CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6625, 15 September 1908, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

POST OFFICE TENDERS DECLINED. The Government has decided to decline nil tlie tenders received lor the erection of tho,new General Post Office, Wellington. This decision was arrived at yesterday, All the tenders were in excess of the Public Works Department’s estimate of .£BO,OOO. A WARNING. The engineer of the Petono Borough Council is not satisfied with the way plans for buildings are submitted. The following appears in a report he submitted to the Council last night:—“Owing to the slipshod maimer in which some builders submit plans for approval, it is not easy to follow the methods of construction proposed to bo adopted. I wish it to be generally known that from now on plans will have to be drawn and submitted in proper detail as provided for in the by-laws. This is mentioned because some crying out may bo made about 'harshness/ 'blocking progress/ etc/*

FRUIT FLY REGULATIONS.

The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. R. McNab, gives a contradiction to the Press Association message telegraphed from Auckland, that he has reconsidered his refusal to suspend the fruit fly regulations to permit the Xlauroto’s cargo ip bo landed, and that the mile limit certificate will not be required. In an interview with a “Times” representative, Mr McNab said he never issued an instruction that the shipment in question was not to be inspected, or that tho mile certificate was not to bo required. Re has declined to interfere in connection with tho administration of the regulations’ by tho officers of tho Department.

VANDALISM.

Little boys, and sometimes big ones, delight in throwing stones, and the lamps on lonely roads mnlco capital targets. The engineer of the Pctono Borough Council made the following report on the subject to last night’s meeting of tho Council:—'‘The lamplighter in Korokoro reports that considerable damage is done to the streetlamps by stone-throwing, Prom time to time we are put to extra expense from this cause, and although I have communicated with the police at various times tho offenders are never brought to book. The difficulty, of course, is to catch the culprits when actually throwing the missiles*" Tho police are to be asked to keep a sharp look-out for the offenders.

THE EDUCATION BILL IMPASSE. There is talk of some concession being made to the Government by tho largo party which voted in favour of inserting a clause in the Education Bill providing for uniformity of schoolbooks. Pressure has come from many school teachers, who fear that a well-deserved measure of justice to themselves may bo hung up for a year over a matter not of aimn vital importance as many others covered bv tho 33111. Tho Government, judging by what members say who have interviewed the Minister of Education, is determined not to allow the new clause —the preliminary to free school books — to be inserted in the measure, and many members ore hoping that some arangemeut will be effected by which the'question iuvolvd in tho new clause can bo dealt with apart from tho general measure.

BUILDING OPERATIONS. During the fortnight ending September Bth thirty-six applications were mado to the Wellington City Council for permits to erect, alter, or extend buildings. In thirty-two instances plans were approved, and the necessary authority for tho work to be proceeded with grunted. Tho permits issued represented work to bo done to the value of .£57,181. This is a much larger sum than usual for a fortnight's applications, the amount being inflated by the inclusion of Messrs Kirkcaldie and Stains’ new building, which amounts to about .£38,000. The district totals are as follows:—City, .£47,737; Melrose, £7851; Onslow, £1193; Northland, £350. At Petone during August nine permits were issued for new buildings, making a total of fifty-three since March 31st. Tho estimated value of buildings for tho mouth is £3168; white for tho current year tho estimated total value is sot down ns £17,242.

THE FEVER SITE. It was announced with, acclamation quite recently that an arrangement had been come to between the Hospital Trustees and the Government, by which certain lands were to be exchanged and provision, made for the erection of a much-needed fover ward in connection with the hospital. It now appears that the Government departments are anxious for their pound of flesh in connection with the deal, and that the whole question is in danger of being delayed while a haggle over prices goes forward. As the taxpayer has to shoulder the burden in any case, and as the money which is exacted from Peter will eventually find itself into the pocket of Paul, it will bo a pity if the Minister of Public Health does not intervene and arrange with the chairman of Trustees on a reasonable basis of give and take. There is nothing to quarrel over, nothing to get hot about. Certain adjustments can be amicably and promptly arranged if common-sense is brought to boar. It is unfair that the Hospital Trustees, who are acting in an honorary capacity, and solely actuated only by a desire for the public benefit, should be harassed by red-tape departmentalism; and it will bo cruel in the' extreme if people who are isolated for the public good should be detained in an insanitary hovel for a day longer than absolutely necessary. There has already been unconscionable delay, and any further vacillation can only lead to something very much resembling a public scandal.

