TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9344, 19 February 1896, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Among recent visitors to The Revival Christchuroh is Mr Samuel in Figgis, a well-known Trade. London produce broker,

who is making a tour round the world on pleasure and business bent. Mr Figgis, in conversation yesterday, afforded us his opinion on the general revival in trade that is apparent all over the world. He takes a very sanguine view of the future, and is confident that prices of staple products, generally speaking, will rise. He pointed out that the want of confidence whioh was observable during the past three or four years since the Argen. tine and Australian fiuaucial collapses following upon Barings' failure, waa gradually being overcome. Bankers, who were exceedingly chary and rigid, now seemed disposed to be more liberal in making advances to clients, more especially as money was cheap and abundant. The low prioes ruling for the last few years have not been singular to New Zealand, but were universal; and they might be attributed very largely to the gradually decreasing demand from America. The English market during the last three or four years was therefore overweighted with produce of all kinds. That burden was evidently now being removed by degrees, aud the average recovery of fully 30 per cent, manifested in the past twelve months would, in his opinion, not only be fully maintained, but probably increased during the spring and summer, unlesß, of course, a political disturbance of importance took place. Before Mr Figgis left home there was marked activity in well-known trades, especially those engaged in the manufacture of textile goods, and orders from the colonies, and from the Argentine, were largely on the increase.

Mb Figgis therefore looks Its with confidence for a Importance buoyant trade in the staple

to products of tlie colonies, New Zealand, suoh asgraio, wool, tallow,

meat, dairy produce, &c, but of course producers must be guided by the production of other countries. He was glad to see that kauri gum, in which he had beenlargely interested for the past thirty years, was participating in the improved values', and as consumption had increased while., supplies had shown a shortage, he anticipated high prices in the. future, unless supplies increased so as to be in excess of requirements, as was the case a few years ago. It seemed to him also, speaking more as aoonaumer tbanaß an expert in the trade, that New Zealand dairy produce and lamb were gaining in favour at Home. It waa to be hoped that -the lossons on economics learned during the last few years would assure profitable seasons in the future, and enable colonists to recoup themselves for the serious losses that occurred iv the recent period of depression. Mr Figgis is one among the many visitors to this colony who will carry away with him a most favourable impression ol the evidences of rapid progress made since it was founded, and of the variety, charm, and grandeur of its soenery.

AN Act came into Married Women's force in England o» . Protection New Year's Day Act. whioh will probably be very largely mad-

use of when its provisions become better known. * This is the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act, 1835. which, it appears in effect empowers a magistrate to grant to married women of the poorer classes some of that measure of relief, especially in the matter of a judicial separation, which wealthier persons can obtain in the Divorce Com-tr It provides that, auy married woman whose husband (a) shall have been convicted; summarily of an '-aggravated assault" upon her, or (b) of an assault upon her, upon indictment, and sentenced to paya fine of more than 435, or to a term of imprisonment exceeding two months, or (a) shall have deserted her, or (d) shall have been guilty of persistent cruelty to her, or (c) of wilful neglect to provide reasonable maintenance for her or her infant children whom he is legally liable to maintain, and shall by such cruelty or neglect have caused her to leave him, may apply ;to any Court of summary jurisdiction before which he has been convicted, or in the place where the cause of complaint has arisen, for certain orders. The following* orders may be made—(a) The applicant may be relieved from living any longer with her husband. This order while in force has the effect io all respects of a decree of judicial separation on the ground of cruelty, (b) The legal custody of any children or the marriage till they are sixteen may be given to the applicant, (o) The husband may be made to pay to the wife a weekly sum not exceeding £2. The, Act, as we have said, came into force on New Year's Day, and on January 2nd six applications under it came before the London Police Courts. Three complaining wives obtained summonses .with a view to separation on the ground of violence and neglect on the part of their husbands. Another woman alleged that her husband did not support her, and the Magistrate before granting her a summons said he would first send the man a caution. A fifth woman, similarly situated, was afforded no relief by another magistral, who said that according to the Act she must have cause to leave her husband. The sixth case showed the one-sided nature of the new law. The applicant was a married man, who, if his tale was true,, was cursed with a dipsomaniac wife. The unfortunate man wanted to know if the magistrate could; not do something for him under the new Act, but he was told that none of its provirions gave husbands any relief. The Law, it seems, reooguises that many wives are in need of protection i from their husbands, but makes no provision for the comparatively few casea in which husbands have tbe right to complain. Tbe new Act is said to be strongly approved of by many of the Metropolitan Stipendiary j Magistrates, although it is expected to add I largely to* their work.