LONDON LETTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 3

LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. PAID M.P.'S IN NEW ZEALAND. JTBOM OUB OWN COBBESFONDENT.] LONDON, 30th September. The demand for payment of member** of Parliament looks like proving a rock for the Unionist Party to split upon. At present it is being vigorously debated in the press, the Morning Post leading the campaign in favour of the change. A gentleman who has resided in. New Zealand for seventeen years writes to the Daily Mail giving his experience in the Dominion: — ' "In the small town in which I lived we were for nine years represented by a working man, of no education or ability as a politician, and the chief rea son why he sought a seat in Parliament, was that the salary (£3OO a year) wa*< larger than he could make by his work —trade he had none. His wife canvassed for him, promising to pay his debts if the creditois would give him their votes, and at later elections enlisting the sympathies of his fellowworkers to keep him in a billet. So for nine years we were virtually unre presented in the House of Representatives. Will not these considerations in a modified form influence the election of Labour members in this country once the opportunity is given?" \ HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. The reorganisation of the High Commissioner's Office proceeds gradually. .The advertising branch of the oiiice, which entails considerable work, has now been taken over by Mr. T. E. Donne, who has also control of the emigration and shipping. The change is likely to lead to increased efficiency. Exhibitions, I understand, will remain under the present efficient control of Mr. H. C. Cameron. NEW ZEALAND AND THE METRIG SYSTEM. The hon. sec. of the Decimal Association asserts that independent action by New Zealand and Australia is practically assured in the event of the Imperial Government refusing, on the occasion of the Colonial Conference next year, to introduce the Metric System into Great .Britain. "The Colonies," he says, "have consistently advocated the metric system whenever an opportunity has been afforded, but their attitude up to now has been one of expectancy ; they have hesitated to take any decided step in the belief that it would not be many years before the Mother Country swept away its present jumble of weights and measures, and replaced them by the metric system. Australia has now. however, apparently made up her mind that it is useless to wait for a lead from us, and', knowing the feelings of the other colonies in this matter, I have little hesitation in stating that the attitude of Australia will be adopted by thejepresentatives of the other colonies." AN "ALL RED" TOUR. In connection with the Festival of Empire for next year no effort is being spared to organise an Imperial Exhibition which will properly represent the productive and industrial resources oi the Empire. One of the popular features of the programme will be aji "All Red" Tour, plans and specifications for the construction of which are in active preparation. Visitors will not only be shown an accurate representation of the physical features of the Dominions beyond the Sea, but the Empire at work will be shown in animated form. , Stay-at-home Britons will be able to gaze upon the actual products and industrial resources of each, country. The 'All Red" Tour will be conducted by ten. mono-rail observation cars, each seating 60 passengers. There will be a twominutes service throughout the day, and the actual length of the railway will be a mile and a half. An efficient guide will be in attendance on board each car to explain details and objects of interest en route. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. All the regular mail steamers of the Orient line arc fitted with wireless telegraphy. During the voyage to Australia and back, just completed by the s.sl Otranto, which occupied 98 days, that vessel was on 81 days in wireless communication with either the shore stations or with other vessels. On the outward voyage from London daily communication was maintained with the signal station at Poldhu up to the Otranto's arrival at Port Said, a distance of 1500 miles. On the - homeward voyage the steamer was in communication with H.M.S. Powerful, 1845 miles away. SEA TRAINING CONFERENCE. A National Conference on Sea-training, oiganised by the Navy League, will oe held in London next month. The first conference was held in 1901, and the second in 1903. Lord Brassey presided over both of these, and it is hoped he will be the chairman on/ the present occasion. It is a curious thing in this country that while the' law provides ships to train boys who have been convicted of crime, and who are sent to a reformatory, and also provides institutions to train boys who have been committed under the Industrial Schools Act by the magistrates, there is little pro vision for helping the poor innocent boy who is unable to help Himself. The Board of Education has already intimated to the Navy League that they view with satisfaction the efforts that are being made by various local authorities and othei bodies to provide technical instruction for those who a-o desirous of adopting, or who have adopt ed, any of the various callings associates with the sea. "PARIS IN LONDON." The French Palace Development Syn dicate, who have obtained from the L.C.C. an option for a 99-years building lease on the "island" site in the Strand, have decided to begin operations next month. By the beginning of 1912 it *s hoped to have the colonnade of internal and external shops with separate frontages facing both the Strand and Exhibition Buildings, ready for occupation, and though the council license provides four years for construction, it is expected that the whole of the structure will be completed within half that period." The total cost of constructing and equipping the palace and buildings is estimated at £750,000. Included in the building will be a magnificent cafe restaurant and grill-room, a permanent exhibition of I'iencli arts and industries, a, bijou theatre for the production of French plays, offices, shops and terraces.