THE SECOND BALLOT "BLOT." Much discussion has taken place inside and outside" Parliament as to the probable effects and general desirableness of clause ISa of the Second Ballot Bill. His Worship the Mayor, the Hon. T. W. Bis!op, chatting with a "Times” reporter yesterday, said: "I really don’t see any reason for preventing addresses to the electors up to the time of the second ballot which cannot with equal force be urged against discussions prior to the first ballot. Necessarily, after the first ballot there will be as between the two leading candidates a shifting of the battleground, because the third candidate, who is excluded from the second ballot.

yet who may have received a largo number of votes, may represent a distinct form of opinion upon some particular question; and that question may have Leon considered in the minds of the voters practically to the exclusion of all other mutters of public interest to which the attention of tho various constituencies has been directed. It seems to me, therefore, that tho electors should have the advantage of hear--5.: what can bo said by the remaining candidates with regard to such matters ns they may not have carefully considered previously, they having, ns it wore, .used their minds to anything except the subjects winch their own candidates prominently dealt with. Then, again, there may have been a strong bitterness of feeling between, two candidates who avc stood to represent tho saiuo political interest, and it is will that there should bo an opportunity given for the modification of that ■fooling/'

HUTT PARK CONTROL. The vexed question of tho control ol ! the Hutt Park was raised at lofit night’s meeting of the Potone Borough Council. A letter was received from tho Wellington City Council asking whether Potono would bo agreeable to an alteration, being made in the Hutt Park Act enabling the city to participate in tho control. The proposition was not viewed very favourably, oue councillor asserting that the city did not really want to participate, tho letter merely being forwarded to satisfy Mr F. G. Bolton, who had introduced a dcx>utntion to tho ‘Wellington City Council concerning the matter, hi a general discussion which ensued it was pointed out that as the representation on the board of control was based on tho unimproved > allies of the boroughs concerned, the city would swamp tho other boroughs clean out; also that. Wellington hud declined previously to join in the management. It was suggested that the difficulty could ho gob over by Wellington being conceded tho same representation as that enjoyed by the Lower Hutt or Potone. It was finally agreed to hand the letter over to tho Hutt Park Committee, tho committee to bo nuked to favourably consider whether any just.basis could bo arrived at for Wellington to" have a voice ia the management.

GETTING IN EARLY. Footballers are fully alive to the fact that Wellington has not enough grounds for football purposes, and they seem intent upon “getting in early" for next season in regard to tho Pctono recreation ground. At lust night's meeting of tho Petone Borough Council four applications were made for the use of the ground for next season. Tho applicants wore the Wellington Rugby Union, N.Z. Rugby i oofcbnJl Club (professional), Wellington Football Association and Pctono Association Football Club. The Mayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) pointed out that the Council v ould this year bo called upon to pay a larger contribution for recreation grounds than had hitherto been the case. When tho Council had tho lease of tho ground they paid something like 3sd per cent, on tho capital value. Now that they had purchased tho reserve they had to pay per cent. In additiou, about cituitio had to be sxiont on improvements, and tliis would be a tax upon the general account next year, and probably to some extent this year. Tho Council would have to consider tho position carol uliy with a view to increasing the revenue from the ground. All tho applications wore hold over for consideration at a future meeting.

