CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6384, 5 December 1907, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS. The question of the establishment of municipal abattoirs was revived yesterday at the statutory meeting of the newly-elected District of Wellington Hospital Board. Mr P. T. Moore moved and Mr J. W. McEwan seconded: “That the City Council bo urged to complete tho erection of abattoirs by Jnne next, in order that insanitary establishments in which meat is dressed without inspection may be closed when their present licenses expire, iu the interests of the public health.” The mover said ho regretted to see the delay which had taken place over this matter, and a recommendation coming from tho Board, on which eat several councillors, practically meant that it came from the City Council itself. He was afraid some influence had been brought to boar. The chairman (Mr Godber) replied that that was not so. It was only force of circumstances which, had hindered tho City Council in completing the plans. He thought tho matter would be proceeded with almost immediately. However, no harm would be done by giving the Council a reminder. The motion was agreed to. RHODES SCHOLARS. In the conrse of gossip with the ViceChancellor of Oxford University, a "Westminster Gazette” interviewer asked the question: "Has the advent of the Rhodes scholar meant the parting of tho ways to Oxford?” "It is too early,” said tho Vice-Chancellor, "to arrive at an opinion on a scheme which was brimful with so mush novelty. On tho whole it has worked well, more particularly as regards colonial scholars. One young Australian has taken a firstclass in geology and in law, while a Canadian has been elected a fellow of Morton after a career of special distinction. Owing to the munificence of tho late Mr Beit, there is a chair in colonial history, and better facilities are being offered to the research graduate from beyond tho seas. The colonial students hang together, and with them their own country ie always nrst. Australians are very keen about Australia, and apparently do not want to be swamped in the general mass of British subjects. Tho American is friendly, but does not assimilate eo readily as the colonial. Both have their own clubs—the Colonial Club*, I fancy, now boasts of something like 150 members.” MR JELLIOOE ON SWEATING. Mr Edwin George Jeliicoe, who spent a number of years in Wellington as a member of the Bar. and who was at the general election in England a candidate for tho Walton Division of Liverpool, has, after close investigation of tho sweating evil, drafted a Bill, which he hopes to have introduced and placed on the statute book by the end of next session of Parliament; "The abolition of sweating," said Mr Jeliicoe to a "Westminster Gazette” representative, "was one of the .plonks of my platform at Liverpool. It is a blot on onx social system, and, if elected, 1 had resolved to use every means at my command to induce Parliament to put an. end to it. Since tho election I have been at some pains to ascertain the extent of the evil in London- To my knowledge such a condition of things does not prevail in any other country in the world, and I am astounded that more earnest efforts have not been made to, at least, minimise the evils of sweating in a democratic country like this. The object of my Bill is to prohibit the subletting of work of any description, given ont by the occupier of a factory, to .ho done elsewhere than in tho factory, unices tho person to whom the work is given executes it on his own. premises, by himself, or by his own workpeople, to whom he pays wages.” THE PATENT SLIP. The acquisition by the Union Steam Ship Company of a controlling interest in the Patent Slip Company, which was announced in. the “New Zealand Times” on Tuesday, continues to be the chief topic of discussion amongst business men in the city. The position has not altered since Tuesday. An emergency meeting of the Harbour Board is called for this afternoon to consider the matter. ' TRADE WITH THE BLAST. , In reply to a question by Mr J. C. L. Fitzpatrick in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly last Thursday, the Premier stated that he was aware that the Victorian Government bad recently entered into an arrangement to subsidise the Currie line of steamers trading to Singapore and Java., Mr Wade added that he understood that Messrs Burns, Philp and Co., and Messrs Archibald Currie and Co. had conducted a regular service between Sydney and Singapore and intermediate ports. It had been represented to him iiiat, the Victorian subsidy to the Currie line would place the unsubsidisod service of Messrs Burns, Philp and Co. at a disadvantage, and he was also informed that no Sydney cargo had ever been refused by the Currio Company, its va,sels being largo enough to cope alone with tho entire trado of bolh Now South Wales and Victoria. He was also informed that Melbourne shippers did not receive lower freight rates than Sydney shippers. If he found that New South Wales interests were in any. way suffering in consequence of the granting of the subsidy io the Currio line of steamers, all reasonable and legitimate steps would bo taken for the purpose of maintaining New South Wales trade. HOSPITAL COLLECTIONS. A meeting of the Hospital Sunday Committee was held last evening. Mr C Greening occupied the chair. Tho offer of the Wellington Pipe Band was accepted for the gatherings on Saturday evening. The Wellington Private Band will play at Newtown on Saturday, where the lady collectors will be on that day. Tho Naval Band will play around tho town and thirty-six members of the Naval Corps will assist in collecting. The ' City Council has granted permission for a temporary grandstand to be erected on the Basin Reserve, the same as last year. The speakers will be the Hon. T. W. Hislop and the Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C. It has been decioed to ask Inspector Ellison to station a special constable at the Basin Reserve on Sunday afternoon. In tho event of the weather being unsuitable, flags will bo flown from the Town Hall, General Post Office, and the Newtown Fire Brigade Station. Some of the Petone Naval Corps will go ont to Wonderland at Miramar on Saturday afternoon to aslant in ooUeotine. There will be a meeting at the Town Hall on Friday evening in commotioix with the movc-

ment. Tho committee is anxious to secure the services of more ladies for collecting purposes, and ahticipato that when this is known there will be a ready response.