The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1906. THE LATE ATTORNEYGENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8061, 20 November 1906, Page 2

The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1906. THE LATE ATTORNEYGENERAL.

By thy death of the \lou. Albert Pitt, Attorney-General and Minister of Defence, which it was our sad duty to chronicle yesterday, the colony has lost another of the rapidly depleting band of older statesmen, to whom it owes so much. The late Mr l'itt was possessed in a marked degree ot those qualities which endeared him alike to both supporters and opponents in politics, and however widely the latter might have differed from him in opinion, never was there any suggestion of an action on his part that was anything but that of a zealous public servant and an honourable gentleman. During his brief term as Minister ot Defence, he introduced reform into a department where it was much needed, and his action showed the ability he possessed to modernise and place it on a much better footing, had he been spared. When Mr Pitt was taken into the Ministry, his selection was regarded with some anxiety by many. The Legislative Council was then a different body to what it now is, and Mr Pitt v>y- not an old member of it. Mr Seddon's selection was soon amply justified, and the appointment proved a happy one. Mr l'itt always worked harmoniously with his ool» leagues, and he always had the heartiest goodwill of all sections of the luto the discharge of all his duties ho brought the unfailing tact and courtesy which always distinguished his dealings with men, and the manner in which he stuck to his post during the last session, though obviously seriously unwell, was evidence of an unselfish devotion to duty that won the respect and admiration of everyone connected with Parliament. It has been said., and with considerable truth, that the Hon. Albert l'itt has fallen another victim to the overstrain of Ministerial work. Perhaps no Minister directed more zeal to the discharge of his public duties than did the late Attorney-General, and there is no doubt that the exhaustion following his sustained mental activity during the last session aggravated the complaint from which he suffered, and hastened his end. Colonel Pitt came to New Zealand from Tasmania when a young man, and commenced the practice of his profession—that of a barrister and solicitor —at Nelson in partnership with Mr Moore. After serving on several local bodies Ux Nelson he was, in elected to the House of Representatives, but retired shortly afterwards, and was called to the Upper House in lS'.t'j by the Sedd»m Government. Jusl prior to die iw;".t,!!ig of the last Parliament, in June, i'.j'l'l he was offered the Attorney-Generalship by the late Premier, and he accepted the position, acting as representative of the Government in the Upper House. He held this portfolio until the format ion of the present Administration, when, in addition, he undertook the portfolio of defence, and the Colonial Secretaryship. During the absence of Sir Joseph Ward at the Postal Conference he acted as Minister for Railways and Postmast&i -General, discharging the duties of those important portfolios with conspicuous ability. His death has left a gap in the Ministry which it will not lie an easy matter to fill,

THE BIRTH-RATE. Sir John (Jhhst, speaking in Christclinivh last week, referred to the declining birth-rate as deserving the attention: "of every statesman inNew Zealand and older countries." Of the gravity of the tendency from a national point of view there can be no question. The situation is the same in Europe as in Ausir.ala.sia. Its causes are manifold and complex. As population becomes more civilized it apparently lias a tendency to gravitate to the towns. And in the towns children are regarded as a drawback by many landlords and boardingliou.se keepers. We know of instances locally where the possession of one or two children lias resulted in the would-be tenant being refused a house. That abominable invention of modern times, " nerves." is also responsible for a portion of the feeling. The unfortunate thing is. where any restriction upon the members of a family is practiced, it is just amongst the more intelligent numbers of the community, whom we could watch increase with equanimity. A further cause of the decline is to be found in the severe competition of modern times. We know our late I'ivmirr wished to see ii growing home population. The remedy for the present tendency is a moie uiis.'llisli public spirit, on the pari of all. a greater certainty of regular employment for all upon whom families depend, and greater love for the healthy country life, which is tit once the beginning and end of a really natural existence.