King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 6, 1910 TOPICS OF THE DAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 274, 6 July 1910, Page 2

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 6, 1910 TOPICS OF THE DAY.

:—» - . The letter we publish in another column from the secretary of the Helping Hand Mission reveals a pitiable state of things which we scarcely realise is possible in these favoured islands. To think of any women or children being left homeless and helpless is revolting to a thoughtful mind. But to think that man exist, and in numbers too, who can deliberately desert their familes, as described in the letter referred to, is something we hope is not characteristic of our race. Thank Heaven, these brutes are in a minority. We have a strong belief that New Zealand will ever provide a livelihood for the able-bodied man willing to adapt himself to its. conditions. But how can a deserted wife with young children gain a livelihood? It is a difficult position she occupies, and it is to be hoped the appeal we publish will meet with the success it deserves. It is' pleasant to think extreme poverty is a rare thing in the Dominion, but that it exists cannat bo doubted, and while not arguing that a bad c thing is a good thing, it does a service if it helps us to realise that we who- are fortunately situated have our duties towards our weaker brethren. The great fight has come and gone and the armies of special correspondents, artists and photographers have vanished to whence they came. It is not our purpose' here to criticise the fighting men. But the whole thing raises some questions which will have to be settled on a larger arena than that just held at Reno. If black men are matched against white men and black men win, what is to be the ultimate upshot? Does it not give a feeling of supremacy to the black races which.they have hitherto lacked? And on great continents like India or Africa, how is the white man's burden to be kept within moderate compass, if a feeling of superiority, be it only in brute strength, is engendered in the countless millions of coloured people? These fights of black and white raise racial-feeling which may ■ cause much trouble as the years roll on. Twelve million negroes in America offer a pretty tough problem in themselves to the United States, without gratuitously throwing in another bomb shell to add to the trouble. The opening cf the Waikato Winter Show yesterday is an event in which the South Auckland district is gener-

ally interested. It is the fourth of its kind, and is larger and worthier in every respect than its predecessors. If the weather admits of it, large numbers of visitors will flock from Te Kuiti and the King Country generally this week, and the numerous exhibits will attract much attention. It is said that this is an age of machinery. We see little of it, perhaps, in these more remote parts but >' ia inevitably coming, and a gathering of the leading makes of milking and other machinery is educative and interesting to all who gain a living by the land. Hamilton has other attractions to offer during the present week. The early opening of the fine new traffic bridge provides, a much-needed structure to take the place of the old wooden bridge. It costs nearly £24,000 and is a single arch of steel. And to-morrow we are promised the laying of the foundation stone of the new High School and Technical College. The chairman of the Auckland Education Board speaks of Hamilton as the New Zealand Harrow. He is an old Waikato boy, and such, language is perhaps pardonable. It is hardly Harrow yet, but it promises to earn that cognomen, and no one will grudge it the distinction. The moral of all this is: Waikato is primarily a dairying country. Hamil 1 ton has. progressed through the growth of that industry. So the King Country will benefit in similar fashion as settlement proceeds.