CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 288, 28 April 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE ETERNAL QUESTION. What we are most anxious to learn is what the "Reformers" propose to do about the land question now. Let them give up quibbling and shirking, and. come out into the open and say definitely what course they intend to adopt about the rapidly-growing accumulation of large areas of lands in the hands of individual holders. That is what the country wants to know, and as Mr.. Massey has declared emphatically that lie will not tolerate the loeking-up of land in large areas by holders who refuse to utilise it to the best advantage, but are merely waiting for the unearned increment, the electors are surely justified in demanding from him a clear statement of the policy that he intends to follow.—Auckland Star.

NOISY TRAINS. Trains, like girls and dictionaries, have their uses in the sclieme of things. Occasionally, for instance, they are handy to travel on. But so far as New Plymouth is concerned they are possessed of all "the cussedness of things inanimate." Through some spirit of unconscionable vindictiveness they seem to always select the immediate neighborhood of two of our must popular local hostelries to talk to each other in the early hours of the morning in a loud tone of voice. Not content with shrilling their whistles in an agitated staccato they further show their disdain by stoking up under the windows of these establishments and filling their seaward sides with volumes of thick and | sulphurous smoke. No doubt it is really good smoke as smoke goes, in fact, the very best sort of smoke, but it is an unappreciated dressing for the morning porridge and the matutinal milk. A writer in the Sydney Sun, however, suggests a remedy. He writes: "No wonder our nerves are going," said the train traveller as the engine let out an unearthly shriek, and everyone jumped in sympathy. "Why," he continued, "with steam escaping, whistles blowing, and the general pandemonium of railway travel,

I wonder that, any of us can keep out of the reception house." "Well," remarked another occupant of the carriage, "I think I. can see a way out. We could fit the locomotives with musical whistles—instead of blowing a loud, shrill earpiercing blast how much better it would be if they gave 'Yip-i-addy' or some other popular tune. The loco's generally pick on a station to blow off steam —why not fit gramophones to the escape valves of the engines so that they could roll out a soul' Stirring military band record march? Look at the attraction it would be to the stations. They could charge 3d entrance to all stations to hear the band; would draw like a picture show." INCREASING THE MINISTRY. The Reform Ministry is at present working under heavy pressure. It is one man short of the complement allowed by law, and although the Public Service Commissioners will relieve it of a good deal of administrative responsibility there is reason to think that the strain will be more than some of the Ministers can bear. Mr. Massey would do well to consider the propriety of divesting himself of at least the Labor portfolio. Seeing that the Hon. J. A. Millar has been restored to health, and has thrown in his lot with the Reform Party, and seeing also that he has a special knowledge of the labor laws and their administration, Mr. Massey would perhaps be consulting the best interests of his party and the Dominion if he were to take the ex-Minister into his Cabinet—Wairarapa Agn. LOSSES BY FIRE. The president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce made the statement the other day that during the last eight years the fire losses in New Zealand had amounted to £4,500,000. Last year the average loss was no less than 12s Id per head of the population. This is said to constitute a world's record. The figures quoted are of such an alarming character as to demand immediate investigation of the position. Most of the buildings in this country are of wood, and their natural life is a little over thirty years. Have the companies ever seriously discussed the desirableness of instituting an endowment system of insurance, which would enable ensurers to draw a sum of money at the end of the natural life of a building? Would not the adoption of such a scheme result in a material diminution in the losses by fire? The present system of insurance offers a premium to the application of the fire-stick. —Wairarapa Age. A GOOD MOVE. Despite the immense sums they are spending on armaments, with the ultimate purpose of blowing one another to pieces, the rival nations of Europe are all showing a disposition to draw closer together on their social and commercial sides. One of the most striking indications of this tendency is the recent establishment of what is known as the Societe d'Exchange Internationale, which has its principal office in Paris, with branches and agencies all over the Continent. The object of the Society is to arrange exchange visits between German, French and English children, so that they may acquire a practical working knowledge of one another's language. Of course, it has been long recognised that this is the very best way to assist children in mastering other tongues than their own, but hitherto no special effort has been made to extend its use. Now parents who can afford to pay a moderate fee are helped in finding suitable homes where their children are taught French or German or English, as the case may be, while they perform a similar service for the children they have received in return. The Society mrtkes a careful investigation of each household before it is placed on its list, and so far the scheme has worked so well that both parents and teachers are enthusiastic in its praise.