CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

PROGRESS IN THE SOUTH. The South Island tour just completed by Sir James Carroll was his first official visit to that part of New Zealand. He was very much impressed by the throe provinces visited. Southland, so well aided by the fact thx*t at Bluff it has practically a free harbour, has a great future, he remarked to a "New Zealand Times'* representative. The farming community there is greatly indebted to some South Canterbury people who introduced improved methods, the draining plough having revolutionised their operations. "Otago, a lovely country, I thought a little on tho wane,’* continued Sir James, "but what will oome to their assistance will be tho irrigation of tho arid wastes of tho centre of that province. It eeems to me that the marvellous productivity of tho soil, principally composed of mica schist, when irrigation is applied, will j ustify the Otago Central line. 'When I got into Canterbury they were just congratulating themselves on tho break-up of the longsustained drought. They had had some : rain, and the severe winter had set in, thus providing the essentials to farming down there. I was very pleased with the appearance of the land throughout Oamaru, and it was very green around Timaru. The value of the close settlement policy is strikingly reflected in the growth and healthy commercial aspect of the districts where it has been applied."

HOLLOWNESS OF THE OPPOSITION. Commenting upon Sir James Carroll's speech at Christchurch, the "Lyttelton Times" remarks : "The Opposition . . . thought that Sir James Carroll had no idea outside the Native Department. It imagined that during the Prime Minister’s absence there would bo no one to meet its platform campaign and that the Acting-Prime Minister would calmly watch it sowing tares in the Liberal wheat. Perhaps it half believed its cwn fictions concerning the character of the Minister. It has discovered its blunder The Minister’s tour has had the effect of enormously strengthening the Liberal position in the South Island; it has cleared away misunderstandings and wrong impressions. Knowing nothing of the native question, the southerners have been inclined to believe that perhaps Mr Massey’s attacks on the Native Department’s administration had some foundation in fact. They did not know the Minister and they did not know the subject. But the Minister has at length enlightened them and they have founc that the allegations of the Opposition regarding native affairs are as groundless as are the Opposition’s allegations regarding general politics. The utter hollowness of the Opposition case has been exposed now in all directions and, having seen and heard the man for themselves, the people have found how mean and nn worthy were the recent attacks upon him. The title that has been conferred upon Sir James is the recognition of earnest and invaluable labour in the public service. It is due to the Minister’s policy that there have been, no

serious native difficulties all these years, and it is due to his policy and administration that so tremendous an advance has been made not merely in the settlement of the questions of native land but also in the improvement of the wludo tone of Maori life. It is surely a credit to himself and to his mother’s race that the s: n of a Maori mother should to-day be the acting-head of tho Administration of a great and prosperous British colony, and it is all tho more to Sir James’s credit that he has won that position by his earnest labour and his native worth.” PROSPECTIVE IMMIGRANTS. Forerunners of the tide of immigration that will set in again before many months have pareod are now reaching tho Labour Department in the shape of numerous letters from prospective travellers to tho Dominion from the Old World. Quite a number of inquiries come to hand by every mail, and there is every indication that immigrants will como out quite as readily during the spring and summer as over before. The letters are principally from workers now residing in England, although a small number coma from people in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other places. Out, Britisher states that he has a capital of .CtQOO, which he wishes to use in starting hero in farming. A South Shields mu, a merino engineer of fourteen years’ experience, will bring with him <£loo and a family of throe girown-u.p boys. “Sheep ranching” is the work looked forward to by a Glasgow man, who says that after gaining experience here with someone else ho will have good financial support in starting out for himself. Such communications as those have been replied to in encouraging terms, but the department has warned other writers—including a warehouseman, a coachman, a car cleaner and an old army man—that there is no prospect of their getting work out hero in their j>ai-ticu.lar callings. GIRL LABOUR. Judge Heydon, at Sydney, last week, expressed himself forcibly on the practice of certain trade unions trying to secure for men alone classes of work which can conveniently be done by girls. The matter came before his Honor in connection with the award of the Boot Trade Wage* Board, which said, in effect, that girls could work the new skiving machines. Tho union was objecting to this. "By what principle of justice,” demanded Judge Heydon, “should a girl be turned out of employment that a man should take her place? If a girl is doing work that is injurious to her health, if the surroundings are bad, I think an objeoHob might fairly be considered. That ie the principle on which child labour i» objected to. Ton can get goods cheap by child labour, but it is false cheapness, as the children are being spoilt for after life. The same applies to boys doing work while they arc young and being turned away os they, grow up. The com- , munity sucks their lives and afterward* throws them out liko one would throw away tho peel of a banana. But if the board is satisfied that this work is right tor girls, can anyone tell me cm what principle of justice or fair play they should be turned out to make room for boys?” THE SLOOP VIRAGO. Tho figure-bead, of tho sloop Virago, which was presented to tho Auckland Museum by tho Admiralty at the request of Archdeacon Wodeh, has been delivered to tho curator (says the '“New Zealand Herald”). Tho bag package was brought from Wellington by H.M.S. Cambrism, and the figure-head has boon unpacked It is a remarkably fine specimen of the sculpture with which ships of olden time were graced. Evidently tho figure was carved from a block of oak, but the timber has boon clothed by tho periodical paintings and vamishings which axe provided. for ail Government establishments, until it has the appearance of some artificial composition. Tlio fact that .it weighs two hundred weight disproves that idea- The figure presents a striking picture of tho boldness and impudence by which the dictionary defines a virago; tho face has a peculiarly virile appearance, which is emphasised by long heavy locks of dark hair; and tho body with its conventional draping is carved with equal skill. It will form o.n impressive exhibit in tho museum. Tho cleaning and mounting of the figure-head will take some time, and it will remain in tho seclusion of the workrooms for about a fortnight before it is displayed for in- ; speotion by tho public.