CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6487, 6 April 1908, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE STATE AND THE SMALL PARMER.

Hand in hand 'with the policy of settling the land in such areas as will ensure the soil of the, country being made the best use of. the Government is providing special services in order that the small farmer may conduct his work on tho greatest profit-making basis, especially in regard to combating the natural pests of his crops. The assistance rendered the potato-grower is a case in point. An exhibit now being made in the main windows of the "New Zealand Times" office graphically illustrates how the potato farmer is assisted to grow his product to the best advan-

tnge. And for the splendid assistance thus afforded tho producer is asked for nothing in return. Free expert advice is always available, and the excellent literature on the subject prepared by the Biological Division is posted free of cost to all who take sufficient interest in their business to ask for it. Some particulars of the interesting display in the "Times” windows, will be found in "On the Land” of this issue.

SCIENTIFIC RECORDS. The publication by the Government of the reports upon the recent scientific expedition to the Southern Isles is to be on a scale in keeping with the scientific interest and value attaching to tho records. Collections made by members of the expedition are being submitted to the best scientists of Australasia for their opinions, and these reports will bo bound with the interesting record cf tho expedition, making the whole a valuable work of reference.

A CHANCE FOR SACRIFICE. It is pleasing to see that the chief spokesman of the deputation which waited on tho Minister of Railways on Saturday had some qualms about "running to the Government for help on every occasion," because tho request of the National Defence League for fro© passes cn the railways for delegate© to the leagae's conference was undoubtedly a ‘‘large order.” The difficulty of Ministers in such cases is to know where to draw the line. Precedents are dangerous, especially where there are to many "deserving institutions” which are prepared on the slightest provocation to ask for "substantial concessions. Our opinion is that only in cases in which the Government can see a chance cf actual returns on business lines for concessions given should such remissions be made. The Defence League should be glad to make some sacrifice in. the n. me of patriotism, and in no more effective way could that sacrifice be demonstrated than by tho payment of railway fares on the occasion of its animal conference!

A SNAKE IN THE GRASS. This is no political jibe, nor does it introduce any modern . descendant of Mother Eve’s first deceiver. Nevertheless it is a question of the seed of some serpentine tirade tricksters whose commercial morality seems from 30 to .90 per cent, below par. The meeting of the Auckland Agricultural Association reported in Saturday’s issue showed that farmers were being systematically defrauded by having to pay high prices for grass-seed imported into that district which was not properly true to name, but was mixed with some 20 per cent, of actual waste, the nominally pure cocksfoot containing only 57 per cent, of that grass, 29 per cent, of rye, tho rest —rubbish. So says that well-known and experienced analyst, Mr Pond. Mr Massey* the chairman, disclosed the fact that a farmer found only a ten per cent, germination of a (parcel of well-paid-for cocksfoot seed. Mr Pond contended that seedsmen, when selling seeds, should first obtain proper tests of their commodity and supply these tests to their agricutural purchasers. But why should not the vendor be responsible for the purity of his seed, just as the seller of artificial or other chemical manure dealer has been found responsible if his stuff is not true to sample ?

OVERCROWDED OARS. Those people who were unfortunate enough to make use of the Miramar tramway route on Saturday afternoon were subjected to a packing process which suffered little by comparison with the methods adopted in canning sardines. Every car which left the city early m. the afternoon was excessively crowded. So great was the pressure of traffic that 'many intending passengers were passed at the various stopping places. Car after car came and went too full for another person to' crush into. In the oars with apartments and comfortable seating accommodation for eight in each, it was the rule rather than the exception to see as many as from twelve to fifteen persons squeezed together. Hockey sticks and football "togs” obtruded everywhere. In addition to the strap-hangers there were numerous riders on footboards. There is no denying that the' number of "are was totally inadequate to accommodate with reasonable comfort even a proportion of those who desired to make use of them. If it is possible with the existing rolling stock to make an improvement <>n future Saturdays the change would ho joyfully welcomed.

