Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1909. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 5 March 1909, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1909. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Cows, the meek and mild and necessary cows, chew their cod milk matters contentedly under the shady apple trees. But there is danger in them, and a good deal too. The milk froths beautifuly white in the clean tin can, but it may carry death with it also. The dirty bucket and the unclean hands shocked the people, and the Government stepped in with regulations. But now it seems to have lost the issue mainly. Inspectors will turn the milkman's hair gray very soon. What with concrete floors, extent of breathing ■ space and suitable standing yards, etc., very little time is left for the cow iteelf. A ir'ress Association wire from New Plymouth brings the news that a cow with cancer has been yielding milk for calves. The stock inspectors do good work; but the cow is in need of far_more attention even than she receives at present. In addition to the dairyman, who is watched pretty closoly now. thoro is the man who keeps a cow or two. In view of what has beer/ known, to happen, the milk matter should receive the most laiufiil attention. Some eminent scientists hayf 1 been declaring recently that tuberculosis cannot be caught from the cow. Apart, however, from controversy, there is obviously peril in the milk pail unless proper care be exercised. Now that liie ' dairyman puts h:s yawl in order according to regulation, more attention tOiculd be paid to the cow. It is recognised that already attention is so given ; but the point is that cleariy it is not enough.

the Regulars in active service, and 85,000 from the Regular Reserves, f and Hi© remaining 15,000 being ob- j tamed in equal proportions from a new force, known as tho "Special lieserve," and from the Territorial Army. The peace strength Of the British Army at homn was fiied at i 160,006, with ii trailicd reserve of 121,000. It is, of course, in the Territorial Army that the new feature l^es. It is noped by this nieans that a -large citizen army will be found without' an undue tax on the people as a : .whole,. How far the scheme will be really effective remains to be seen, but the indications are favourable. The Alliance Insurance Company seems to have takeiVthe bull by th* horns, and it intends, the cables say, that all new clerks entering into .rise employ shall join the Territorials before engagement. Mr Haldane has heartily approved of the iuea. Now, this means that compulsion will more or less be exorcised and no dcubt other orgamsatos wU fWlow the AUiance Company s example Labour has been attacking the new project. Whatever it may mean Ivlntuallv it indicates that the TcrritofSl A my scheme wil be given a wider anpHcaton than that which was at Hrst intended, or at least advocated.