TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1914, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

The decision of tho New Zealand Rugby Union to increase the N.Z. Rugby rate of interest on the Union Finance, advances it makes to affiliated, unions is dictated by prudence. Years ago, when the Union found itself suddenly "rolling in thousands" as the result of the British tour of the 1905 All Blacks, it adopted the policy of advancing the money at low rates to assist Rugby, through the affiliated unions. From that wise principle the Union has not departed, but it has recognised that a rate that waa low in the low-interest days of eight years ago is too low in the high-interest conditions now prevailing. In raising tho rate from 2£ per cent, to 4 per cent, for all new loans and renewals, the parent body does not appear to be asking too much of affiliated unions. Of course, it may be argued that to lend the money a,t 2A per cent, is more "assistance to Rugby" than to demand 4 per cent. ; but, if that argument is •carried to its logical conclusion, then the Union ' should advance the cash free of charge! Obvious-, ]y, the parent body should not be bled to such an extent that it will become a chronic losing concern ; and only the visit of the Australian team prevented it malung an actual loss last season. Against that factor, also, must be set the cost of sending a New Zealand team to Australia this year. Considering tho figures quoted by the treasurer, Mr. Edgar Wylie, as to the reduction in the capital account, and in view of liabilities ahead, the Union is justined in looking more carefully to its own finance-; also in penalising arrears of repayments by an extra charge of 2 per cent. It is a peculiar fact that the New Zealand Union not only finances its own off -shoots, but at present stands as creditor to both Australia and California. New South Wales and Queensland owe £936 and California £145 ; but the sooher these accounts are liquidated, the better. Hill-street is shocked. Hill-street's susceptibilities have been Panic deplorably ignored by in Hill-street, the municipal authorities, and, therefore, Hill-etreet's hands aro upheld in pious horror at the^poßsibility of civic vandalism. Barbadians of the Corporation have suggested that the Ba^roeanct surface of Hill-street should be desecrated by tramway lines and vulgar cars. Tramways for the populace arc- all very well in their placo, saye Hill-etreet. It is all right to have lines in Aro-street. Wallace -street, Constable-street, and other streets where only ordinary persons dwell, but Hill'streei is , not one of 'those, and its inhabitant* are people apart. Therefore a petition, virtually praying, ''Take, O take those trams away," has been sent to the Mayor and council, requesting that the powers will have the decency lo keep clear of Hillstreot when looking for a tramway short cut between La-mbton-quay and Tittakori-road. Thus the householders say :— "Hill-street is. .a purely residential street,- and the noise, and dust which would be- caused by the proposed tram would amount' to a nuisance to us." One has to admit fairly that the prayer docs include a more "respectable clause—concerning the narrowness of the street for double lines of rails— but tho "nuisance" argument is put first. One can woll sympathise with people who object to the intrusion of a tram which they do nob need, even if tho project is keenly_ desired by fellow-citizens further on. Hill-street's regawl lor its own comfort is natural, even if it is denounced as selfish by the burgesses of Upper TinakoriToad, but Hill-street's iva-il will not be one to appeal to Greater Wellington if that particular Bhort cut is deemed desirable by a majority of the public. That is a question which has Vet to be definitely settled, and there ljee Hillstreet's main hope of preservation from the plebeian tram. " " Cost of living " was briefly discussed at yesterday's meeting Cost of Living, of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, and reference was made >to the higher standard of comfort in these easy* going days. That factor was considered by the Royal Commission of 1912, but was not extensively studied. Some of those who tnake.comparisons with former times overlook the fact that people then managed to live without many of the conveniences now enjoyed by their descendants. The proportion of persons employed in making life more pleasant, allegedly, by various services, for the public has steadily increased. The amount of food, clothing, and other necessaries for the maintenance of tramway employees, those tradesmen engaged in making "nnnecessaries," and the persons in the amusement business, and so on, is expanding continuously. We do not quarrel with those who find excuses for these things, but we submit that ( a proper computation in this department is necessary in any thorough study ol the national life. The country, after all, is a large family, and the best beginning of an attack on the problem of cost of living is by a meditation on a single family. Picture, for instance, a household of six brothers, who havo to wijl their living from the lanct. At first 'all six go to the fields >and the forest, and each has a direct' part in keeping the home supplied with necessaries. Then one brother takes to music, and spends the daylight practising in order that he ma.y delight the others at night. Another develops a passion for painting and for ornamental hobbies, and convinces the others that he deserves his bread and meat becaußo he stuffs the house with things which arc actually a nuisance. Then the remaining four direct primary workers probably begin to feel the "cost of living." This illustration may appear to be a labouring of the obvious, but it has been, made necessary by the peculiar argu« mentis used by some theorists.

