CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 287, 7 May 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

INEXCUSABLE. Wo regret to notice that Mr. Massey "explained" the James circular letter by stating that it was suoh as was used by other political organisations in the Dominion. It is unfortunately too true that other organisations made great use of "the underground engineer," and frequently "rigged" meetings and passed cut-and-dried resolutions. But this does not excuse the following of a bad example by a Reform Ministry. It is not right that public opinion should bo influenced, or rather manufactured by such doubtful and objectionable means. It would have been 'better had that circular been at once disavowed, as not being 1 due to any action countenanced by the party. Everything done by a political party should be open and above-board, and then there would be no reason to 1 egret any action. It is impossible to excuse the inexcusable, and the black of one party will never whiten another. We trust the Reform Party in future will carefully avoid following any practices of its predecessors which were objectionable in themselves, or to which exception could be taken. —l'almerston Times.

SYNTHETIC MILK. The'"synthetic milk" mentioned in recent cablegrams seems likely to be a formidable rival to the produce of the cow. before many years have passed. The basis of the Milk is casein extracted from the soya bean. SaiLts, sugar and fatty acids are added in exact proportions and then the compound is emulsified with water, the result being a fluid indistinguishable in appearance, taste [and composition from rich dairy milk. But milk is something more than a food substance; it is a living fluid containing bacteria that assist in its digestion. Bacteria of the required strain are add-, cd to the synthetic milk, therefore, and permitted to act upon it "until it reaches exactly that stato of what may be called maturity at which fresli cows' milk is obtained." Excellent butter and cheese can be made from this product of the laboratory. People are disposed to smile at the idea of using artificial milk, but some of the big merchants in London are watching the now development with keen interest and eager expectation. The users of the soya bean fluid! will be guaranteed absolutely against dirt and disease in the milkman, they will sacrifice no food value, and they will save money. Witti this assurance the sentimental attractions of the gentle cow may not weigh very heavy in the scale.