CURRENT TOPICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6089, 28 January 1898, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS.

«. The Dunedin Tramway municipal Company is doubtless tramways, wisely advised not to hastily adopt any new system of traction, as important developments of electric power as applied to tramways are shortly expected to be made. It may, however, be noted that the overhead trolly system, of which. Mr Fenwick speaks so highly, is about to be introduced in Manchester, wheretbe City Corporation has resolved to acquire the tramway system. This is at present said to be the cheapest and most reliable form of mechanical traction and as near perfection as seems likely to be attained. The most important feature about the changes being introduced in Manchester is not so much the improvement of the tramways as their acquisition and working by the municipality. A proposal was made to lease the lines, and it was suggested that the Tramway Company,, instead of paying .£20,000 a year, as at present, would be prepared to pay a minimum rental of .£40,000 a year on a new lease. The leasing system, however, received no encouragement, only two or three members voting in favour of it. The Manchester Council hopes not only to make .£40,000 a year out of municipal working, but to actually double that sum. [f there were any reason why tramways should be allowed to remain in the hands of companies the Manchester Tramway and Carriage Company had certainly a good slaiin. It is probably the best private enterprise of the kind in England,. and has always been ready to respond in a reasonable way to the public wishes. The City Corporation, however, was determined to keep the tramways absolutely in its own bands, andto improve the system by extending therfifty-five miles of tramways to Seventy-five. An important :f eatureHuirthe commercial side of the new undertaking is ' bhat the current for the electric cars . will be provided from the municipal electric works. These works at present earn an annual profit of nearly £¥7,000-3. year, .and. when they supply " the day load " for the tramways, and equalise production, this profit will be greatlyiticreased. Meantime, the Manchester Council is spending J?575i000 in equipping the new electric system of traction. The facts constitute an object lesson worthy of assimilation by municipalities everywhere.

, The Women's Tradewomen's Union League of England work in is making steady progress.' England, in power and influence, having now a membership of five thousand and a good financial standing. The annual report of this organisation for the past year, drawn up by Miss Gertrude Tuckwell, the honorary secretary, states chat the work of the League orgsnisatioJLandJectures in London, organisation and lectures in the provinces, the affiliation of Unions, legislation, entertainment and research work. Under all these ieads«xcellent accouirtsare -i given and progress reported. The Women's-' Industrial Council has done good work by issuing a comprehensive report on home industries in London. This report deals with over four hundred specially investigated cases of home work. A careful examination of the collection of facts leads to the conclusion that match-box making is the home trade which, although not a markedly irregular trade, shows the greatest number of disadvantageous features, and probably is the worst paid industry, whilst umbrella-making would seem to be about the best of these home industries. Rates of pay and hours of arork have also been carefully gone into, irith the result that it seems clear that lome workers as a class receive slightly ess pay than factory workers as a slass, and that irregularity of work is nore intensified for the home worker ;han for the factory worker. The industrial Council, like the Trade [league, seems to have developed a happy wwer of working and organising. The reiults of the exhaustive inquiry into the lome industries ought to do much to •econcile women to factory work. They sertainly confirm the wisdom of the policy ;hat is generally being followed by the Liberals, both here and in England, of sncouraging the factory system and insreasing the efficiency of State oversight, o as to ensure healthy and comfortable iiirroundings and fair conditions of labour fenerally.