The World's Press.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7743, 20 February 1905, Page 4

The World's Press.

FRENCH PLEA TO ENGLAND. Each time the duties on French have been raised the actual Customs receipts in England have diminished. This being the case, the English having no vineyards to protect, we cannot see what benefit they derive, especially as our light wines act as a palliative of drunkenness*. It seems to us that any impartial legislator could find very strong arguments- in favour of a reduction of these duties. and we await with hope the presentation of the question to the English Parliament.—La Feuille Vinicole, bordeaux.

NEUTRALITY FOlt SALE. Greai Britain should be convinced that the benevolent neutrality of Germany is of ineAimabJe importance to the unrestricted prosecution of her colonial plans (in South Africa).— Post.

THE DANGER IN RUSSIA. The greatest danger to the existing regime, as we have often contended, is to be apprehended not from a popular but a Court revolution. A Russian Boulanger, backed by the Grand Ducal camarilla, might make history with formidable speed.—Spectator.

RAILWAY CLAIMS'. Following the practice of the American railways, the North-East-ern Company has created a special department for dealing with all the claims arising from injuries to passengers. Such euterprike deserves to be rewarded with n n increase of business in this direction.—Punch.

RUSSIAN SPMUT.

Russia will continue to light until her object is attaJned. What object? Victory, complete and absolute. While the Japanese army exists, while tho Japanese are on the mainland, Russia will fight in spite of the counsels of her wisest and best friends. Novoe Vremya. St. Petersburg.

STATUS OF CLUBS. The general status of clubs has" «4|nsiderabl.y deteriorated during tliV; last" twenty or thirty years'. This is the natural result in the vast increase in the number of these institutions and it being necessary for them always to have a certain number of members to keep the concern going.—The Graphic.

POVERTY OF THE RICH. What narcotic does money distill that so subdues to sloth the brains of the rich ? Those who have money usually seem to have nothing else. Their ways of spending their money are so pitifully inadequate and unimagnnative that one who has nothing hut his fancies to make him rich must often pity them. The pueen. : " CAR STRUCK " GIRLS. "I' want, to qualify as a motorcar driver. How shall I train, and what are the prospects of a situation when certificated ? " write countless feminine correspondents. Stage struck young women have given place to "car-struck" girls, and the advice of their best friends in hoth cases should be, " Don't."—Mbtorinir Illustrated.

PREVALENCE OF CARD PLAY. Probably more gambling at cards is going on in London now than there hag been taking place for more than half a century. Clubs exist in the most fashionable parts of London oi which the members are men of wealth and position, where nothing but card-playing g„ PS on from carlv (afternoon to the late hours of the : night. The mania for bridge has | absolutely destroyed all after-dinner conversations.—Vanity Fair.

AN UNWELCOME ESCONT. «TS V .l r l. faCt of thp incident in the North Sea has shown ithe English I that we are on our guard, and this may he the best means of safeguarding our souadron from any fresh attempts of the enemy.. • but in any case this voyage with a Hritish accompaniment must bo a painful .experience for our sailors, ami is scarcely lilielv to give them " ~1,., sant recollection.-Xovoe Yremva, st ,I'etersburg-.

A SIGNAL SET-HACK. I Why is it that the numlier of sentences to imprisonment have increased during- the last three years'' jln the absence of am- oilier cause it lis exceedingly probable that the recent Transvaal war has produced the ! same effects in this country so far as regards the increase of' crime, as Continental w a rs have produced on Continental communities. Wc cannot with impunity familiarise a population with the horrors of war Nev. W. I). Morrison, in Law Magazine.