LADY "HORSEMEN." Saddlers will possibly forgot how to build eido-saddlce in New Zealand in tho near future. There are natural objects more beautiful than. a. woman riding in a man’s saddle, but on the ground of utilitarianism tho modern women is mopping up all sorts of privileges that once belonged to man. In a recent trip to Taranaki a "Times” reporter had tbo opportunity of seeing some hundreds of women horso-ridere, and among them there was not one who rode on a side-saddle. Tho divided skirt holds sway in Taranaki, and it is of course only a matter of time before tho divided skirt disappears and tho ordinary masculine riding "kit” is worn. Men are rather glad, for aforotimo girls used to borrow their brothers’ or sweethearts’ . books, put a sidc-saddlo on them am] give them sore backs. On, the score of Kindness to horses the lady who rides man-fashion has something to her credit, On the score of gracefulness sho hasn’t a great deal to bo proud of. A lady i who "rides astride" usually sways like a schooner in a heavy sea, and unless her hat is well anchored wdth four hatpins and a motor veil, sho is generally using her whip hand to keep it on tho hair frame. Some Taranaki ladies wear spurs. Everybody remembers thot Lady Florence Dixie-w'oa the first woman to ride to hounds astride her horse, and that the Duko of Beaufort followed the dogs sitting on a side-saddle. Why don’t the men of Taranaki follow tho Duke of Beaufort, seeing ihat their charming female relatives have plumped for Lady Florence? MUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL. The ratepayers of Lower Hutt are to be congratulated on the result of their spirited protest against tho eccentricities of the local body, for this morning we have news that tho members have decidua upon resigning. This action is the only one that was open to tho Council, and the retirement of the men responsible for the hurly-burly will give the electors an opportunity of electing a Council with more correct views on the question of public finance than the one that now passes from the scene. It would be Simply monstrous for a municipality to have a Council which would play such ducks and drakes with the corporation's credit as has been proposed at Dower Hutt. A test question for all candidates at the election which will follow should bo drafted in such terms as that the reply will leave no loophole for escape in regard to consulting about increasing tho borough’s debt. Apparently some of the councillors are still unrepentant, for to excuse their fantastic effort to revive under fresh circumstances an authority to borrow which was not acted upon they are quoting tho ballot- paper on that occasion. Tho defence will not avail, for that old vote was given on a resolution setting out in clear terms that the sum (£4500) was to I*. raised only La tho event of inability to come to terms with Pet one. The Council was under the strongest moral ibligalion to respect the covenant embodied in the resolution car. j-ied at tbo ratepayers’ meeting. One of the first actions of the now Council should be to place it beyond’ the power of anyone to in future enter into hole-and-corner borrowing operations on tho

drench of Dial; vole*. This nnrateod loan hhotjld not ho suspended I'ke a ■vuord over Dio ralej»ayors for ali hmc.