A REVELATION. Thomas W. Lawson, of “Frenzied Finance'' fame, and who has devoted Si years of his life and some millions of his fortune to reform work in the interests of the public, has in pugilistic parlance "chucked up the sponge" after putting up a splendid fight against "the system"—the financial vampire system that is sucking the life's blood of nations. "Trust the people” was a religious tenet of onr late great statesman, the man whom Lord Eanfurly recently declared was the- greatest Imperialist the Empire had produced. Lawson evidently holds a different opinion of the people, especially of the American people, for in reply to Ridgeway of "Bverybodys” he writes: "Yon talk of what I owe the people. What do I owe the gelatine-spined shrimps? What have the saffron-blood-ed apes done for me or mine, that I shonld bait my decisions? . . , . Caesar suffered ten years while conquering all tho world for hie people's benefit and when he returned to receive their gratitude they stood by like jaundiced maids wringing tbeir hands and sending heavenward their stuck-pig lamentations as tho people's enemies drove their daggers into his heart. After death glory may be fascinating stuff for those who like it; for my part I have no use for graveyard banquets. Yet I would eagerly sign my death warrant if by tho successful launching of my remedy I could witness with my own eyes tho system writhing in its own made hell. When I decided to give battle to the peopleeating beasts of the system, the most powerful, and when crossed the most dangerous of human wolves, I was in the prime of life, mentally, physically, morally. I had an ideal home, an ideal family, all hapuf. all proud of one with whom the world was on good terms. I had as much of this world's goods aa any man should be allowed to possess. Then I said I v- ill sacrifice all I have, if necessary, for the benefit of the popple, who are being hurried hell-ward by an up-to-now irresistible power; I told the people what i wanted to do for them and to their enemies and why? I told them I wanted no reward and would accept none. I find no fault. I merely recite that the people took no action along

the lines which I showed them so plainly, and which if they had the brains of hens they must have seen were for their benefit and for their benefit alone. (For them) I spent an enormous fortune so that to-day the remnant makes tho cavity appear rn abyss. I replaced a big broad love for and faith in the people with a contempt so great as to make mo wonder how both could be bred in the tame 'iuman soul.”

A HOLIDAY QUESTION. A peculiar position appears to have arisen from Monday’s poll in Invercargill borough on the factory half-holiday question. The electors decided in favour of Wednesday, the same day as the shops close, and the question to be considered is whether those trades which are governed by an award of the Arbitration Court, which provides that the halfholiday shall be observed on ' Saturday, can change the day. It has been learned that the tailors’ award specifies Saturday, and whether a vote taken in accordance with the requirements of tho law overrides such an award is a question that has yet to be settled by reference to the Department’s officers in Wellington. Mr Browett, Inspector of Factories for Southland, questioned by a representative of the "News,” stated that it was his intention to communicate with Wellington on the subject immediately.

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES’ DEMANDS, In to-day’s issue we publish some interesting figures showing the difference in the apaounts of wages paid to the Wellington. Auckland and Dunedin tramway employees respectively, and what the concessions pf the demands being made by the local employees would mean to the ratepayers of this city. These statistics are certainly of an extraordinary character, and are the more interesting in view of the fact that the demands are to receive the immediate attention of the Tramways Committee of the City Council. Without casting any reflection upon that committee, it is pertinent to suggest that it might be well if an arrangement could be made to delegate its functions to an independent tribunal accustomed to deal with negotiations of this character. While it is essential that men engaged in the arduous duties attaching to tramway running should be well and adequately paid, there is reason to fear that unless exorbitant demands' are firmly met, the earning power of this municipal service will be seriously affected. In view of the Auckland and Dunedin figures it would seem as though the Wellington tramway employees are being well and adequaely recompensed already, and their demands for increases savour of extortion. THE CREDIT SYSTEM. Inquiries made by an Auckland "Herald” representative have elicited that there is a simmering resentment amongst tradespeople in Auckland against the credit system. The bakers claim tiiat the only real way of solving the difficulty, as far as they are concerned, is by taking cash on delivery or over the counter. "Consumers of bread, meat and milk,” remarked one shopkeeper, "should carry their own purchases from the. counter and pay cash, thus doing away with all credit and securing reduced prices.” Butchers complain that they have to pay cash weekly or-fortnightly for their stock for killing, but that a proportion of the consumers are always on thoir books for .£lO, .£2O. or even «£3o.’ "Then there are those who slip us up altogether,” said one of the trade. "Some of them travel on the game from place to place.” He pointed out, too, that, with the high prices Ruling for stock, and the low rates for offal and skins, butchers are often faced with a difficult position to balance their books. A suburban storekeeper expressed the opinion that a man with a family, earning £2 10s a week, was "doing himself a bad turn” if he took, credit after paying his rent. "Roughly speaking,” said another, "we do not get square on 50 per cent, of tho accounts opened on our books, despite the fact that the utmost caution is exercised.”

