CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 May 1914, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

(t?kom various sotiuces)

Mr. Tom Mann, who is at present in South Africa, has taken on himself the role of a prophet, and has ventured the assertion that workers would soon have a five-hour day for work and work only nine months in the year. Later they would obtain a four-hour day and work only six months in the year. The theory is quite a one, but about 300 years ahead of the times or several thousand years behind. The 'Maoris carry the theory, which is another name for loafing, into practice fairly well, and it does not require a great deal of study or observation to see what is happening to them. Some of the people who hang about the streets and hotel corners have got the loafing habit well developed and careful study of them might afford Mr Mann food for thought. 3." -•!• i* A pleasing, but yet sad incident, in connection with the distribution of " Specials " medals last week was when a tiny girl of about three years of age. was brought forward to receive her father's medal. The girl was the daughter of the late Mr Lindsay Hay. who has been killed at Maungatautari since the strike. The Premier smilingly patted the girl on the cheeks, and presented the medal amidst loud clapping ■ of hands. Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson says her husband, the newlyappointed Governoi-General of Australia, is so fond of travelling that he has earned the nick-name of '■' The Tramp." This gives us a hint of new developments in Vice-Regal locomotion. You can't call a man in a train or a motor a tramp—-he has to be on his own two feet, with a swag upon his shoulder and a bil\y by liis side. But we shall not call Ronald " The Tramp." In Australia it will be the "Sundowner." New Zealand's tramp is Wickanl of course. The presentation by the loyal women of _this Dominion to the battleship New Zealand is taking the form of a pair of the finest silver orchestra drums made' by Hawkes and Son, of London. They,are worth 100 guineas, and have the arms of New Zealand emblazoned on them in silver repousse work. & * ■::■ « The largest individual crop raised in the western provinces of Canada last year was that of Mr C. S. Noble, of Noble, Alberta. This crop comprised. 259,000 bushels of oats, average yield of 80 bushels to the acre; 10,720 bushels of wheat, giving an average of 35 bushels per acre ; 23,462 bushels of barley, or 51 bushels to the acre; and 3,654 bushels of flax, ojr 18 bushels to the acre. Not so very long since there was a cost of Living Commission which cost the county a considerable sum of money. The object of the commission was to inquire into the reason for the high cost of living, and presumably to find or recommend some remedy. The living rate has not gone down since ; in fact, it has been steadily increasing and is likely to increase for a year, or two yet, and nobody is any wiser than before, except, perhaps, the commissioners themselves, who are also a trifle richer. *5r *!'•> Some spur should be given to the development of the Dominions sea fisheries as a result of the visit of Professor E. Prince, of the Canadian Fisheries, who has arrived in New Zealand, and who is to make a report on the subject. Professor Prince has expressed the opinion since his arrival that it seems absurd that "J^ew Zealand should import such large quantities of canned fish from abroad. When he has been in the Dominion a few weeks longer Professor Prince will, no doubt, learn that there are otherarticles that New Zealand imports that she ought to be able to produce herself.