CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7961, 18 November 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

JUVENILE IMMIGRANTS. A small band of enthusiasts at Oxford have formed tho Child Emigration Society, with a view to encouraging the emigration, of quite young, destitute or dependent children to farm training schools in the overseas Dominions. Tho scheme is the outcome of a paper read by Mr Kingsley Fairbridgo, a Rhodes scholar at Exeter College, in the Colonial Club, at Oxford, on October I9th, 1909., Tho immediate result of Hr Fairbridge’s paper was the adoption of a resolution : “ That tho members of the Colonial Club form themselves into tho nucleus of the Society for the Furtherance of. Child Emigration to the Dominions Overseas.’’ The society has been in negotiation with tho Western Australian Government, which has oSered to put 1000 acres of land at its disposal and grant assisted passages to child emigrant. The idea is to train the children from as early an ago as possible for an ■agricultural life. The Rhodes trustees have made, a grant of .£IOO to the society. The first form school is to be established in Western Australia early in 1912. It will be in charge of Mr Kingsley Fairbridge, who will leave London in January to choose tho, site and erect buildings. The first party of children is expected to sail next May. JAPAN FOR THE JAPANESE. Foreign vessels trading to Japan are no longer able to carry passengers and cargo between ports on tho coast of tho empire. Steamers from the west have ■hitherto put ,in first at Nagasaki or Shimonoseki, and thence, through the Inland Sea, gone on to Kobe, finishing tho voyage at Yokohama. From America tho first port was Yokohama, and the last Nagasaki, passing on then to the China coast. . Although there was little carried in the way *f cargo shipped from one Japanese port to another, the tourists, as a general thing, took the European or American steamers from' port to port. Tho New South Wales Minister for Agriculture (Mr Trefle) has now received notification from Mr J. B. Sutter, Commercial Agent in the East, that _in accordance with the new treaties which have been entered into between Japan and other countries, coastwise laws are now enforced by which passengers and cargo between Japanese ports can bo conveyed only in Japanese vessels. It is a significant fact Mr Sutter observes, that the moment the treaty was entered into with Great Britain, a powerful Japanese company has started a new lino of steamers from Japan to Calcutta, calling at all British ports, such, as Hongkong, Singapore, Fenang, Rangoon, and Calcutta. The steamers of tho various lines will, doubtless, continue on their ordinary routes’ without alteration, to sot down their passengers and discharge cargoes from the Occidental markets. "NEW WINE IN NEW BOTTLES.’’ The Bishop of London, addressing the Church Congress asked why had the Church not more influence upon the rising tide of democracy? Strong, new wine was working in tho ■ hearts and brains of thousands. They were set on seeing the beginning of a Kingdom of Heaven on earth,- it was a modest enough Kingdom of God which they expected; they did not crave for large mansions or princely incomes, but more time to think, and greater leisure from toil, and a living wage and a help towards being independent in old age instead of going to the workhouse. They wanted cooperation to be the ruling motive of life and work, instead of cut-throat competition, and peace among nations instead of war. What Christian, asked his lordship, could doubt that such wine might have been’ created at, Cana of Galilee. He noticed with thankfulness t\at in England the labour movement was avowedly and definitely religious, as witness tho addresses of Labour members and their active participation in Christian work. Why were they not looking more than they were to tho historic Church of England for sympathy, guidance, and advice? He believed the first reason was that, consciously or unconsciously, Churchmen were influenced still by class prejudice; and secondly, that this spoiled the real sympathy which the Church wished to give. The toiling millions were not interested in their ecclesiastical controversies, or whether, for example, a stole was legal. There was nothing whatever wrong with the Church or its sacraments, its ministry or its ceramoniaL What was amiss was fatal class prejudice and caste feeling. These must be laid aside for ever; they must lay aside tho parish manner and lot their working-class friends know their real tastes, loves, and aspirations. They must cease to believe that anyone who did not come regularly to church was therefore irreligious, _ and must frankly recognise that good in any form could only come from God. "May,’’ said the Bishop in conclusion, "this , Congress help to tom tho tide."