CURRENT TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 95, 30 July 1910, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

THE "NO-CONFIDENCE" AMENDMENT. Theoretically, the leasehold tenure with the State as lessor is the ideal tenure for national purples. In reality every man of every nation is at heart a freeholder. It is the man who has no land, and who is not likely to acquire any, who is most emphatic on the point that the other fellow should not own a piece. If the whole of the land of any State was absolutely the property of the State and inalienable to individuals, there would be no land question as at present understood. In any country where there is no variety of tenure and mixed private and State ownership the question must be perennial until the whole of the land is settled and there is no remnant either to alienate or to lease. The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives moved an amendment to the -Budget, with the result that it' was accepted as a vote of no confidence in the Government. The result, of course, was in favor of the Government, though not toy the usual majority, five of the Liberal party, including Mr. Jennings, ranging themselves on the side of Mr. Massev. Several avowed freeholders in the Government camp voted with the Government and against their convictions; while a few of the Opposition leaseholders voted with their party and likewise against their convictions. The position was therefore somewhat extraordinary. Just what effect the voting will have on the Government in shaping their land proposals remains to be seen. Obviously thn Government are in a quandary. A big section of their supporters are out-awl out freeholders, whilst the remainder ar equally strong in their advocacy for the retention of the leasehold. A* compromise seems hardly possible; the effect of compromising in the past has been but to widen the gulf between the two sections of the Government party on the same question. The Opposition, leaseholders and freeholders alike, will, as we have just seen, vote solidly against the Government, their first and chief concern being to oust the -Liberals from office. Altogether, as our Parliamentary correspondent said in his notes of yesterday, "it's a pretty kettle of fish," and the Land Bill of 1010 will be awaited with considerable interest by all sections.

A PIANO FOR THE GRANDFATHERS. The nation that honors grey hairs and comforts the aiged pays a tribute to the parents of the race and invites longevity. In every country gathering years, physical infirmities, and inability to continue fighting the battle of life makes it necessary for the strong, the willing, and the "comfortable" to undertake the duty of providing comfort for the aged. Happily the proportion of indigent aged folk in New Zealand is not so large as in countries wihere the mills of commerce grind human bodies, and many institutions garner the honored grandfathers and grandmothers to whom distress has come. When old people have found it necessary •to take sanctuary in a Home it is not for the public to enquire what necessitated it. It is sufficient that they are old and needy, that they have toiled, that ■they are worthy of a bright autumn to their lives. Perhaps you have never visited an organised institution or noticed the joy that can be diffused by a simple act of kindness or thoughtfulness. We have seen rows of wan faces light up with gladness at a ibuneh of flowers, little sufferers who have been actually helped on the road to health by toys, and stricken men who have been greatly cheered by the simplest attention. So when you know that a piano will cheer the grandfathers in the Old Men's Home you will give them one, because, perhaps, you've got a grandfather too, and you wouldn't like him to lack any comfort, convenience, or pleasure. You will be able to give yourself a treat by helping to buy that piano for the grandfathers, for no sacrifice is required. The concert to be held in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening would attract most people even though the proceeds were not intended for charitable purposes. Most people can afford two shillings or one. shilling for their own pleasure, and everybody can afford either sum for the combined! pleasure of themselves and the grandfathers who .will surely get that piano.

PROFIT-SHARING. A good deal has been-heard of several commercial attempts to profit sharing that have been unqualified failures, but, writing in the Socialist Review, Mr. Ben Turner, the general president- of the Textile Union, quotes the case of one cooperative organisation which has been a pronounced success. As far back as 1886 Messrs W. Thomson and Sons, woollen and worsted manufacturers, of Huddersfield, called their employees together and announced that with their approval it was intended to run the mill as a purely co-operative concern. The workpeople had to share in any loss as well as in any profit, and they cheerfully accepted this very proper position. Mr. -Ruskin sent (his blessing for the scheme, and Judge Hughes gave it every praise. Since then it has been a moral success yearly, and what is more important, a financial one also, except during three years. In those three lean years the workpeople, without any hesitation, paid the shareholders their stipulated five per cent interest out of their own earnings. To their infinite credit it has to be recorded thaat many of the shareholders refused to accept the money and repaid it to the reserve fund of the company. "Every Friday," says Mr. Turner, ''work or play, slack time or busy time, whether playing for weft or warps, or anything else, the workpeople get their wage. It is for a fortyeight hours' week. There is no overtime, and there is no driving. The men and women work free and easy, and there is an absence of all rush; whilst there is no skulking about, dodging work, or shying work, as sometimes happens where driving is in force. There are no married women at the place. When a woman marries she has to leave. They give her a marriage portion of five or ten pounds, according to length of service. She also retains her shares in the concern. There are not two sorts of share-

holders, some with votes and some with none, as happen in many profit-sharing shops. Here all are equal, and all have an equal share of management." This is a much more pleasant commentary on the co-operative system than was provided by Sir Christopher Furness' experiment. and the length of its operation is decidedly encouraging.