TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8226, 1 September 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

"There is undoubtedy a considerable portion of preservatives used in the milk supply of our cities and towns in New Zealand," said Mr J. A. Kinsella, Dairy Commissioner, in the course of an address at Christohurcb. "I strongly recommended to the Government some time since that the use of preservatives should be prohibited in milk tor looal consumption, as well as in the supply for the manufacture of butter and cheese, as its done in Denmark. ,When in that country I made careful inquiries into "this question, and I found that all milk delivered for human consumption iu the cities and towns, as well as that used in manufacturing butter and cheese, is absolutely free from any kind of preservative. The use of all preservatives in milk is prohibited by law, and this prohibiton is stringently enforced."

The statement by Sir Joseph Ward that it is intended to create a Friendly Societies Department will be approved by all who realise the vast amount of good work done by tbesejorganisations and their important bearing upon the life of the State. Hitherto one of our national weaknesses has beeu that while considerable attention has been paid to the unfortunate aud the unthrifty, comparatively little has been done to assist the industrious and thrifty masses who form the very backbone of society. It is gradually becoming recognised that the operations of . our old age pension law Bometimes paralyses thrift, and discourages self-reliance, by failing to make sufficient allowance for those who have made modest yvovision for the future, through the friendly societies and otherwise. Sir Joseph Ward promises that this shall be looked into, in which case redress must follow.

Irishmen had to turn to Franoe for the fivst elaboration and explanation of the veiled promise of Home Rule contained in Sir Artony MaoOonnell'a epeeoh a month ago. But the Daily Chronicle publishes now a more explicit statement concerning the nature of the concession proposed bv the Government, ani it is impossible to doubt that Mr Bryce will introduce, cither uext year or the your after, a Bill giving a larse measure of autonomy to Ireland. The proposal, it seems, is to create a National Assembly or State Legislature for Ireland, giving it control of eduoation, public works, industry, and ultimately finance, exoeot ho far as suob matters as defence and the national debt are con coined.

The Goveruuieut deserve credit for at least one thing in oonneotiun with their land policy, says »:he Chriatohureh Press. They have not hesitated to state plainly what are their views, and tney have lost no time in laying them before the country. In this respect Sir Joseph Ward has shown himself less of an opportunist, or lesd astute, which ever way one chooses to view it, than his predecessor. Mr Seddcn would have felt his way more cautiously with a new Parliament, and would ultimately have framed a compromise much more likely to And a majority of supporters. Sir Joseph Waid has given himself unreservedly Into tbe bauds of tbe leaseholders. The result ia a great triumph for Messrs Millar and Fowlda. These two ardent land rationalisers were supposed to have sunk their individual opinions on the land question when they entered the Cabinet, but instead of thin they have been very largely given their own way. The tail has wagged the dog.

What is tbe money value of individuals of the American labouring class? According to Dv Holt, a medical authority of national reputation, a boy of 10 is worth 2,061 dollars; at 15, he is worth 4,263 dollars; and at 20, 5,488 dollars. Prom that time on his value decreases, declares Dv Holi, until at 70 he ia worth only about 17 dollars, aud at 80 bif> value is represented by minua 872 dollara, An

interesting comment on Dr. Holt's valuations appears in the bench and Bar, which asserts that the labouring man, taking him limb by4iinfc, is worth at hia maximum much more than Dr. Hnlt seta forth, or "at any rate the honest wage-earner cost more than this in the aggregate to the rich and soulless corporations that pay the bills whan the American jury hav<» exeioised their prerogative of audit." The journal then compiles n table from judicial decisions of the Courts of the last resort showing that, one eye has been valued at 0,000 dollars, one leg 15,000 dollars, two legs 25,000 dollars, one arm 10,000 dollars, one baud 6,000 to 10,000 dollars, one finger 1,50 C dollars, permanent disability 25,000 to 80,000 dollars.