The Oamaru Mail says that there is a feeling in Waimate that the late High Commissioner, Sir William Hall-Jones, should be asked to contest the Waitaki seat in the interests of the Liberal Party at the coming elections. The following are the nominations for the twelve seats on the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: — Messrs. T. Ballingor, W. J. Brideon, T. C. Dawson, W. G. Duthie, W. G. Foster, J. G. Harknees, C. W. Jones, James Macintosh, F. W. Manton, James M 'Lallan, G. W. Shirtcliffe, W. J. Thompson, and R. AY. Wafcerhouse. (.The result will be announced at the annual meeting of the Chamber next week. The criminal sittings of the Wellington. Supreme Court ended yesterday. This morning Mr. Justice Hosking commenced hearing a number of • undefended divorce cases. To-morrow the firdt case on. the civil list, in which Lucinda Caldwell is Buing the Union Steam Ship Company for £2000 in compensation for the death of her husband, will be heard. Jury cases in the civil list will occupy the Court till sth June, and after that a large number of cases will be heard before the Judge alone. - Greymouth people .are grumbling at the price of meat. Rump steak is now at 9d cash, fillet steak 10d, roast sirloin Bd, corned mutton 7d, and so on. The uutchers say they cannot help i\,; they can hardly get fat stock at all. They tell their customers that there is not sufficient fat cattle in the country to supply requirements. Formerly the Coast was able to draw upon Foxton and Wanganui for supplies^, but now, owing to the advance in dairying, even store cattle cannot be procured • from the North Island to fatten on Coast pastures. Sydney would be much more beautiful than it is if it were embowered in j foliage, said Mr. W. B. ' Griffin, the Chicago architect who is carrying out +he Federal capital design, -last week. He said that he did not want to see trees in the busy_ streets, but they could be planted in some of the quieter streets of the city, and throughout the residential areas. They could not have too many of them. In New Zealand the same mistake was being made as in Australia, People were planting European trees and Australian trees. *. TJ.e liked Australian trees, but not in New Zealand, which had a most wonderful flora of its own, and that was what one wanted to see when one went there. These new countries were losing their original characteristic features. It» was a mistake to try to repeat the Old Country flora "in a new country. They should make the most of the good things of their own country. "I object to affidavits containing slang," said Mr. Justice Cooper, at the Auckland Supreme Court on Saturday. "In the one before me the word 'billet/ instead of the right word, 'situation,' is used several times. " When preparing such documents, he 'continued, solicitors should use English. The term "billet" had probably been adopted to some extent in English, in the sense mentioned, but, nevertheless, it was slang. The old English word "billet" could only be used in reference to the quartering of soldiers. "I like to see the English language kept undefiled," said his Honour, "and I think' an effort ' should be made to preserve its purity." Counsel addressed bowed to the ruling of the Judge (says the Herald), but mentioned that in a recently-published dictionary some 100 pages were devoted to words exclusively used in the Australasian colonies, though he/ could not say if "billet" was included in the list. Speaking to a Post reporter this morning on the present position of the poultry industry, the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) stated that some years ago Pailiamenfc objected "to the large expenditure that was taking plaoe in connection with that industry, vitn, apparently, very little return. At ihafc time there was an establishment at Auckland where birds were dressed and made ready for export — at the public expense. That had been closed down for some years, and the only other change that had taken place was the closing of the Burnham Poultry Farm. Now the_ Government was considering the establishment of a poultry farm near Christchurch. v Speaking generally, he added, the poultry industry was doing well, but it had been somewhat handicapped during the last two years by the high price of feed. In the North Island a very large area previously used for growing maize was now being utilised t more profitably for dairy farming purposes, and in Canterbury and Otago there was much less wtteat grown than was the case five or six years ago. The consequence was that the cost of feed had risen considerably. At the Dunedin Hospital on Friday afternoon an interesting demonstration ■was given of the efficiency and practical value of tJie out-patients' massage and medical gymnastics department of the hospital (says the Otago Daily Times). This branch of the hospital work, about which comparatively little is known by the general public, and which is the first of its kind ,in the Dominion, is designed to treat the