CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7446, 22 May 1911, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

THE OPOSSUM NUISANCE. TJ IO opossums introduced to this country by a sott-hearted Acclimatisation Society threaten to become a serious nuisance in the Gatlins bush (says the 'Tree Press.”) These animals have multiplied exceedingly during the past few years, and wo aro reliably informed that hundreds are being killed by the railway workers along the line. The 'possums are attracted to the men's camps by the refuse lying around, and the men retaliate for loss of sleep suffered from the pranks of these nocturnal creatures by organising a hunt occasionally and continual sniping. Settlers at Houipapa, Puketiro and other settlements complain of apple and other fruit trees being stripped, and the 'possums are not content with the fruit, but eren strip the bark from the trees. It would seem to be time for the Acclimatisation Society to remove the prohibition against killing these animals, otherwise the festive Australian 'possum is likely to become another Frankenstein like the rabbit. ■ DANGER OF HAND KNEADING. In view of the recent discovery of a half smoked cigarette by a suburban householder in the centre of, a loai, the attention of the local health authorities may well be drawn to the crusade that is being carried on in Prance by hygienists and scientists, with the object of reforming the method of the manufacture of bread, so as to abolish the practice of knoading dough by the aid of human hands (remarks an Aus. tralian contemporary). Technical journals are taking taking up the 'subject keenly and supporting cho compulsory use of machines in the preparation of dough to ensure bread being baked under conditions of absolute cleanliness. They point out that the operation of working up, the dough by the agency of human hands leave® much to be desired in the matter of cleanliness and public health, and that scientists and hygienists are in accord in strongly condemning the practice. Although as long ago as tho middle of last century Payon, tho famous chemist, in Ms treatise on industrial chemistry, wrote;—‘‘Without doubt man will ask in the future how it was that in. a century so full of progress tho primary article of food was prepared in such a gross form as that now known to us—kneading the dough and mingling with it, by the use of human hands, impurities of all kinds.” The unhygienic and—when one comes to took carefully into the subject—the filthy practice referred to, is. still, in this enlightened twentieth century, almost universal. In order to bring the matter of the unhealthinees of the hand knoading system home to the general public, emphasis is laid on tho exposures at the recent international tuberculous conference as to its dangers as a medium of spreading disease. At that conference Mr Jacques BarraU quoted statistics to show that out of 100,000 working bakers engaged in making up bread, no fewer than 280,000 were affected with tuberculosis, and this was confirmed by M. Henri Mamy, director of the Association of the Industries of Franco, against the accidents of labour. OPPOSITION CRITICISM. Messrs Massey, Ailed. Hardman, Herries. and the lesser stars in the Opposition constellation have attempted to illumine the country to the north,, south, east, and west (comments the "Southland Daily News"). Apparently they had in eom* measure succeeded. but the declaration of the audience at Pukokohe would suggest that Mr Massey will be compelled to put his own house in order to ensure htmosf? against defeat, rather than to continue his proselytising mission.' The people of New Zealand are not in any

danger of being’ hoodwinked by tho specious utterances of the small section who now represent the ( 'r.y and might of what was one© a ComC native majority. Tyranny and Tammany, oppression and extravagance, neglect and ineptitude, charges made on all these heads have rebounded off the Governments impenetrable armour. The people are too happy and too satisfactorily disposed to have any doubts regarding the kind ot legislation by which the country ifj gov erned. They love a critic and they do light in all those little jokes at the ex pen so of the “other fellow/' bub when it comes io solid voting on a question which so vitally affects the electors of the "'Dominion themselves, the Opposition have not a chance. LOYALTY OF THE COLONIES. Lord Islington, sneaking at tho open in sj of the Clevedon Overseas Club, said Everyone who know, even in th© most cursory manner, the histbry of England's expansion during the last hundred years, must feel something beyond pride, amounting to a great responsibility in being a member of this great worldorganisation. Great tracts of uncivilised country, formerly populated by barbaric races, had been brought under th© con trol of that most equitable system of British rule. Great unpopulated districts and continents had been steadily develop eel by British brains and enterpriseand now enjoyed the best of all forms of constitutional government, which had been the great principle and the great possession of th© British race. For all practical purposes they enjoyed a freedom of independence of nationality in allmatters of internal interest, and that fact was one of the chief reasons why the patriotic loyalty for the Imperial connection was stronger and more universal than ever before. There are, and there must be. increasingly in th© years to come. Lord Islington continued, external matters of grave importance, which must come into contact, and might possibly come into conflict, with those countries far from the heart of the Empire. All thinking people must recognise that Imperial unity in regard to those external matters which were of common interest to all must mean Irn* perial power, which was intended not foi Imperial aggression, but for Imperial protection, that would be the greatest insurance for the maintenance of peace in th© future. (Applause.) Tliat broader side of Imperial politics must and shoiild be dealt with at the periodical Imperial Conferences, but the branches of the Overseas Club could do most useful educative work in encouraging its members and their friends to follow very closely all thoso great questions, and he hoped that would be a prominent feature of the club's usefulness, so that the people of the Empire might realise the immense of maintaining the union of th© Empire in. one fold ,and under on© flag. (Applause;.