A SPIRIT Of UNREST. The fptdina of uni eat. of insecurity, of impending catastrophe which permeate© Europe in ©pile of Fence Conferences ami peaceful professions, is tho subject of a thoughtful article by -Admiral Pen rose Fitzgerald in the duly "Nineteenth Century.” lie points to tho warnings of Hellish military and naval experts, of defensive leagues and a«aoei'aUouH, and nsko, whul does it ah uioiiii? Are a'l these mere cranks and nervous alarmist's, who have no ground or reason for their i'o.'inU lie i/jcsir.l© that it is .senseler-H and puerile to moke «ueh a niigg'vd ion, and proceeds to build up a very Mjlid and convincing argument for tho military training of the? manhood of tho nation. Whilst, he nays, Britain compels tho rising generation of lads ami lassies to receive education of a. morn or loss useful kind, whether they like it or not, on tho broad principle Dial it makes of them useful citizen©, sho totally neglects to complete Dio education of Dio hid© by instructing Diem in tho most useful and most important of all duties—tho duty of preparing themselves to defend their country, with tho result Unit ju.it ninetenths of thorn «hirk this duty altogether, to their own loss. both physically and morally, and to tho ovor-in-nreusing danger of tho laud they live in. .Many deeds of oriino and folly have been committed in tho *»ncred name of liberty, though perhuxa* none more foolish. none moro short-sighted or more Uangerontj to tho future or the integrity and independence of JJritain. Til El BIRTH-RATE PROBLEM. "While tho excess of births over deaths in Now South Wales and Australia shows a very antis factory rate of increase ns compared with other parts of the world, it is nevertheless a fact entitled to the gravest consideration that tho birtkra.o is startlingly low (remarks the “Sydney .Morning Herald”). If it were lot for tho uuusuafly low death into iu tho Commonwealth the situation would bo most alarming. Now South "Whiles hns, taking n series of years, a greater falling-off in tho birthrate than any other country in the world. Between 1381 and 1001 tho birthrate’ fell from 37.0 per 1000 of tho papulation to 27.7, and in 1003 it was only 20.3. In 1003 it hud increased to 27.7, and in 1007 to 27Di. Tho number of births registered last year iu New South Wales was 12,100, or about 2000 moro than in 1893. /But In 1907 tho population was 300,000 more than iu 1003, and if the birthrate of tho latter year had been maintained tho number of births in 1907 would have been 02,000 instead of slightly over ■12,000, so that there was an actual decrease, on a population basis, of about 10,000. Tho Royal Commission that inquired into tho falling birthrate some years ago found that tho decline was attributable to deliberate restrictions of the number* in a family, due to tho unwillingness to submit to tho strain and worry of children, tho dislike of interieruneo with pleasure and comfort involved, tho desire to avoid physical discomfort, and tho love of luxury and social pleasure. Tho same reasons inliuonco the birthrate to-day. Whether any moans can be evolved for overcoming tho desire for email families is one of the social problems that will have to bo faced iu the near future. "THE NEW ECONOMICS.” The inner significance of tho appointment of Mr Reeves to the control of the School of Economics is admirably expounded in a leaderette in the London "Daily News.” Under tho heading "The New Economics,” that journal says:— "Surprise has been expressed in some quarters at the nows that Mr Pembor Reeves has resigned his position as High Commissioner for Now Zealand in order to become director of the London School t>f Economies.. But to those who understand the change which is coining over what was once known as the 'dismal isoionoo/ it will appear, that hearty comffraitulations should bo offered both to Mr Beeves on his new' position and to School of Economic® on Mr Reeves. Political Economy in no longer a purely abstract science, tho product of theorists who could sit all day Rmg in their studios and elaborate fine-spun doctrines ou final utility and demand price, on tho balance of trade and the marginal cost of production. The successful economist to-day must have a practical aoquamtunce with the details of trade and commerce. He must be familiar with tho working of social institutions in different countries. In Mr Reeves the London School of Economics has found such a man. Ho is, of course, tho author of one of tho standard books on tho social legislation of Australasia, and hag besides an intense and wide-reaching interest in economic questions generally. “A great opportunity awaits him at tho London School of Economics. The rapid -success of that institution has, wo imagine, come as a surprise to those who know it in. its early days. It now givcis instruction not merely in economic theory and history, but in such special nubjootß as banking, insurance, railway administration, and municipal government. Its latest achievement ha® been to organise a course on general administration methods which is attended by a considerable number of officers of tho army. But much remains bo bo done. It is to bo hoped, for example, that tho forthcoming reform of the Poor Law may result in tho appointment of officials far more highly qualified for their work than those engaged in it at present. Tho chief Poor Law officials should be trained in general economic theory, and in tho methods of relief practised in different countries. Perhaps one of tho duties of tho haw director mav be to organise a course of study leading to a degree in economics with special reference to Poor Law administration.”

NEWS NOTES A Vancouver mail is oxpdoted to reach Wellington this evening. An earthquake was fait at 8.12 a.m. yesterday at Wellington, Napier, and Wairoa. To celebrate tho victory of tho Hawke’s Bay girls in tho Wellington hockey tournament it is proposed to hold a ball ■on tho 22nd iuet. at Napier. Wheloh, tho Akaroa sculler, who is to .row Thoronghgood for tho sculling championship of Australia, has placed ' an order with Edwards and Sons, of Melbourne, for a now bout. Our correspondent telegraphs that it is understood the police have laid information against three leading' booksellers in Christchurch for selling alleged indecent literature in tho shape of certain novels.

The third term at Die Wellington Girls' College-'begins to-day. Tim "Citv of Wellington Handbook” for 1903-3. ‘bust, issued from tho 'Town Clerk'© office, is, a-s urmal, full of valuable information regarding the mumcipalilv. ft is an excellent index for those requiring details of tho city’s works and slat isiicH.

