TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1909, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Last night the City Council adopted a scheme for the partial A Step municipalisation of the Forward, city's milk supply, but that action is not necessarily a guarantee that citizens are to hope for a healthier fluid in the near iuture. "We'll believe it when we ccc it," is the attitude of the average inhabitant. Last year a project was submitted for a much-needed betterment, and it _ was stated that the people could not "only have good milk at a reasonable price, but- the council would make a profit of some thousands of pounds a year ; it was a "milky way" to fortune for the corporation, but the dazzling stars became mere nebulae, and the lovely vision faded. This time the profit is modestly assessed at £322 a year on a £20,000 investment, and the councillors seem satisfied with the figures ; but again, that is not a guarantee of financial soundness. Still, the corporation is stepping in the right direction, and we must presume that the Milk Committee has been in colloquy with authorities competent to discuss the various factors involved. The principal idea is that a clearing depot should be established in the city for tho inspection, cooling, and bottling or canning of milk that arrived by railway. Persons with pastures not far from the areas where they distribute milk (brought in by road) will be allowed to avoid the i" \, but precautions will be taken to ensure respectable quality in the commodity that is passed on to the public. Dairy herds are to be systematically tested for tuberculosis, and the retailing of milk generally is to be under more rigorous supervision than it has been in the past. Thero are flaws in the plans, but flaws are inseparable from a partial scheme, and "partial" is the best that the corporation can do for the present. If the figures Submitted will bear thorough, investigation, the council should not hesitate to make a beginning with a York that has been far too long delayed. As time goes ou the corporation's scope will be widened till in the dim and distant future it may have the brand "municipal." on everything connected with the milk supply. Unanimously, last night, the Wellington Trades and Labour More Utopia. Council carried a motion ;— "That in all cases where mines of any description, and especially coalmines, are closed down at the present time, the Government shall take them over and work them in the interests of the pub.lie." This resolution harks back to the old cure-all schemes adopted with monotonous persistency year after year by trades conferences. Prior to the last general assembly the Wellington delegates, sensibly realising that it was futile to devote much time and energy to nebulous discussions about the unattainable "in our time," urged that 'the debatera should concern themselves with practicable rather than fantastic ideas ; but the Wellington men have lapsed into the mood which they found desirable to correct in some of their brethren. Why is a mine closed down ? Do the private owners abandon the workings for fun? Are they eager to lose the capital invested in machinery and other directions unless they can see their way cleai- to an exorbitant profit? If private owners, woiking as economically as possible, fail to make a mine produce '■& reasonable profit, how can the State hope to succeed with the enterprise which the others have discarded? Apparently the Wellington Trades Council believes that the profit which private capitalists consider too small or too visionary to be worth further effort, is large enough to help to solve the unemployment problem. The Government has enough worry at present in trying to make out a rejspectable balance-sheet for the two Statd mines, and it is firmly believed -by some expert critics that this business is run at a loss, notwithstanding assertions to the contrary. And those "mines of any description" ! The poor State seems to be expected to bell even the "wild cat," and make it mew soothingly for the public. But it is too much to expect the paternal Government to work miracles and conjure up untold wealth from any old shaft. The Government has endtigh to do in straightening out its present business undertakings, without committing itself (with public money) to fresh risks, of a very doubtful order. Feilding's splendid calm has been thrown aside. When Feilding to the all the rest of New Rescue. Zealand was flourishing flags, blowing brazen instruments, and giving three cheers about many things on Dominion Day, Feilding Tvas tranquil. Indeed, "Feilding was calm," according to a little telegram despatched from the stoical township. But now Feilding is even more alert than Reef ton. FeUdin^ is quicker to rally around the "mother lion,", and dare the wide world to do any tail-twisting. The Feilding Borough Council has praise worthily supported New Zealand's offer of a Dreadnought or two to the Empire, but in that attitude it merely shares the glory wit.ii other borough councils. It is in the matter of home defence that Feilding, by its enthusiasm, secures such preeminence as it once attained by its calmness. The borough council has voted for compulsory^ military training. Is Feilding to be alone in all the municipalities, great and small, in the advocacy of a much-needed improvement in the system of home deience ? New Zealand is helping to enable Britain to hold the seas, aud therej' is no immediate prospect of a change in the ocean supremacy, but — Opinions about the value of the "but" differ widely. Sir Joseph Ward, for instance, believes that the "but" is too slender to warrant the introduction of compulsory military service in New Zealand just yet. Others with more faith in the doctrine that "accidents may happen" declare that the "but" compels greatly increased attention to the bettering of the home defence scheme, and Feilding is among these true believers. We hope to see this sentiment spread.

Chemists have found that the present half-holiday arrangement of closing premises works satisfactorily. At the monthly meeting of the Central Pharmaceutical Association — including Wellington, Taraiiaki, Nelson, and the West Coast — held last night, it was agreed not to disturb the existing.^late of affairs. It is consideied that under tho present system — pharmacies dosing alternately instead of all on one day — the public is enabled to obtain medicine on any day of the week, while one compulsory half-holiday would upset this advantage. At the same meeting intimation was made that the Tasmanian Pharmaceutical Board has granted New Zeaf&nd reciprocity on the basis of qua lification by examination. Children's Victorian bonnets in white fell, bound with floral ribbon, trimmed with pale> pink soft satin ribbon loops and strings, at 10s 6d each. — Kiikcaldie and Stains, Limited.— Advt.