CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 14, 4 June 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

A MAMMOTH LLN'KR. Immense crowds at Liverpool witnessed the departure of the Ounard liner Aquitania on her maiden voyage, states a Press wire. The Aquitania, besides being the premier unit of the Cunard fleet, and the biggest 'boat ever launched on the Clyde, is, with the exception of the White Star liner Britannic, at present building, the largest British-owned and British-built vessel. She has a speed of 23 knots, and accommodation for 3250 passengers, and a crew of nearly 1000. Her principal dimensions arc:— Length, 901 ft.; breadth, 97ft.; and depth to boat deck, 92ft. fiin. She was built by John Brown and Co., of Clydebank, and launched there on 21st April, 1913. Since her launching a gread deal of curiosity 'has been exhibited regarding her internal fitting out, and an army oi workmen has been engaged on the work. When the last English mail left it was stated that, while the Workmen were making good progress, there would be very little time to spare between the approximate completion of the vessel at the yard and'her departure for the Tail of the Bank on May 10, and quite as little during her trial, for the public to inspect her, before she was handed over to the Cunard Company. In return for a subsidy the Cunard Company undertake, under, certain conditions, to make modifications in the plans of new ships (of which the Aquitania is one) to render them suitable in certain respects for service as auxiliaries in time of war.

NEW ZEALAND'S OUTPUT CAPACITY.

Even were New Zealand already at the limit of evolution in land settlement —which it is not by any means—improved methods of feeding, and especially the systematic provision ofwinter fodder for stock, not only in the high country of the South Island, but throughout the Dominion, would extensively increase the production. The country is therefore practically assured of a progressive important position in the great business of supplying the world with the meat which it cannot do without. —ITawera Star.

PARTY GOVERNMENT. "If we can do away with the party system of government, we shall he doing a great deal for the country." With this sentiment, expressed by the member for Waikato at a recent farmers' convention, we are in thorough accord. Party government is responsible for greater political evils than anything we know of. It is the cause of hypocrisy, lying, hatred, contumely, arrogance, bigotry, and everything that is bad in our legislative system. Why do we retain sue!; a barbarous thing? Why do older countries, too, retain it? Simply because those who are on the Treasury benches are afraid of being put off, and because those who are off are afraid of not being put on. That is all there is in it. There is nothing. more. Why, then, do our patriotic legislators, those who place country first, not move in the direction of abolishing the evil? Why do they not rise up and say: "We will have no more of this tom-foolery ?'' When the people become a little more enlightened, they will insist upon there being an Elective Executive and upon members being able to go to the House unfettered by party tics, and free to act upon their own good judgment. Until then we must make the best we can of a* bad job.—Wairarapa Age.

THE MONEY MARKET. "The local money market exhibits very little material alteration since our last report, but the tendency is in the direction of further easing of the market (says the Trade Review). The export season which is now drawing towards a close has proved an excellent one, both for production and prices, and the total for the twelvemonth to March 31, as far as can be gathered fom partial interim returns, seems certain to exceed twenty-four millions. On the other hand, though no figures are available for imports, wo believe that the March quarter will show a moderate reduction and that the total for the twelvemonth will be little if anything over twenty-one millions, leaving an excess of exports of probably about three millions, wlli'ich is a distinct improvement on returns for nearly three years past. Under 'these circumstances it appears probable that the money market will continue to improve, and supplies of capital for investment will be more readily obtainable.