TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4259, 19 January 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

A RISE IN WAGES. Some time ago the Railway Department decided to raise the wages of its day labourers by sixpence a day. Later the blacksmiths and boilermakers got a similar i-ise. Now the Minister of Railways has decided to extend the increased remuneration to all the artisans in the Government workshops. A; rise- of this kind seems an inconsiderable matter, when regarded casually and from the individual point of view, but in reality it will mean an increase in the annual wages list of about £20,000

A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY. The Hon J. G. Ward mot a deputation of .stewards of the Wellington Racing Club yesterday morning, and discussed with them the proposal to close the telegraph office on the Hutt racecourse. Messrs T. G. Macarthy (president), J. B. Harcourt, P. E. Baldwin and H. M. Lyon (secretary) represented (he club. They pointed out to. the PostmasterGeneral that they ‘were running race meetings to improve the breed; of horses and.to provide sport for the public; and that the totalis®tor proceeds helped them to achieve these objects. At the same time they assisted in no small measure ‘to augment the public revenues. On the other hand, use was made of the telegraph wires to transfer money from the racecourse to foster illegal hefting,

and to fill the coffers of persons who were not interested in sport, and who contributed nothing to its support. Mr Ward regretted that be could not help the deputation in the matter. He pointed out that they had taken a wrong course in proposing to dose without his sanction a line which had been in rise since 1877, and which statistics —which ho quoted—proved, was more used by the press and the general public than the persons complained of. The deputation now asked him to discriminate as against a certain section of the community. He could no more do that than he could elect who were to travel on tne railways under- his control. Ho, the remedy cvas ill legislation, and it was to obtaining effective legislation that the deputation must direct its efforts if it wished to remove the evil of which it complained. Even then the problem would he found a' most difficult oneLegislation to stop money going out of the colony to consultation promoters had proved abortive, and if he consented to-morrow to a censorship over the wires leaving racecourses, the result would be the same. Bettors would use a code and nullify all efforts at detec-j tion. He could not think for a moment (

of cutex'tinning such a suggc-.tion. l.e officers of the department were sworn to -‘ccrcev, ;<nd it was well for t«c clients cf the department that tacir comnumi. cations .were inviolable. Any attempto vary that rule would jeopardise .the [whole system. He would do m! / M ' Icouid iu reason to help club--, to minimise illegal betting, hot he -could nut entertain the present rcqucA. After I bunding Mr Ward for his courteous reception vho dcput.ition withdrew. At a incexing subsequently the stewa;d> of the chin re-:olvi-.d to "withdraw from too pu.-itmii they hid taken up, and to <>lhu Gooffice on the Hutt Park raocooui.-.c as usual.

BANKRUPTCY BBTUUNS. The returns snowing t-lio uan-aitiim-in bankruptcy in each oi the district-, lor which the Official A.-siga - 1 , James Ashcroft) is appointed, for the year ending December olst, 3900, aiford some interesting comparisons. Last year there were thirty-one petitions by debtors, as compared with forty-six in 1899. Adjudication by creditors’ pelttiens were four iu number, the sumo as in the previous year. Only oii'c case occurred in. which composition was nceopted, compared with three in I<SD'.‘ Twouty-six immediate orders os drcharge were granted, ecnipared' With thirty in the previous year, and oniy four orders of discharge were suspended, as compared with eighteen in 1999. Coining to* the assets per -statements lik’d (cxclndi .ig assets secured to creditors.;, the figures are £9ldo 4s, as comoaia >3 with £1094 7s Id, while secured aw-ot-aro le.-s than a. tliird of the piwunis tear’s amount via.. £5503 -If. 4d. as mmpared with £17,373 8s 7.1. The liabilities (excluding scoured amounts) amour.l to £20,267 17s lid. as compared wilii £92,530 Is Id in 1899. The assets remised by the Assignee were £1783 9s 6d in value, as compared With til 10-' 19a Od ■ debts proved, £16,871 los 9.1. ecm paicd with. £20.975 Os S.l ; dividend-, (excluding preferential ■ ami --‘'c-iv'd claims), £1093 1!K as against £3(l if 3-i.s 7d ; preferential claims, C 1196 Jls lid, compared with £266 19s. Nothing was paid durinff the past year for f.ec.fired claims, and only £43 13s in the previous year. Government, commission x amounted to £lB4 is lid. compared with £147 Ids 7.1, nml costs of actions £lO6 ids 7d, as against £159 7s Bd. The cost- of. carrying on estates for-the benefit of creditors incurred an expenditure of £829 7s> 6d, compared with £216 18s 7d; other charges amounted to £15(1 12s lid. The bank balance on the: Ist hist.', 1900. araoimtecd to £954 3s lid, as compared with £lßls 6s 8d at the beginning of 1899.

A QUESTION OF Sonic adverse comment Is«m in."U caused by tlio resolution of tho Federation Convmi&Mon not- to allow tin- pre.-s representatives to attend its sittings, the principal objection being that a. great deal of -educational influence of the Commission will, thereby bo lost. It has fairly been stated that a greout many people would be led into taking-ci) intelligent interest, in the subject it reports of the evidence elicited appeared in the newspapers', -whereas no busy person would think of wading through tlio verbatim reports in the official iiiuo Book in .search of information. Chagrin at, the course adopted by the uomniissioners' has led 1 to personal comments on the composition of the Commission, leaving something to he desired in. .the matter of good taste. With a view to pouring oil on tlio troubled waters, the Hon J. G. Ward’,''Acting-Premier, hay written a letter to the Chairman of tho Commission intimating that , the Government will he pleased if that body can see its way to reversing its decision. .Mr Ward: has emphasised the advantage j of publicity in a matter of this kind, and has pointed' out that it was not eo i templated, when the Coikmissidi was set- up, that it would hold its; sittings in camera. _ There teems no. doubt that the Commissioners, finding that their decision does not meet wn-a public .approval, and that" there is ho real reason for .secrecy', will gracefully acquiesce in Mr Ward’s proposition.