TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

POSTAL REFORM. To the February number of the ‘‘Review of Reviews,” the Hon J. G. Vt ard contributes an article on the subjectof “Why New Zealand adopted penny postage.” In doing so the writer dec-.nr :.it necessary to recapitulate some peri sonal reminiscences and other incidents - ranging over nearly a decade. lie tells how the penny post narrowly escaped. ,1 coming into operation in 1891. _ The question had been before Sir Julius \o- ' gel in. 18S4, and Mr Ward notes tow t its ■ adoption was barred by successive Governments. In the paragraph dealing with educating public opinion on the 'Mibject. Mr Ward' sets forth .one of the ■ principles of Ins political .-creed, which will bein’ repetition hero. *T am gen- . orally,” he says, ‘‘considered to be of a , temperament "which, perhaps, leads mo to consider it to be the duty of a statesman to inaugurate reforms without waiting for public pressure, rather than ■ to indulge in a policy of inactivity. This . being the case, and as -one article of my , political faith is that no revenue-pro- ' during* department should be used as a taxing i) i.chinc, it only required the ■ concatenation of such links as my apf point-no nt as Postmaster-General, the fact that tho Posit Office was turning f over to tho general revenue surge ..sums j in excess of its expenditure, and my ob ~ joebion to such a method of taxation, - r to make tho establishing of penny posl- ■ age a foremost object of my political - life.” At the close of his article, which 1 is profusely illustrated with photogra j vures cf tho Minister and tho heads of his Department in Wellington, the Post-master-General discusses what he re- ’ gards as tho ungracious attitude of tho - Federal Government to the proposal, : and deplores that the Commonwealth 2 should have prevented New Zealand hi- ~ ters bearing a penny stamp from enter, »! ing Australia. The Commonwealth neb i ther gained nor lest anything by their "i exclusion. Mr Ward, however, ventures li to “predict that the people of Australia will not have to wait long before they see the consummation of this great reform in their own country. In the meantime, I reiterate that, because the Commonwealth is not prepared to make tho concession to its own people is no reason why it should debar friendly Now r Zealand from sending its letters at the i penny rate to Australia, particularly j. when tho cost to the Commonwealth d would be nothing.” ; A GENEROUS OFFER, ij The secretary to the Victoria Collage -j Governors has received the following >• letter from Mr 0. Phax-azyn, dated ,j Lojigwood, Featherston. February 27 • j "Sir,—l-am surprised to find an paying ■| a short visit to Now- Zealand from lon■j clou, that the site for tho College is s still unsettled. My conviction has a| ways been that the one position for it jis on tlie Kelburnb Park Reserve, M j possibly, if that should not be avail--1 able, on some of the land higher up, 1’ : j have hesitated to express this opinion i in any public way, because I knew it J would be said that I was influenced by J my large interest in the Kelburno-Kn-j rori tramway. I have, however, too j long been subjected to absurd miEcbn’i structions of my motives to care what I j may be said now that I inn in a position to .! make a definite proposal, which I hope ,j will ho considered in thy spirit in which J it is made—rviss., If the site I-have in- • i clicated is decided on, but not otherwise'. I shall be happy to give a donation of ; £IOOO to the College funds, to be usrd i either for building or for educational , endowment, as the Governors thin'c , best; the money to be paid when the College building is erected and ready fm--5 occupation. I will sign any undertaking 1 thought desirable to this effect, so i'i i to make the promise binding on ruy • executors in case of my death. A-, . events have happened which make it , probable--that I may spend a great pari of my- time in future out of New Zealand, though I have no intention of be- ’ coming an absentee. I wish to show in , this way some recognition of my attach- | ment to the city of Wellington as the spot with - which most of my recollections are associated.” A MODERN TANTALUS. Mr M. Cohen, of Palmerston Norik, waxed humorous- on the subject of pigs at a Wbodville banquet on Wednesday. Referring to the fact that he had been; invited to a feast prepared to exhibit to all beholders the marvellous adaptability of tie genus porker for supplying human needs, Mr Cohen said he was tha-t day somewhat in the position of Tantalus, who, according to Greek legends. had been, immersed for punishment in a lake whose - waters lapped to his chin, but afforded him no moisture, because of the manner in which he was scoured, and who, while in that- position. saw luscious fruits suspended above his head, whose sweetness it was not permitted him to taste. ("Laughter.) It was true that, through the thoughtfulness, of their chairman, he had been provided with a delicious dish of smoked mutton, but even then he noticed they cou.M not refrain from referring to it on the menu as “smoked mutton ham.” (Lauzhter.) It was not the first t ime he had been so- treated in that district, because on a previous occasion a well-meaning settler had asked him to carve what proved, on lifting the cover, to bo the most delightful of suckinz-pigs (Renewed laughter.) Ho had had a bowing acquaintance with ham on one occasion, inasmuch as he had taken a hasty bite of a hani sandwich before he knew—but wliat he did know ho liked ycry much. (Great laughter and applause.)