TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 137, 13 June 1910, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Using prisoners to promote the settlement of land by free Prison Labour men is a proposal put and the forward by the Hon. Local Market. Dr. Findlay (Minister of Justice). He advances sound argument to support his plan. North of Auckland City there is much land, thousands of acres, lying idle, and most of it is suitable for growing fruit on a commercial scale. The Minister's idea is to employ prisoners to plant the ground, and make the country suitable for profitable settlement by free men. The plan has two valuable features to commend it. The prisoners will have an opportunity to earn a living without coming into competition with free labour, and they will make an opening for the benefit of free labour and New Zealand in general. It is not suggested by Dr. Findlay that the prisoners would be raising fruit lor the local markets. If the prisoners' efforts secured fruit for export to foreign markets the local growers would have little to complain about, but this aspect of the matter has not yet been considered. It has taken many years to convince the New Zealand authorities that it is possible to advantageously employ prisoners without giving free people any ground for a just grievance, but a change is coming. Dr. Find lay has been carefully giving the sub ject some keen thought, and if his col leagues are iv sympathy with him the result should be good for the prisoners' and the free alike.

Aucklandera-are in the happy position of being-a ble to dictate Haw Are They to the Government to be about the duplication "Squared?" - of the Parnefl Tunnel. Sir Joseph Ward lias given. his. promise tx> abide by the Auckland Qommission's opinion, and if Auckland persists in saying : "We waint the tunnel," the i Goveaxnment will have to pierce the hill. The Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) has pleaded with Auckland's | citizens to take a national viewpoint ; he has assured them that the duplication is not necessary ; he has implored them to be good and reasonable New Zeakuiders, 'and he has offered a solatium in lieu of the tunnel. Auckland, Temembering Knyvett, Government House, and other things, may be in a mood to drive a, hard baa-gain. It holds the Premier's botii<l, and may exact the full pound of flesh. Whether the Queen City bags an other tunnel or iiot, the people there will gain some solid advantage from Sir Joseph's rash promise of five years ago. The present dilemma is the natural sequel to_ "government by agitation and Deputation." The growing practice is to force a promise from a Minister at the points of a knife and fork at a banquet, and "hold him to it." Cunning traps are set, wily ambushes are arranged for the unwary Minister, and one slip of the tongue brings him years of worry. It is not a good system of government. It means that the most artful promise-baggers may get more than they deserve, while the people of more needy districts, less practised in the arts and crafts of ensnaring a Minister, sigh in vain for a dole. It is too soon to build much on the "gates" of the football Figures matches in Sydney, but that Talk, the figures, so far, are striking enough to warrant some comment. Prior to the advent of the All Blacks, the English professionals (Northern game) played two matches with representatives of New South Wales, and in each case the attendance was about 40,000. Last Saturday the All Blacks opened their tour in a battle with New South Wales amateurs, and on the same day the Englishmen had their third encounter with the New South Wales professionals. Some 41,000 people went out for football excitement; 25,000 preferred to watch the professionals, and only 16,000 gazed at the amateurs. Of course as the campaigns develop the figures may be reversed, but the tallies to date indicate that the Northern game is one which Britons like to watch. ,It is faster than old-fashioned Rugby ; there is less muddling and fumbling' in this new game in whith the wing-forward and the line-out have no place. The Post lias repeatedly declared that the amateur authorities hold their Northern rival too cheaply. The Rugby unions of New Zealand have a great advantage over their competitors in the matter of grounds, players, and general supporters ; but .this advantage is not large enough to justify any notion that there is no danger threatening. It is really a contest for the general public's patronage, and the public's favour will go to those who furnish the most attractive "'turn."