TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8121, 17 April 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Writing in the Hawke's Bay Herald with reference to the grub' that is doing seriouu damage to all i kinds of fruits in parts of Australia, and dealing with the suggestion that steps should be taken to keep it out of New Zealand, Mr J. J. Henderson, of Sydney sayß:--"!, have no hesitation in saying thatshould the fly become established , in Auckland and Hawke's Bay, It would ruin your fruit industry.; From my experience ot the fly,. 1' unhesitatingly affirm that there is nothing to prevent the fly from (breeding in New Zealand, it you value your fruit industry, you' should insist on Mr Dunoan at once cancelling bis order to relax the regulations. The fly is a real danger, and you oannot be too. pevere if you wish to foster the fruit industry, whioh will ere long be of very great importance to you. If you are careless, and allow the fly in, it will lead to many a curse in time to come." ■ i) The Political Reform League, which wa9 inaugurated by Mr Massey, Leader, of the Opposition, last year, is extending its functions with the object of bringing the forces of the Opposition to a greater state of effectiveness. This movement will receive the sympathy of all who have tbV good of the colony at heart. For the Opposition, although numerically weak in the House of Representatives, has a very considerable following throuahout the country, and one which must ultimately count in the politics of the colony, if systematically organised and intelligently led. Evan at the present time it can do an immense amount of good by patriotically criticising legislar tive proposals and administrative methods, not with the intention of hampering and confusing the legitimate ourposes of the but in order to check the ill-oon-sidered measures and slip-shod methods to which dominant majorities almost unconsoiously tend. Jt is expected that nthe "fun" as regards the coming freight fight will develop in May. There is hot much doubt as to what the first shot fired by the direct lines will be. They will attack the West of England trade as soon as th«y fix up their London arrangements sufficiently to permit of their doing so, The Dorset, which will be the Federal Company's despatch for London and the West of England, will, therefore, leave right in the , thick of the fight. Questioned as [ to cargo and rates therefor, Mr W. ' A. Moore, the Dunedin manager for the Federal Company, said that what the Federal Company proposed to do with reference to freights it would do, but bo far ithad beeh getting cargo from Loudon at schedule rates, minus a few trifling rebates. On the other hand, representatives of the direct lines maintain that the Federal Company has been quietly cutting the rates for liome time back, for six weeks, at all events. A oase was kaown in whioh it had quoted tallow 5s per ton cheaper than the direct steamers, in the matter of wool, also, some of their clients had mencioned that oheapeer rates could be got from the Federal Company. The gold yield from the mines in the Auokland district during the past three weeks amounts to £IOO,866 5s Bd, or nearly £3OO more than the total won during the previous similar period, which amounted to £100,570 lis Bd. To wards the past three weeks' output the Ohinemuri district has contributed £79,461 13s Sd, including the record yield of £61,890 from the Waibi mine. The Thames district has furnished £20,520 12s 6d, Including £18,495 from the Waiotahi mine, whioh is also a record. The* Oororaandel disfcrlot has provided £BB3 19b 6d. '

•Within the last week has been signed a compact whicb initiates a new and important branch of State ownership, and a peculiarly interesting one. The State took over, on lease, the premises of the Westport and Greymouth Coal and Produoe Company, Wellington, as a going concern; that is, the state be

cornea owner of coal-yards, working: plant, and distributing equipment, and launches- out aa a retailor of State-mined- coal. Produce will ia future be dropped frotn the business, which, willl be in aoali and firewood; with perhaps the usual accessories, such as coke, charcoal and IkeoLay goods. The price per ton. of doublescreened household coal, delivered, may be put at 333 for Newcastle, 36a for Weatport, and 40a for Puponga. The State proposes to make ita figure for the double-screened household coal 28s a ton;. so at last the ideal' seems to be at bandaheap coal for the people, and little lots for the small man;, for delivery will be undertaken fron a hundredweight upwards. Within a reasonable distauce of the State Goal Depot, Lower Cuba Street, there will be delivered a hundredweight for la Gd; quarter ton. for 7s 6d, half-ton for 14a 6d, ton for 28s. The terms are net cash on or before delivery; there will probably be do or edit, on small orders. (A system of monthly credit will perhaps be established, in connection with large orders to manufacturing firms, foundries, etc., which will no doubt provide a market for screenings). The abovementioned retail rates apply within a reasonable distance. Cartage to the suburbs will be extra. The depot will be opened to-day.