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Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 203, 3 September 1901, Page 1

Carnegie, the Americanised Scotch multimillionaire, has pensioned off for life some of his old schoolmates. One of these is said to be a Southland farmer, who is in receipt of an allowance of .£250 a [year, and less than two years ago made a trip Home to thank his benefactor. Evidently, the Factories Act is working no better in Victoria tkau the Conciliation and Arbitration Act in New Zealand. In either case, the result is the same. With the higher wages, the cost of living is forced up, and the working man is no better off than he was before. At the same time, the preference of employment is given to youth and strength, and the old and deserving man is forced to the wall. It is not a system that will conduce to the eventual welfare of the people or the country. Unfortunately, too, neither law seems to be able to take hold of and suppress sweating. The trades benefited are those in which fair wages and reasonable hours already prevail, and, while further advantages are given to these, the sweating system thrives in all its gaunt mystery just as vigorously as it did before.—Observer.

The Napier Telegraph does not take kindly to the Cycling Boards Bill. It states :—lt is to bo hoped that the Premier will have enough firmness to withstand the unwarranted attempts of a few silly persons to impose disabilities upon users of bicycles. The so-called “ Cycling Boards Bill ” is nothing more than a measure for enabling busybodies to form themselves into “ boards ” which may impose upon every cyclist in the country a tax of five shillings per year. A refusal or neglect to pay may be met by these socalled “boards” seizing and selling any bicycle upon which the tax has not been paid. The money obtained from the tax “may be used ” to lay down cycle tracks. Apart from the fact that- the “ boards ” will have paid officers, and that a large percentage of the new tax would go in expenses, in any case no benefit could accrue to country cyclists, who would be taxed to provide racing grounds for town residents. More insolent and unjust proposals than those contained in the bill were never conceived.