difficulty that has arisen over tbe treatment fof Japanese children iu tbe Oaliforuian schools will be satisfactorily settled. It is quite possible that the distinction drawn between the white and Oriental children by tbe San Franoisao educational authorities may have been in the first place a hygienic precaution. But there is no doubt about the way in which it has impressed! the Japanese; and it is stated on what appears to be good authority that the rnatiuer and language of tbe Japanese ambassador wnile interviewing President Roosevelt on the subject were very "unußual"—in other words, foroilile, and nerhaps even pugnacious. Not unnaturally, the Japanese, in the words of the Washington correspondent of the "limes," regard tbe exclusion of their children from the Californian schools as "a blow to tbe national and racial pride of Japan"; and, if wiser counsels did not prevail, it is quite conceivable that the dispute might have very serious consequences. The OaMforuiana are not likely to give way without a protest; but President j Koosevelt has praotioally promised ' tbe Japanese Ambassador that, if necessary, they shall be coerced into ! submission,' and this statement has evidently cleared the air, aid dis« armed the resentment of the Japanese. In pursuance of his announced intention of avoiding anything in the way of party politics on the occasion, the Minister of Lands carefully esohewed any reference to the land question when speaking at tbe banquet tendered him at Wyndham on Wednesday evening, and sought refuge in che more peaceful considerations attaching to the Department of Agriculture. He assured his hearers that it was the intention of the present Administration to keep tbe affairs of that Department in the extreme front of its political platform. Be complimented the agriculturist on being such, he paid a tribute to tbe quality of the colony's dairy produce, told what the Government had done in this and kindred matters, indicated what it intended to do for tbe Sax industry, and generally exhibited all the interest in tlie subject that could be expected of a zealous Minister of Agriculture. It is entirely satisfactory to find that the Department of Agriculture, under Mr "MoNab, is evidently going to pursue with no abatement of vigour tiie progressive col icy characteristic of it of reoent years uuder the Seddon Administration, thegood work,done by wniob in this connection has been productive of excellent results. In his remarks at Wyndham Mr MoNab in no way overstated tbe importance of its agrioultuial interests to the colony, for it must be borne in mind that whatever future may be before New Zealand in tbe development of ber manufacturing industries the wealth of the people must for a long time to come be produaed from the soil, and it is from agricultural operations and pastoral pursuits that tbe major portion of the national revenue will be derived.