PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 7

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) ' AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. No indication is yet given as .to the extent to which the expenditure on experimental farms is to be retrenched, but some, at any rate, of the poultry farms are to be closed. All the changes indicated aro distinctly in tho right direction, and in due course we may expect to hear more details and also to know how much the saving will be.— " Evening Post." THE EXERTION WAGE. If workers set themselves, by a policy of deliberately low outputs, to make tho' enterprises of employers unprofitable, the logical result of 'such a course can only bo-to terminate these enterprises and so cast off their own sources of employment. The interests of employers and employees, as has been pointed out so often, must always be interdependent to a great extent, and the worker is able by exerting his full capacity to assist his employer's enterprise and increase his own earnings at the same time.—" Dominion." THE NAVAL PROBLEM.

Any statement mad© by Lord Charles Beresford upon naval matters is always worthy of special attention, for he is admittedly among the best of British captains, and is notoriously given to speaking his mind. It is probable that he will visit Australia to advise the Federal Government upon the formation of the local navy, nor would it be easy for the Commonwealth to find a better adviser, for the temperament and character of Lord Charles Beresford compel him always to regard men as more to be considerered than ships, and to hold it possible for well-armed vessels- of small size to give an effective account" of themselves against seemingly overwhelming adversaries. Ho has always displayed that "Viking*" temper which on occasion would glory in taking .adestroyer to attack a battleship, and since the Australians cannot afford anything but a small coastguard service it is wise for them to form, it with the aid of an admiral who believes in its value, and has a definite scheme of what such a service should be, and what it might do.—" New Zealand Herald." EXIT THE SULTAN.

Another decisive step in the progress of the Turkish revolution has been marked by the deposition of Abdul Hamid. Though there were many obvious risks to be run in substituting another Sultan for "him, and certain manifest advantages to be secured by maintaining him under proper control as a figure-head for the new constitutional system, the Young Turks have probably done wisely in setting him aside. No doubt the reformers have good grounds for their conviction that the Sultan's brother will prove amenable to their requirements and faithful to his pledged word, but we may be sure that under the new regime Abdul Hamid's successor will, never enjoy his unrivalled opportunities ' for robbing and oppressing his subjects. Abdul Hamid has, by his treachery and cruelty, taught his people a bitter lesson, and wo may expect that the Young Turks will not bo satisfied till they effectually protect themselves and their country against any possible resuscitation of the unspeakable corruption and the relentless tyranny of " Hamidianism."—Auckland " Star."