minor deformities of children. It prescribes individual exercises according to individual needs, and in the abnormal child takes the place of the ordinary gymnastics indulged in by noi'mal children. A demonstration was given of the effect of the treatment on three children, who, three "months ago, had been exceedingly deformed, but are now practically cured. The furniture used is from measurements at the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute in Sweden, and was supplied by the Royal • Prince Alfred Hoßpital in Sydney, where a similar department has been in existence for ten years. The demonstration was given by Miss Armstrong, who has charge of the massage school, and instructs women in the women's and children's wards and the out-patients' department. Among those present were Dr. Falconer, Mr. S. M. Park (secretary of the Education Board), and some of the board's inspectors, about forty headmasters and school teachers, and Dr. Ada Paterson (Medical Inspector of Schools). The extent and quality of the oysterbeds in the Bay ot Islands greatly impressed Professor E. E. Prince, Canadian Commissioner of Fisheries during the inspection he made in company with Mr. L. P. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, laßt week (reports the Auckland Herald). Upon theft- return on Saturday, a visit was made to the beds in Waiheke, Ponui, and Rangitoto. Professor Prince says that there are no rock oysters in Canada, and he was pleasantly surprised by the size and conservation of the Auckland beds. Opportunity was taken during the visit to the Bay of Islands to gather further information regarding tho fisheries generally in those waters. During the return voyage of the Hinemoa from East Cape, experimental trawling will be continued in the Bay of Plenty and oft" the Coromandel Peninsula, to test the. fishing giounds in that area. The work will be continued during the vessel's cruise round the northern lighthouses. The examination of the deep water fisheries is only one department of the investigations undertaken by Professor Prince. He has arranged to visit the principal fishing ports in order to get into communication with those already engaged in developing the fisheries, and in the distribution of fish to the consumers. As the time at his disposal is limited, Professor Prince will be able to visit only typical rivers in the various acclimatisation districts. Special attention will be devoted to the fisheries of Lake Rotor ua and Lake Tattpo.

The Post's Dunedin correspondent telegraphs: — The Hon. J. Allen addresses 1 his constituents at Lawrence on Thursday, 28th May. On the same day the Prime Minister will visit Balclutha. Yesterday afternoon Charles Smith, a wharf labourer, was working in one of the sheds ,on Jervois-quay, when a tier of bales hi kapoc, landed from the Aparima, collapsed. One of the bales fell on his right thigh and fractured the limb. He was removed to the Hospital after first aid had been rendered. Members of the Karori, Petone. Suburbs, Highland, and Old NavaJs' Rifle Clubs are to meet Colonel Wolfo, liu-pector of Rifle Clubs, at tho Bucklestreet Drillsbed at 7.30 o'clock to-mor-row night for the purpose of going through various movements in view of General Hamilton's inspection at Newtown Park next Saturday.' A number of specially equipped motor vans are being constructed for the Commonwealth Postal Department for the delivery in Melbourne of parcels of agricultural produce sent through the post. The system is to take effect on Ist July, The Federal PostmasterGeneral has received a report from the United States that last year 300,000,000 parcels were carried, and that the new service had been mainly instrumental in turning a loss into a profit of over £800,000. Iron girders formed the basis of a reserved judgment delivered by Mr. W. G. Riddeli, S.M.. to-day/ William Wilson sued David Robertson and Co., Ltd., for £75 10s, being the price of a, number girders and 3J tons of railway iron. Of this amount the price of 10 single iron girders and the railway iron amounting to Jt/iso' 10s was admittpd, and the balance in dispute was £47. Defendants counterclaimed for £14 for the use of plant and labour in removing girders from buildings in Cuba-street to defendants' foundry yard and storage on six compound girders, which, it was contended, they agreed to store and not to purchase. His Worship, gave judgment for plaintiff for £75 10s, with costs £9 9s. Judgment wa«s also given for the plaintiff on the counter-claim. Mr. Andeibon .ippeaied for the plaintiff and Mr. Young defended. A special general meeting of the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Union was held last week, the main business being the consideration of a letter from the Federation of Labour relative to a conference of labour unions to be held at Wellington in July. The object of the conference, it was stated, was "the combining of the forces of Labour and the adoption of a common line of political action." The request that