CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

ME TAYLOE AND PARTIES. In the course of a speech at Christchurch on Thursday night Mr T. E. Taylor. M.P., said he was not a supporter of the Government, but his sympathies were with them, and he voted with the dominant party. The Opposition stood for every feature that was retrogressive and harmful to the country. Ho believed that Mr Massey from a rudimentary point of view was a pretty honest man, but he was just about as fit to lead this country in its future politics as he was to take a position as a nursery governess. (Laughter.) He had heard that some Opposition members wore meeting in Wellington to "hatch” a policy, but whatever change came in the future there was not a ghost of a chance of the Tory party leading this country's Parliament for more than three months. If over they succeeded in getting possession oven for three months excessive Joy would kill them. (Laughter.) He had not joined the labour party’s organisation, and the frequent assertion that any suggestion he had made that a labour party should be formed was prompted by a desire that he should act as, leader was the veriest nonsense. He would not take the position if it were offered to him EMPIEB AFP AXES. Lord Islington, in the course of his speech at Hawera, said he believed that in New Zealand as. well, as in other Dominions there was an increasing desire on the part of the people that on great questions which lie outside the purely internal affairs of their own centres, and concerned the Empire generally, there might bo some mutual arrangement for unity of action for the advantage of the whole Empire. There was an increased desire that some scheme might be devised by which the representatives of the Empire might be brought together to deal with these questions in a more practical and organised manner. Certainly on questions of defence there could be but one opinion—that the closer consolidation we could get the stronger we should be as an Empire, and the less chance there would be of the peace of tho Empire being disturbed. There were many other questions which might also be referred ■ to, and he hoped public opinion would be educated to the necessity for bringing together in thought and action these widely distant and separated Dominions, so > that they might work together in the Imperial interest. A great deal could be done by educating public opinion, and he was sure his hearers would leave no stone unturned to assist in that work of education. It was within his province to use what efforts ho could within constitutional lines to encourage and stimulate public opinion on these lines, and in doing so he believed he would bo carrying out the mission of those who had sent him here, and also working in unison with the patriotic instincts of the people of New Zealand.

DEALING IN HUMAN FLESH. A recent issue of the " Kobe Herald " says Kumataro Hisahara, in charge of the crematorium at KuJzuyabu, near the Sasebo navy station, was arrested a few days since, charged with selling human flesh. According to the “ Kokomun ” and other Toldo papers, a domiciliary search resulted in the discovery of a large quantity of clothing, a quantity of human flesh either toasted or salted, and ten human tongues, preserved in pots. These were at once confiscated by the authorities, It is further stated that the body of a bluejacket belonging to the cruiser Idzumo. who had been accidentally killed the previous day, wps brought to the Kudzuyabu crematorium. The accused in- the evening took a quantity of flesh from the body, and subsequently sold a portion of it for five yen to a man named i'o,h:ro Matsunaga in Sasebo. The latter, who for some time had been suffering from some disease, ate the flesh, believing that his ailment would thereby be cured. Finding that this was not efficacious in curing the disease. Yoehiro Matsunaga visited Kumataro Hisahara, and severely censured him. A fight ensued between the two, with the result that the extraordinary affair was brought to light. The papers add that it is apparent that the accused has been selling human flesh for several years, on the plea that it has a wonderful effect upon certain diseases. He is said to have been leading a very gay life.

THE PRICE OF CUTTER. There is something radically wrong k\'hen. almost before factories have closed down for the season, Kew Zealanders are faced with a butter famine (remarks th»* ■‘Stratford Post"). AH over the Do minion there is an alleged shortage, and prices have gone up in some centres to a figure beyond the purchasing power oi many people. Our exports of butter and cheese have been on the increase for a number of years; and while people in Britain and elsewhere outside the Do- , minion hare reaped a direct benefit both

as regards tho price and guality of these dairy products, the New Zealand consumer has had to pay what some contend is more than the full market value. Thus, while Dominion butter, according to the latest quotations, is selling at 103 s per owt. in England—or less than la per lb—right on the spot where this article is produced wo are asked from Is 2d up to Is Gd per lb with the prospect of an increase before tho new season opens. It is all very well to bo able to show that we exported .£1,G39,550 worth of butter in 1900—an increase of .£-109,103 over 190 S—but when our people aro deprived of tho free use of this necessary article because of its prohibitory price, then it is surely time to draw the lino. Tho best of our meat has been leaving these shores for years, and now the export limit in butter is being strained, or some person or persons havo resorted to that most undesirable practice of establishing a corner. There was a time in the history of Now Zealand when circumstances forced the price of butter—and salt butter at that —up to as much' as Is per lb; but tho conditions aro altogether different now, and we fail to see why the people of .this great butter-pro-dneing country should bo called upon to pay an unreasonable price for tho commodity, and it certainly does appear unreasonable to want several pence more per lb at the factory door than is obtainable over tho counter in an English buttor-sellcr’s shop.