TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7356, 8 July 1889, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Tax question, "What shall we do with our girls P" was one about which we in New Zealand had no need to trouble ourselves a few years ago. The matter was usually taken out of bur hands in a very practical fashion by a method which has even "yet by no means' become extinct, but is not quite the prompt and universal remedy it used to be. We still "marry them to onr boys," but there now remains

-residuum to b¥ dealt' with ** The women'do-not number as many __ t_men in this colony, but they are rapldlt -\ overtaking them. At the last census then were in New Zealand, excluding Maorii and Chinese, 307.G94. males and 266,2_J females. Since 1861 the proportion ot females to males has largely increased. Then there were only 62.1t> females to everyf;_UO; males; in March, 166& the proportion had risen to 85.28 females to every 100 males. This is taking the colony as a whole. In a good many of the towns th* gentler _c* are already the moro numerous. Partly theu, because the number of girls U rapidly increasing, and partly owing to the fact that money is not so plentiful si it used to be, the ranks of female applicants for employment are steadily swehin& Thisisoneof tho principal reasons of the fall in wages and the "sweating" of which so much has been heard lately. The problem of " women's work," then, is begin, ning to press for serious consideration here as elsewhere, and among those who have lately given it their attention vr_ notice a writer in the " Ocago Girls' HigH School Magazine " —probably one of the pupils. Teaching she evidently regards with favor, but points out that many are obliged to take it up who have no special fitness or liking for the work, but, on the contrary, have felt it to be drudgery of the heaviest kind. Women may paint n_p tores or write books, but she despondently asks, *' How many women, or mou eithei for that matter, can paint a picture that is worth having, or write a book that is worth reading ? " For the rank and fib) of needle workers the outlook ia very dreary, What then remains ? The writer, from ' whom we quote, unhesitatingly points to the profession of medicine, and observes that the Otago University has a wellequipped medical school, and must make provision for the teaching of women aa soon as any offer themselves. It is probable that the time is not far distant when a New Zealand" girl will be found adventurous enough to do what several of her sex in England and hundreds in America have* done. "It n'rj a que le premier pas giti co&te" will be emphatically true in this case. As soon as one has been found ready to venture others will follow. The pro* priety of women qualifying themselves aa physicians to deal with the ailments oi their own sex and of children haa been at length admitted at Home and as New Zealand has already turned out quite a large batch of talented lady B. A/a and M.A.'s, there is no reason to doubt that in the future we shall see lady M.D.'s in the University pass-lists.

Tiieke next arises the further question, if our girls embrace the medical profession are they likely to get any practice V Dr. Sophia Jex-Blake, who is in a poaitiop to speak with authority as to the 'experience of her sister practitioners ia England, says:—

"As some have ventured to question the demand for their (women doctors) services because they do not invariably find* ready made practice spring up around them in a few weeks, I feel bound to record my belief that disappointment in this matter can only be experienced by those who have entertained unreasonable expectations, such as would be absurd in tin case of a man j and that, other things being equal, it is invariably easier for a y6__3 medical woman than for a young medical man to build up a satisfactory practice. In po'nt of fact women are continually ,doiM what men hardly ever settling down in a strange place, with no professional introduction £0 practice, by purchase or otherwise; and if gifted with a moderate degree of patience, tact, and other qualities needful in every successful practitioner, they do manage to succeed in a way that certainly goes far to justify their bold adventure."

If we may judge from the success which has attended irregular female practitioner! who have visited NeW Zealand from' tine to time, qualified lady doctors would have no reason to complain of want of support.

Thb machine for pulling charlock, or wild turnip, referred to at the last meetingf of the A. and P. Association, is another illustration of the recent extraordinary development of mechanical ingenuity as applied to agriculture. It has its counterpart'la a machine just invented for destroying insect pests. A Home paper calls it "the mechanical murderer." It is an invention of Mr Strawaon, of Berkshire", and is officially known as "The Strawsoniser." Its essential, features are a tank which contains the powdered lime, or other insecticide to be used, and a fan, which is driven at a great speed by the revolutions of the wheels of the machine, scatters it over the plants or land to be covered- Thus kerosene faUg in a fine spray, and powdered lime is emitted in a white cloud like smoke, covering everything over which they pass wR— a fine film or coat, sufficient to destroy the dreaded fly. A horse travelling quickly with One of these machines can travel over a ten-acre field in an hour, so that rapidity, which is so essential when a crop is atj tacked, is secured. The amallneas of the quantity of material used is surprising,* pint of kerosene being sufficient to cover* an acre, and yet so effectively dutributwM* it that a single leaf cannot be picked up without the smell of the liquid beiny detected. The French Minister"' of Agriculture, it is said, is sanguine that this machine will oust tie dreaded. phylloxera from the vineyarda of. VlAnm One is tempted to ask where the apphjijf tion of machinery to was once looked upon as being almost outside its domain—will end ? And what irill be the effect on the agricultural laborer f The use of steam vessels has to » _Wf* extent changed the character of $-* British sailor, and similarly the condition of the agricultural laborer is widergoing a revolution. From a mere *tßl*r of the ground he is becoming more Of I-*** to the position of a skilled mechanic. -In this respect his lot should be i»htoy#4, but it must be admitted that for i&e present a certain quantity of labor i» befog" displaced, and this will probably havajan effect on. the wages market Still this W& right itself in time if the machinery now coming so much in vogue enables lasdj* o be worked which could not be p»ft_W cultivated without its aid. , ,s

Otjb Wellington correspondent, tekgrqfl* ing yesterday, sends an item of soma fey tereso to resident* in Christchureh. says:— „. "The Christchurch Empowering Bill will come before the Joint Conuaittee on Bills to-morrow (Monday) mora^ l decision. It is generally eX P e ** e x, 1 they will pronounce it a private f"* °* grounds spedf.ed.in my telegram of Monday night. That, of would o* tantamount to killing the Bill.