Current Comment.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXII, 25 November 1899, Page 963

Current Comment.

WAR NEWS FOR NOTHING. With that thoughtful consideration anti tender regard for the well-being of the people which marks the action of Ministers —especially at election times —a new departure has been made by the Post and Telegraph Department, presumably by order of the Minister in charge (says the Taranaki “Herald”). For about a week past telephone bureaux and telegraph offices in country places where no daily paper is published have been daily provided with the latest war news, which the officers in charge post up in the public offices pro bono publico. As far as we are concerned there is no particular objection to be raised, for the circulation of sueh items of news serves to stimulate the demand for the Newspapers, although it does not seem to be quite the right thing for the Government to make use of the Department to forestall newspapers in this way. If it is right, then it may be argued it would be just as legitimate for the Government to supply the public with their daily bread; if they are to supply daily war news, why not daily political and social news? We assume, of course, that some arrangement has been made with the Press Association for the use of its copyright news, otherwise the Department would render itself liable to an action at law for infringement of copyright. However, what we more particularly wish to point out in regard to the working of this new news agency is that it is interfering with business in other directions. It has come to our knowledge that business messages are delayed owing- to the wires being engaged in the transmission of free war news. This is likely to cause inconvenience and sometimes loss; besides, at the distributing centres the time taken up in the work must be very considerable and must hamper 'the more legitimate business. And where is it to stop? The people who are now looking forward to these messages in the country townships will naturally look for something else to take their place when the war is over, and will be asking perhaps for the latest racing news. At any rate the business of those who pay for the wires ought not to be allowed to suffer. F F F POLITICAL APATHY. The gloomy forebodings of the Opposition Press on the eve of the general electio,ns contrast strangely with their confident predictions a few months ago. Before the election campaign opened, the Conservatives professed to have no doubt of the inevitable defeat of the party at present in power. Now. apparently, they are beginning to realise their mistake, but instead of acknowledging it they accuse the people of apathy and indifference towards political matters. The “Otago Daily Times,” in Dunedin, and tlio “Evening Post,” in Wellington, have made a simultaneous attempt to arouse the public from this deplorable condition, for which, however, they offer a very satisfactory explanation. The country, these journals admit, is in a condition of unexampled prosperity, and the discontent that arouses interest in party politics is conspicuous by its absence. This gratifyingstate of affairs is due, we are told, to the people's energy and enterprise, so we must presume that the absence of t'hese two essential qualities was accountable for the wretched condition of the colony and the discontent which, nine years ago, expelled the Conservatives from office. If it were possible for Mr Seddon to suffer defeat, next month, he would at least be able to derive some consolation from his opponents’ testimony to the results of his administration. But the defeat of the present Government seems a very remote contingency, for it would be difficult to take a more gloomy view of the prospects of the Conservative Party than that taken by its own organs. F F F ARE ALL GIRLS FLIRTS? To this question there can be but one answer (says a writer in the “Lady”) — in the true sense of the word, assuredly no! though deep down in the 'heart of every woman there lurks—often unknown to its owner—a love of admiration and a desire for affection that finds vent in various ways with various natures. There is the girl who loves a good time generally, who is ready to chaff with one

