WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 948, 27 February 1897, Page 4

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

In instructing the Agent-General to approach the Secretary of State for the Colonies with a view to Ministers being ■ consulted before a successor to Lord Glasgow is finally appointed, the Seddon Government has once more shown its adherence to ' the Ballance policy ' in its leading eatures.— Canterbury Times. Down to the year 1893 there was absolutely freetrade in baby farming in New Zealand. Now, the safety of infants boarded out is stringently provided for. The day of the professional baby farmer with murderous designs, or capable of murderous neglect, is gone, what was formerly nobody's business is now a matter of simple police supervision, which anyone may enlist, and what was formerly a case for the humanitarian is now one of simply enforcing a plain and concise law. — Otago Daily Times. It is not at all wonderful that a great deal of sympathy Bhould be felt for Mr T. Wilford. That he erred, and badly, in putting himself in the power of a man like Mulvaney is true ; that he did so with any other intent than that of befriending a man who was evidently in a needy? condition no one for a moment believes. Wellington Times. The unbecoming proceedings, to put the case mildly, which have taken place several times during the past year, should be a clear indication to school committees that the introduction of new blood into the Education Board is necessary. Heated blood is always calculated to bring any deliberate body into contempt, and we are sorry to say that it has, in no inconsiderable degree, had this effect upon the Board of Education. — Waikato Argus. Avaricious Wellington is now agitating in favour of the Empire City being made the terminus for the 'Frisco mail boats in place of Auckland. The Huddart Parker Co. have also submitted alternative time tables to the Government under which the Vancouver mail steamers would call either at Auckland or Wellington. It is understood that the Aorangi will call at Wellington in May, and return by that port in June as a sort of experimental trip to show what can be done by the service. — Wanganui Yeoman. The domestic servants of Melbourne are going to form a union, to be affiliated with the Trades Hall. The act of forming a union is a wise one. Affiliation with the Trades Hall is another matter, but it was only to be expected that the domestics would be drawn in by the body that thoroughly understands the modus operandi in such cases, and can offer many advantages to a young and unpractised union, although it ma? exact in return an obedience that may cause the unionists many tears in days to come. — Melbourne Punch. The inefficiency of our police "force has now become notorious. — Christchurch Spectator. The law provides that a steamship may, if deemed necessary, be Burveyed at least once in every six months. Would it not be well to order a general and stringent survey jusfc now? After the discoveries just made, the public will be naturally inclined to incredu lity as to the efficacy of our elaborate Shipping and Seamen's Acts, and, while exercising a more careful discrimination in selecting steamers in which to travel, will certainly not have less sympathy with the seamen's union for mutual protection. Wellington Post. The surprising adventures of the brig Phyllis, coasting from one Australian port to another, and succoured in turn by the Orient, the Glaucus and the Maitland, brings up the question whether vessels should be allowed to leave port provisioned on the • bare subsistence wage ' system, and so, through negligence or parsimony, or a combination of both, needlessly risk brave men's lives in the endeavor to assist them. —Melbourne Table Talk.

We think we axe expressing the general opinion of the public when we state that a change in the membership of the Board of "Education is ranch to be desired. The manner in which .the members of the Board have squabbled and fought over the business entrusted to them affords anything but a good example to those under their charge, and accounts for the universal hope that we may see ' new blood ' introduced into the Board. — Karangahake Advocate.

Maoriland now reckons that its surplus at the end of the financial year will be close on £300,000. If so, the necessity for floating a one-million loan and thus going back into the mire of Vogelism isn't very apparent. A country with £300,000 surplus should be able to crowd through witnont borrowing. — Sydney Bulletin. There is poetry in everything — especially the editorial waste-paper basket. — Sydney Arrow. Looking through the list of pensions which Government have kindly passed on to ns, we see that a man wounded by accident gets 2s a day, and a man wounded in action, receives the same modest allowance; and another gunshot wound man gets a tanner to buy a daily dram with. — Christchurch Truth. We send every year a good deal of hard cash, besides- no end of clothing, etc., to India, China, Timbuctoo, New Guinea, and Lord knows where. If all this money were devoted to the relief of the necessities of oar own people, the Charitable Aid Board wouldn't have so much work on its hands by one-half, and possibly the happy day might dawn when it wouldn't be wanted at all. But, of course, if we sent none of our money to foreign missions, the Heathen Chinee would go tractless to bed every night, and the natives of New Guinea aud other benighted countries would have to do without 'moral pocket - handkerchiefs,' flannel waistcoats, and the Church of England catechism — which would, of course, be very sad, and a great pity.— Christchurch Spectator. Those who require to use Spectacles will find a very large assortment to suit almost any sight at Miller's Fancy Repository, 110, Victoria-street. Prices to Buit any pocket, viz , 6d, 9d, 1/- and 1/6 per pair; Heal English Pebbles, 3/9 per pair. Coloured spectacles for sun and dust, 6d and 1/- per pair, sent post free to any address in New Zealand. Anyone mentioning this paper when purchasing or sending will have a case value for 6d presented to him. — Advt.

Lyttleton may be chosen as a point for Imperial defence, for Wellington is dis qualified owing to the absence of a graving dock, and Auckland is too far north to be of service for the whole Colony, — Lytteltqn Times. Sir Kobert Stout, of New Zealand, suffers from gout. He is a teetotaller, but a big eater — which suggests that the time is ripe for a Local Option crusade against | three meals a day.— Sydney Arrow. Pinkerton, Kelly, and Harris were all rejected by the people at the general election. Democracy in December refuses to have them in the lower House ; so autocracy in in February pitchforks them into the Upper. Defeat at the polls seems a curious qualification for a call to the Legislature of a country in which the voice of the people is supposed to be so peculiarly the voice of God as in this thrice blessed democratic colony.— Canterbury Weekly Press. No one is trying to rush Federation now, but the time may come when we will be forced to rush it by means of the row made by the foeman thundering at our gates. Then we must do in a time of frenzied haste and wild alarm what should have been done when we had cool heads and plenty of time to consider every side of the subject. — Sydney Freeman's Journal. The Bulletin suggests that one of the first duties of the Australian Federal Government will be to compulsorily enrol every able-bodied male to serve in a citizen army, giving him a rifle and ammunition, but no pay, and making him drill at least three hours a week for three years, and intermittingly after that so as to keep up his training. The effect on the physique of the race would be good and prodigious. And the capacity of Australia to defend herself from foreign invasion would increase enormously. — Sydney Bulletin.