ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 6

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

COST OF COTTON LOCK-OUT. . Although the cotton lock-out is Bottled for the moment, it has cost a loss in wages of one million pounds and seven millions in trado. "The Times" gives the figures as follow:— Total cost to trade of Lancashire 47,000,000 Cost to the trado unions 260,000 Weavers' and allied workers' loss in wages 726,000 Operative spinners' loss in wages 160,000 Lard room operatives' loss in 115,000 Total loss m wages 1,000,000 ADULT SUFFRAGE IN SWEDEN. "Norway lias already a limited form of Homan Suffrage, subject to property, or, rather, a rating, qualification; Sweden, formerly _ the more Conservative Power, is to go still further by establishing adult suffrage for both sexes, on tho avowed ground that the abolition of tho distinctions of property qualifications'for electoral purposes 6hould be followed by getting rid of the distinctions of sex," says tho "Westminster Gazette." "Tho fact that in Sweden, as in Norway, there are considerably more women than men has proved no obstacle to tho proposal for their enfranchisement." "I OWE TOU BELGIUM." "Near the battlefield of Waterloo, in a roadside inn, managed by his grandchildren, resides Plnllippo i Dumoulin, aged 102, and the very fast survivor of the Belgian volunteers who in 1830 rose against the Dutch, drove them out of tho land, and thus built up tho free and independent Belgium of to-day," says tho "Telegraph." "Recently Dumoulin expressed his only regret on death's threshold: ho had never seen the present young King. How he would like at least to have, his Majesty's picture lieforo' his fast-closing eyes! His wish was reported to King Albert, who immediately decided that lie would take his photo himself to the humblo old patriot. Dumoulin was advised of the almost incrediblo visit, and to-day (January 18) awaited King Albert on tho threshold of tho little inn, dressed.upin tho uniform of tho 1830 volunteers, a blue blouse and tho yellow and black cap representing the colours of the Belgian When tho King, accompanied by two aides-de-camp, alighted from his motor-car, Dumoulin almost wept for joy, conducted his Majesty to tho back parlour of the inn, tried to deliver some speech, but only managed to babble out: 'Vive lo Roil' and 'Long live tho King's wifo and the King's little children!' The Sovereign presented him with his portrait, beautifully framed, which Dumoulin caused his grandchildren to kiss. Dumoulin, having expressed his unbounded, gratitude, the King replied: 'You only owe mo this photo; I owe you Belgium! EDITOR OF THE "HIBBERT" AS PREACHER. The Rev. L. P. Jacks, M.A., the editor of the_ "Hibbert Journal," has been proaching in London. The "Christian Commonwealth" says that he pleaded for a' childlike attitude to life. Professor Jacks explained and justified tho child's request, "Do it again," and his demand for "more," Mr. Chesterton had suggested that in this blazing universo, with its clouds and flames, tho great Creator ■ Watches the' panorama of a day or the pageant of tho seasons, and says, "Do it again!" to the rolling earth and the reeling stars. When Oliver Twist asked for more, he spoke not only for mankind at large, but for all beatified spirits and for the angels of God. "Tho Eternal Child, as he moves through this universe, shouts with surprise at everything lie sees in presenco of the mystery of life. He is frankly greedy of the gift of God. Never is he content to see things come to an end. Of his own life's ending he cannot think, and when the journey is done, and tho last flicker of consciousness looks back on the wonderful things which-tho Great Artist has summoned into tho experience of his life, the soul of. tho Eternal Shi Id again takes up its. old parable and whispers,'"Do it again!"" , AGAINST THE SECOND BALLOT. Mr. J. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., has explained to tho "Pall Mall" why lie opposes the "Second Ballot" as used in Germany, and prefers tho "transferable vote." "I am not opposed to tho second ballot, as well as proportional representation and tho Referendum, and accept tlio unpleasant but necessary expedient of the transferable vote. My experience of the second ballot is that tho result of tho final ballot does not arrivo at the real expression of opinion, partly as tho result of the bargaining which occurs, and which is very bad for honest politics, entailing at fhe samo time a sacrifice of national interests. The expense, too, penalises poor candidates. It has been found that second ballots do not mako five per cent, of difference; in fact, iu the Italian elections the diiTerenco has been as low as ono per cent, upon tho position of the representative Assembly. By means oS the transferable vote if a man does not get fifty per cent, of the total electorate, and ho. is fighting .two or more candidates, the lowest is taken out, and his votes apportioned (as the, elector has indicated) to tho.other candidates, this being repeated until one or the other obtains the required number of votes. By that .means you arrive at a true representation of public opinion."