EDUCATIONAL. School was in at Ngahauranga on Saturday afternoon. The schoolmaster was armed with a batten, which was appropriate, but be did not use it on his pupils. He kept tossing it upwards, his idea being to demonstrate how a couple of coins would come down. Sometimes there was a head and a tail, sometimes two heads, sometimes two tails. The scholars were keenly interested, so much interested, indeed, that whenever two heads came down some of them were so pleased that they handed silver coins to others who had declared- that as the result of tho scientific experiment two tails would result. Sometimes disputations arose as to the exact result, and the pupils displayed . considerable proficiency in the languages, which showed that in this respect also their education had not been neglected. The White Horse Hotel being in the immediate vicinity, frequent adjournments were made to obtain tho advice of the quid mines in the interior in reference to disputed points. The school was in session for several hours, and as a number of the attendants had been employed during the week in straightening the Hutt line, they were able to give invaluable hints in regard to these mathematical demonstrations. It was a touching sight to sec these stalwart men engaged so earnestly in the ennobling pursuit of selfimprovement. The school will probably be in seasion from week to week.

THAT LOADED GUN. Is it of any possible use cautioning owners or carriers of loaded firearms against careless handling or permitting these weapons being lodged anywhere except in places of security, beyond the reach of accident? Time after time the press tells of fatal occurrences, entirely due to negligence of such necessary precautions- Sometimes a young sportsman crawls through a hedge, dragging his gun after him by the muzzle instead of pointing it skyward. Contact with a projecting twig, or a sudden jerk of the piece, and the inconsiderate youth has no more uso for this world. Or, haply, reversing the mode of transit, ho consigns a following companion to a like oblivion. Some others blow down an empty barrel: a touch of the butt on the ground, the fellow-tube explodes, and shatters the hapless head which "did not know it was loaded.” Another, in similarly senseless faith, takes jocular aim at a friend or eister (or sweetheart, as happened recently), resulting in instant death. And so on and on. And the jury returns a verdict of "accidental death.” Only last Wednesday, at Eemuera, a suburb of Auckland, two boys were gathering fruit in a garden. In a moment of leisure (they were only fifteen) they strolled into

the stable; saw a double-barrelled muzzle-loader "lying in a corner." It was a sparrow-shooter. Both noticed it was cop-per-capped and the hammers werocockod. One of them took it up and, after a brief examination, rested it upright against the wall. The gun slipped to the floor; the shock discharged a barrel, and young Thomas Humphries received its contents in his head. Of course, once more ‘‘accidental death." And how many more shall we hear of ? Is it any good noting this warning ? Some old philosopher once declared there are no accidents; that events so denominated are only breaches of unforgiving Nature's inexorable laws. What about the folly of tho person who left the loaded and cocked musket lying on the floor of his open stable?

NEWS NOTES.

Ivan Graham, aged, nineteen, was found drowned in. a well on his. mother & farm at Fitzherbert yesterday. There was ten feet of water in tho well. The Thorndon Dinghy Club's championship for the season has been awarded to the Oeo, which also wins Mr W. C. Missen's cup. The Dunedin "Star" states that the announcement that the Government intends to acquire the Oimaglade freehold is premature.

A petition of insolvency has been filed by Albert Burridge, wood dealer and cat ter, of Levin. The first meeting of oi editors will bo hold at Wellington on the 14th inst.

The Double Bay scenic reserve, on the route from Picton to Ship Cow, has been extended by some 500 acres, thus increasing the area of the reserve to about 800 acres.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that a "donation of .£IOO has been received from a Scotchman towards the residential college endowment,"

During last month Dr and Mrs Tudor Jones collected .£9OO towards the building fund of the proposed Unitarian Free Church. Tho building is estimated to cost about .£2OOO, and it is expected that it will be completed during the coming year.

A communication has been sent to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Auckland Electric Tramways' Industrial Union of Workers, asking the Government to institute a public inquiry into the present condition of tho brakes on tho tramcare, says tho Auckland "Herald."

At the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Trustees to-morrow Mr A. C. Pearce will move:—"That thp appointment of honorary surgeons to tho Wellington Hospitul be cancelled _on the grounds of irregularities occurring at the meeting of the House Committee . on Thursday, 19th March."

