CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

"TIMES" FARMERS’ SPECIAL. The interest taken in the special edition for farmers which the "Times" is publishing to-morrow in a twenty-four page edition (illustrated) is well evidenced by the sheaves of special orders which are coming in from agents far and wide. A special article by Professor W. T. Mills, "The United Labor Party’s Message to the Working Farmer," occupies two pages. In that article the fact is emphasised that the best interests of the country require that the profession of workiqj farmer should be made the most

attractive in the community, and a very complete argument is made for tho taxation of land values in such a way that those who create wealth shall enjoy it, but that it shall be made impossible for monojiolists to exploit the industry of the men who are working on the land in any capacity. A large quantity-'of reading matter of the greatest value to farmers of all kinds is also provided. There is also a leading aft cle giving some startling information about land aggregation. It will be shown that while population has been forced into the cities many fertile districts are becoming depopulated. "TIMES” SPECIAL COMPETITIONS, Pull particulars of a skill competition which is being promoted by the “Now Zealand Times 1 ’ will appear in to-mor-row’s special fanners’ issue. As there are Tl5O worth of prizes our readers will realise that it is worth looking into. Another children’s painting competition for £5 worth of cash prizes will also be announced. In both cases the biggest) money will go to tho best brains. MORE DEBAUCHERY! Ah-ha,! “Ho recommended the' membaf for tho district to apply for a vote in favour of the cost of the road.”—Mr Massey at Woodville. We eagerly await the comments of Ministerial organs upon the wretched system of doles which leads to members of Parliament becoming parochial mendicants. It is time something was said on this question—something really severe—something about debauenery of the electorates and so oxu AD MISERICORDIAM. The Plimmer’s steps organ is beconj* ing editorially melancholy. It says; ‘■So soon as the new Government begins to lose its sense of the sacrodness and reality of its policies and of the causes it represents, it will begin to go down hill. And if ever it is led by prosperity and power to forget its soul, we hope that the Reform party will promptly bo sent into Opposition." Sounds like a testimony from the penitent form. By the way: What are the saorednoss and reality of its policies? What are tho causes it represents? Mott is it going to demonstrate that it has a soul? So far we have bad no evidence on any of these points. WIRELESS WEATHER REPORTS. Captain Davis, of the Antarctic cx« plonug ship Aurora, in a recent interview stated that he had given instructions, at the request of tho New Zealand Meteorological Office, that daily weather reports should be sent from the Macquarie Island station to Wellington. These reports were already being transmitted to Australia, and the inclusion of New Zealand in the service would bo of assistance, ho hoped, to the weather prophets and the public generally. There could be no doubt that the connection between the meteorological conditions of Australasia and those of the Antarctic regions lying to the southward was inti-' mate and the study of the subject was bound to bo of value. The Macquarie Island station had been extraordinarily successful, though it hod failed to establish communication with Dr Mawson’s winter quarters on tho Antarctic mainland. It had a range of more than 2000 miles at night, so that the lonely island was placed in direct con rr.unication with civilisation at several points. The offi-ccr-in-eharge, Mr A. J. Sawyer, was a very capable man,, and had made use of several devices of his own. During June, while tho Aurora was at the island, the Macquarie Island station offered its services to tho New Zealand Post Office in connection with the relaying of the Wellington, station’s messages, and tho offer was accepted, by wireless, by the Postmaster-General. “STOLEN PLUMES." Under this heading Christchurch "Spectator," which through Mr G. W. Russell got “behind the scenes" in regard to what transpired in the Mackenzie Cabinet, says : —"The Conservative party are already up to the old trick, of stealing the plumes of the liberals Two instances < centred within three days of their taking office. Tho first was with reference to the Customs Department. It was announced with much flourish of trumpets that Mr Fisher had recommended Cabinet to appoint an officer in Loudon to watch the interests of thie Dominion in order that . the Customs Department might not bo jobbed. Similar officers are already in existence on behalf of the Australasian Commonwealth. Judging by the reports sent out by tho Toiy press the onlooker would imagine—as it was intended he should —that within forty-eight hours of talcing office this scheme had been evolved from tho brain of the new Minister for Customs. The simple fact is that that scheme was evolved by the Mackenzie Government and was all readv for passing, but as a matter of constitutional practice was held over for the new Government to deal with when the no-confidence debate started. The papers were before Cabinet for at least a fortnight before the Mackenzie Government went out, but under such circumstances it is not considered to be ‘playing the game’ to give effect to proposals which a possible new Cabinet may disagree with. 'Probably at least fifty similar proposals were ready for acceptance by Cabinet but were held_ over as a matter of honor, and it ie ridiculous for the new Government to take the credit for these new proposals, all of which emanated from the outgoing Ministry. The other case refers to tho purchase of the Sherrcndcn estate of 8000 acres in Hawke’s Bay. Mr Massey is being boomed as a heaven-born Liberal because lie has agreed to the purchase of this block under the Lands for Settlement Act. As a matter of fact, ho has had nothing to do with it except to sign his name. All the preliminary inquiries, examination of the land, tieatment with the owners, etc., had been done before be came on the scene. The one thing to his credit is that he could have blocked it, and didn't. But as he is now * grofessed advocate of land settlement, e must make some show; and ha* therefore completed one of the purchases which the Mackenzie Government had carried through right up to the last step. But Mr Massey will have to do a good deal more than this to prove his sincerity as a genuine of the breaking up of tho large estates. 1 "