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Hastings Standard, Issue 495, 7 December 1897, Page 2

The second reading of the Master and Apprentices Bill lias been carried in the House of Representatives. The object of the measure, which is to prevent adult labour being crowded out of the market, is desirable enough, but the effect of its operation will be to destroy many industries and throw thousands of boys out of employment, whilst closing every avenue against them. With all the labour measures upon the Statute Book—the Shop Assistants Act, Factories Act, Act to prevent strikes, and so on—it appears to be quite unnecessary to introduce further legislation of this class for a time. If the Master and Apprentices Act is carried we in Hastings, with a thousand children attending our schools, may well ask, " What shall we do with our boys ?"

The Manawatu A. and P. Association is to be congratulated upon the result of its recent show, which, if not the premier one of the Colony, certainly takes the pride of place for the North Island. The Palmerston folk are nothing if not in earnest, and it is their earnestness and zeal that has made their show what it is. There is no doubt but that Hawke's Bay contributed largely to the success of the Palmerston show, and it now remains for the settlers in the Manawatu district to reciprocate. We believe they will. Not only so, there is reason to hope that with through railway communication the Wairarapa will also contribute towards the success of our gatherings. With earnestness on the part of our management and reciprocity between exhibitors, Hawke's Bay will more than hold its own amongst the shows of the colony.

It will interest Hawke's Bay slieep breeders to know that the Canadian Commissioner who is on a visit to New Zealand thinks wc might find a market for frozen mutton in British Columbia. The export of mutton has become one of the staple industries of New Zealand, but there are grave reasons to apprehend that the distance we are removed from the Home market and the competition of the Argentine may eventually render our trade unremunerative. It remains for New Zealand, therefore, to avail itself of every opportunity, and if a market can be found in British Columbia that market should at once be exploited.

A TKr-KoRAM published to-day tells us that the Diocesan Synod in Wellington has rejected a proposal to extend the franchise to women. The question has been discussed by the Synod from time to time, but the ambitions of the women, who are in fact the mainstay of the Church, appear to be as far from being gratified as ever. Those horrid men! They admit the equality of the sexes in the political world, but in the spiritual world —no, never! A strike against bazaar work and such like would probably have the desired effect.

Rain has fallen in New South Wales after a protracted drought. There is hope yet for Hawke's Bay. In the course of a few days we may expect the rain to reach New Zealand.