To show that a horsc-owncr may, through lack of hnfnvlwlgi", leave- a badly injured horse to sul>r for ilnyf. a vcl.i-iuary ,surgeon yesterday showed a "Times” " reporter the lee bone of a horse that hud fallen over a suburban cliff. One bone had beer, shattered into twelvci pieces by tho fail. The Lyttelton military barracks have a reputation for unheaUlnm-ss. and milltan- men look asl-amm at the idea of living there, it is reported that there aro Irerjuent: eases in which men residing iu these barracks have been stricken with consumption— th.i latest, within tho past few weeks, being a valued officer. Tho ordnance officers of tVcilinplon will met on Friday evening to further diseus.s the question of universal compiilsorv military service for all able-bodied me,j in tho "Dominion. It is likely that after Friday evening the eeliemo resulting from the long consul I al mars of officers will be completed, and that sho public may jil'lge whether it is a loaeiblo one.

In connection with the Xow Zealand soldiers grave fund (.£IOO of wjiich was sent to the ftuild in Africa'. tne newly appointed ecerefary will wnto to I lie seeretnrv at Capetown inquiring nuo flie whole posit,on as regards the grave* of New Zealanders in A Inca. A return will be asked for from the Transvaal Government to .show the location ot New Zealanders' craves, whether they arc marked, and if so in what manner.

Last evening at the Garrison Officers' Club was "a night with swords." The Chief ot tho General Stall, who presided, spoke interestingly ot tho history of the weapon, showing that iu some form or other it had been used as a military adjunct from the dawn of history. Instructional practice was given, including the cavalry and infantry sword exercises and saluting with swords. Afterwards the officers hald a "social.”

A peculiar explanation of the disappearance of fionie cash assets is alleged to have been given at a private meeting of creditors in Canterbury # city. Tho gentleman, who was meeting hip creditors, stated that having decided to change his bunk he hud drawn out tho amount standing to his credit, but arrived too late at the bank to which be had decided to transfer his account. Ho took the money, about £250. home, and, considering Dio grate would be the ©afe©t place for it he consequently de]Kitsitod the notes there. Tn the morning his wife arose, and not knowing that the grate had been selected as a safe deposit, she lit tho fire, and the ,£250 went up the chimney. The necessity for tho completion of the Wairau bridge was brought under tho notice of tho Hon. J. McGowan yesterday by a deputation representing the districts affected. It was pointed out that the bridge wae on tho main Blenheim road and of groat importance. Last year Government had contributed £IOOO, but tho co©4 had been greater than wae anticipated, and a further sum was necessary to complete tho work. The deputation, considered that the request was not an unreasonable one. The Minister said he could not give any definite promise, but the. would bo considered and the Government would do the best it could under tho circumstances. One of tho deputation suggested that a commission should be set up to apportion the cost to bo paid by the local bodies ns some of them had refused to contribute. This course did not find favour with ihe Minister, who failed to see what good would result. A deputation representing the Picton and Blenheim Hospital Boards waited upon the Minister of Public Health yesterday relative to the construction of a new* old men's homo for the Marlborough district. The present place—part of the Wairau Hospital—was unsuitable for requirements. They asked that tho sum of £IOOO placed on the Estimates for tho hospital bo transferred to a vote for a new home, and that thi© amount should be supplemented by a sum sufficient to provide the accommodation required. Tho amalgamation of fcho two board® would materially reduce the cost of administration. Tho Minister expressed his gratification at the amalgamation of the two boards in the matter, but said it was too much to expect another £3OOO to be put on tho vote. If bo granted a transfer of that sum from the Wairau Hospital Board for the erection of the home that should go a long way towards providing for the work. There was no precedent for the Government contributing tho whole of the cost. If he made thojsum of =£looo available it would make the project feasible, and ho would bo glad to do what he could. He did not see that there was much chance of increasing the grant ns applications for assistance were something terrible, and they could not now cover all the ground laid bare before them.