the Ohinemuri Union should be represented was discussed at length, the majority of the speakers holding that the organisation should have nothing to do' with the conference, and characterising the request of the federation as "a piece of impertinence." The executive was instructed to answer the communication in accordance with the expressd feelings of the meeting. There was a large attendance at the meeting (reports the Auckland Herald). A father's responsibility for the debts of his son when the latter had left his home was involved in. a civil action heard by Mr. W. G. Riddeli, S-M.,' today. A. G. Mann, boot and shoe importer, sued R. J. G'llespie for the sum of £1 7b, the value of a pair of boots delivered by plaintiff to defendant's son, who was under 21 years of age.* Mr. Peacock appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. Smith defended. G'llespie contended that, as his son had left the parental roof and struck out for himeelf, he (defendant) could not be held 4 esponsible for debts incurred by the former. Evidence showed that the plaintiff had supplied goods to the defendant's son before, and the defendant had always, paid for them. In giving judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, Mr. W. G. Riddeli, S.M., pointed out that the plaintiff did not know at the time that the son had left home. • Among the passengers from the South by the Maori this morning was Mr. R. W. Shallcrass, the general secretary of the New Zealand Sports Protection, League, who has been on a visit to branches of the league in Southland and Central Otago. Mr. Shallcrass mentions that he w.as able to address good representative gatherings at each centre where a branch of the league has been formed, _ Considerable interest was aroused in the work which has been accomplished, and eac^h branch expressed its pleasure in hearing the various ways in which every class of sport has been assisted in several movements for their benefit, taken up by- the league. All the branches 'visited were found to be full of vigour and enthusiasm, the organisation being complete in every centre to combat any movement- which might be made in opposition to the objects of the league. Naturally the trend of public opinion was a matter in which the general secretary was interested, and throughout the South he was mot on all sides with expressions of broad-minded-ness towards all classes of sport. The views of the candidates for the coming General Election is also one of concern ; but _ with one of two exceptions those seeking public honours are favourable to the league's policy. Mr. "Shallcrass, however, thinks that at present [ the indications are tha.t, with the-excep-tion ot the case where the sitting mem- ' ber is not seeking re-election, there will be very little change in the personnel of the representatives from Otago and Southland. The fact that Mr. Asquith, the Prime Minister, considered it necessary to go before his constituents in East Fife for re-election, on taking over the seals of Secretary State for War from Colonel Seely reveals a curious anomaly in connection with Parliamentary representation in the United Kingdom (writes a London correspondent). When a member of Parliament is promoted to the Ministry in the United Kingdom he has to go before his constituents for reelection. There is no salary attached to the post of British Prime Minister, but it has been the general custom for the Prime Minister to hold the post of First Lord of the Treasury." As the Treasury department , is administered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, there are no real duties' attached to the post of lirst Lord of the Treasury, but it carries with it a salary of £5000 a year. The post of Minister for War, also carries a salary of £5000, but Mr. Asquith, while filling the positions of Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and Minister for War, will draw only one salary of £5000. It is the mere fact that _he has accepted an additional salaried post (without drawing the salary) which has rendered it necessary for him to go before hip constituents. Had he exchanged the post of First Lord of the Treasury for that of Minister of War he would not have had to seek re-electi6n. He took the advice of the_ law officers of the Crown before deciding to seek re-election, for there seemed to be considerable doubt whether it was necessary to seek re-election. The law officers were unanimous on the point, but the law officers of 1873 were not unanimous when Mr. Gladstone, as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, took over tho post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Some of them thought it was necessary for Mr Gladstone to seek re-election, but the Lord Chancellor did not think so, and as Mr. Gladstone, who then represented Greenwich, had a particularly shaky teat, ho foliowed tho advice of the Lord Chancellor. Mr Asquith, who has represented East Fife for 28 years, has one of the safest seats in tho United Kingdom. j