On Saturday his Honor Mr Justice Cooper granted a stay of proceedings in the Nelson case of Dr Orford v. Dr Moore pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on the questions thut are to b© submitted to it, upon the condition that the appellant Dr Moore gives security to tho satisfaction of the' Registrar of the Supreme Court at Nelson for the sum of .£165 3s sd.

A quantity of stolen property has been taken from Wellington, by Detective Quartermain, of tho Finger Print Department, for possible identification by Christchurch owners. It was found in the possession of a man who was arrested by Detective Quartermain on fingerprint evidence, and who is now awaiting trial on charges of committing offences at Naipier and Wellington.

Mr E. Williamson, relieving teacher at tho Makotuku school, at Baetihi, recent]y discovered a flask of whisky on Mount Euapehu. "When the fact was published D- Gibson, of Papanui road, Christchurch, informed a newspaper ■ reporter that he had left a flask of whisky on the top of the mountain in 1894, when he mUdo- the ascent with six, others. The bottle was an old water-bottle belonging to the Christ's College Eifles. A very extensive amnesty has been granted ‘by his Majesty the Emperor ot Austria and King of Hungary to subjects of Austria, Hungary, and BosniaHerzegovina, who have failed to comply with their military duW or otherwise come into conflict with tho law of consoription of their country. , Details will be supplied to any person interested on application to the I. and E. AustroHungarian Consulate for New Zealand in Auckland.

A grave charge against the Education Department of overcrowding a school was made by Mr 0. H. Opio at a meeting of householders at Din wood (Christchurch). He said he could take anyone to a school in the North Canterbury district whore 181 children were crowded in the space that was allotted by the regulations to 77. If a farmer packed two bullocks in a track big enough for one, said Mr Opie, he would hear very quickly from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Aanimals. One result of Mr Jelliooo’e tirade of charges against the Natal Government was that in the Natal Supreme Court, on February 29th, Mr Davis, the proprietor of the "Natal Advertiser" and the "Natal Witness," was; found guilty of contempt of Court in publishing Mr Jolliooe's letter to the Governor of Natal; and fined .£35. Judge Wilson characterised the letter as a violent attack on the officials of the Court, accusing them of prostituting their office for the political purposes of the Government. Had Mr Jelhooa been before them, the Court would have taken a very different view. The difficulties which flaxni.il lore have to face just now were illustrated last week at a meeting of creditors in the estate of 'Hobson, Ware and Co., flaxmillera at Waipukurau. The debtors' statement as filed and the evidence given showed that np to July lost year the firm had had a profit of .£lll, but that since that date, owing to the high royalties, high rates of wages, and the distance the flax had to be carted, it had been costing about J!2ti per ton to place the fibre on the market, and the recent fall in the price of flax had resulted in a loss to them of about £3 per ton. since that time.

“It is extraordinary how statements are being made about the present Police Commisioner, Mr Dinnie,” remarked Sir Joseph Ward at Dunedin. "So far as the Government is concerned there is no intention that he should give up his position. He has performed the important duties attaching to his office satisfactorily. and' when an officer servos his country well there is no desire on the part of the Government to sever the connection. without some warrantable cause. So far as X am aware there is not only no cause in this case, but Inspector Dinnie has carried out his work with general satisfaction. I do, not suppose that Mr Dinnie, mono than any other public officer, has been 'able to please everybody. If a man in his position did so he would probably not be fit for tho office."

A private view of pictures by a young Wellington artist, Mr Cecil Jameson, was held oh Saturday afternoon at McGregor Wright’s gallery, a large number of those interested in art attending. Sir Jameeon is pursuing his studies at the Patrick Allan Fraser College* Arbroath, in connection with which he won a scholarship entitling him to free tuition. Judging by the examples shown to the visitor*?, .h© is a hard worker, tell of an enthusiasm which has made him commit the pardonable error of attempting too much. His water-colours are not striking, but tho pencil sketches are all up to a good standard. , Several of them indicate the artist's ability to catch the life and character in tho study. One of a small boy is a particularly happy bit of work-in oils Mr Jameson is evidently making good progress, his latest example bring above the average merit of, a student of twenty-three. In "Evening, Arbroath, the artist has succeeded in admirably suggesting the placidity and the groynese of a Scottish evening.