man or to receive tender speeches, with a quick repartee, from another, who is ripe for any fun and frolic, and who is voted a “jolly girl all round, with no nonsense about her.” She can't be called a flirt, though the genuine friendship, and often affection. of her many new friends is verypleasant to her. She generally makes a happy marriage. Next in order is the tender, languishing girl, who is decidedly a flirt of a kind, for she receives the worship of men as her right, and is ready to accept the homage of her adorers with a great appearance of giving all in return, but in reality she gives nothing, and men generally fall away before they are seriously bitten. Then there is the recognised flirt, the girl who is always attended by a crowd of admirers—- “ She's sueh fun, don’t you know”—and for whom there is safety in numbers, as no one takes her- seriously'. She means no harm, and has generally a good time all round, though some men —generally “very young ones”—may for a time “think the world well lost for her.” Last, but by no means least in point of numbers, is the flirt in the worst sense of the word, the girl who for her own amusement will playfast and loose with the hearts of honest men, who will hide their true character till too late, and will ruin hopelessly many a weak but otherwise good man's life. There is a twist of evil somewhere in her nature, though often hidden under beauty and winning ways. It is a matter of conquest to her. and the more broken hearts she can show as trophies t'he better she is pleased. F F F FARMING AS IT IS. Instead of our fond expectations being realised we find nothing but disappointment. After long lives of toil and economy it would be impossible to find, but a very small percentage of legitimate farmers, who can honestly say they are better off now than they were 20 years ago. On every hand we are dictated to, and no one ever thinks of consulting us as to what would be a fair price for anything we wish to buy or sell. If we take or send -cur produce to market it is the merchant who fixes the price by the rules of supply and demand, and as the demand seldom equals the supply, it follows that in nine cases out of ten, we receive much less for our produce than the actual cost of production. I need not enlarge on this phase of the question as it is only too well understood by all farmers. — (Mr J. I’. Morgan's address to a Farmers' Club). F F F THE COMING ELECTIONS. On this occasion the real work of electioneering will be driven into the last week or two, but it will probably be warm enough while it lasts. The Government organs, we notice, claim that, as a result of the elections, Mr Seddon will have a larger following than he has in the present Parliament. The Opposition, on the other band, after careful inquiry into the prospects of parties in every electorate, are fully confident on having a majority in the new House. The country is getting sick and tired of the present “continuous” Ministry-, and will gladly welcome a change. All that is wanted to secure it is that the supporters of Opposition candidates throughout the colony should arouse themselves and work earnestly and heartily from nowright up to the day- of the poll. Victory is to be commanded if only they will go the right way- to secure it. F F F DEATH IN SPORT. I have always, says a lady writing to the Christchurch "Press,” thought it was a great mistake to find fault with any amusement and sport that men devise. Dancing is considered quite wicked by some folk; pleasuring of all kinds has its “snake in the grass.” Even choir practices lead to the ruin of young persons. What, then, was left to mankind? Teadrinking? But that means a little flavour of scandal mixed with the “cup.” At last, in desperation, I said, “I'll go to any amusement I like, as long as it is within the bounds of decorum and decency, ami 1 will not look for the ‘snake? People must

have pleasure, and they onght <« <m»e it between working whiles.” So I went, ninny years ago, to some races in Australia. It was a long day. I wore my best frock; I went with my husband; nothing could lie more proper and decorous. 1 did not look for evil, but. just before my eyes, close to my feet, a jockey was thrown and killed. I kept away from races after that for twelve years. I went to the Christchurch races last year, thinking if women go out and do not bet, but simply walk about and look at the pretty dresses, and nod to the friends, what can be more delightful and innocent? Besides, there was my best bonnet, absolutily pleading to be shown off. 1 went, and again a man was killed before inv eves.

1 went yesterday, but with grave misgiving. In the first race a lad was thrown just opposite the grand stand. The poor, helpless, almost lifeless form was picked up, put on the ambulance carriage and conveyed away. And all day long people laughed and chatted, and ate and drank, and “Death in Sport” acted out its awful drama close by in the little room in the saddling paddock. No more races for me; no, not as long as I live! Cannot the women of the community stop this hurdle racing, if nothing else? It is a veritable "Death in Sport.”—l am, etc., ANONYM A. F F F POISONED AIR.

Passengers in tho crowded excurs'on trains and trains at this: hot season would do well (says the “Press”) to study an article published a short time ago in the “Lancet” on “Rebreathed Air as Poison.” The waste products given off by the human lungs in breathing include some intensely powerful nerve poisons, and many of the “sensations” of fatigue, numbness and exhaustion that it is fashionable to set down as the result of the rush and hurry of modern life are more probably caused by our breathing in again contaminated air. The effects are most marked among crowds, but people can poison themselves in a room by keeping it sufficiently close. Amongst the most frequent symptoms of “air-poisoning” is a feeble and irrit-

able condition of the heart. Indigestion is another, and Dr. Hartley think* that the purity of the air breathed by a dyspeptic is quite a- important as his regimen or his teeth. The flabby obesity common with middle-aged women is more likely a result of their habitually sittii-g still imitates than of thei.-overeating. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. Local Government has never been place-1 on a fueling that contained all the naris united in one bedj working ta produce r aariror.ious result. There have been vark.us bodife and functions a llied nt different times to supply special wants without any cohesion to what already existed. The result lias been a certain condition of confusion, and an inability to obtain that amount of efficiency which would have flowa-ji from a proper constituted system. To combine in a practical system the work of a w hole district is what is required. It is evident that the power once exercised by the old provinces can never be restored, but there must be a considerable modification of their functions in those new bodies that will be created to carry on local government.