CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 212, 27 January 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

CONFERENCE OF MAORIS. . A conference of the West Coast Maoris is to take place at Waitara on Friday, the 31st instant, when the Hon.. Dr. Poniarc will be present. The Maoris are anxious to secure some of the West t'oart leases that are falling In, and this and the question of obtaining the necessary finance to work the farms will form the chief subjects'for discussion . '

A VEXED QUESTION". The Borough Council has after all stuck to its guns over the site for the erection of a public convenience. It is rather refreshing to see it show a little .backbone. We would that it were in a better cause. A convenience is required but not on the elaborate scale the Council has sot its mind upon. If the Couucil had a superfluity of cash we could understand its launching out as it purposes; as it has insufficient money to keep the streets in decent condition oven, wc think the departure quite uncalled for. A construction costing one-fourth the money 'would -answer requirements for many a day to come.

VERY OLD, INDEED. Wry old, indeed, is advertising. The rainbow in the clouds, according to the ■Scriptures, was one of the earliest -advertisements. It. promised that men should not be destroyed with a Hood again. In that advertisement, brilliant in color, magnificent in size, supreme in power, it announced the fact that that particular flood was to be the last flood. Caesar used the advertisement when, fighting the patricians and using the bulk of the people against his enemies in the Senate, lie caused the proceedings of the Senate to be advertised , oiii the walls of Rome. That was the first semi-modern advertising. The object of men that create and sell is to make their creations and goods known. And the task that advertising accomplishes, and that nothing eise can accomplish, is to make known to all the ell'orts, the results, the inducements of the individual.

, ' ' ANNIVERSARY DAY. At a meeting of the Taranaki Veterans and Early Records Committee on Saturday, the Mayor (Mr. G. W. jßrowne) presiding, it was decided to hold a picnic in commemoration of the anniversary ~of the province on the 27th March. The Mayor will call a public meeting to arrange and carry out details, the' kind of function ' favored, is, a picnic, starting at about mid-day, arid held in Pukekura Park. The Early Records Committee are anxious to obtain all the records they can of the fast disappearing band of early settlers, and advantage, will be taken of this occasion to secure whatever information is available. It has also been suggested that a biograph film of the pioneers should be taken, and, after exhibition locally, deposited in the archives of the Borough for the use of succeeding generations. The Mayor is to be commended for moving in the matter of commemorating such an important day in our annals as Anniversary Day. and he should meet with .a hearty and generous response from the community, which holds the pioneers ; in the high esteem their sacrifices and labor undoubtedly merit.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. Many people clamor for "reform of local government," but when proved for details cannot say definitely what they really want (remarks the Eltham Argus). It is very easy to talk about abolishing half the comity councils, but who is going- to abolish them, and who is to say which counties are to be abolished and which retained? "Why, Parliament, of course," is the reply. Just so, and which of the members of Parliament are going to vote for the abolition of their own counties and consent to their absorption by other counties? For instance, what would the Egmont electors think of Mr. Wilkinson if he support the abolition of the Eltham county and agreed to merge it into another body administered from Hawora? Or is it likely that Mr. Pearce would consent to Hawera being snuffed out and placed under Eltham jurisdiction? We mention these two names merely by way of illustration. What applies to them applies to every member of Parliament. When an attempt is made to obliterate counties there will be a struggle for existence that will astonish the wouldbe destroyers. Members will fight for the preservation of their own districts, and the electors will support them. The Government that tries to wipe out half the counties will probably go out of ollico in very (|iiick' time. Possibly the present Government, in whose confidence the member for Patea appears to" be, have a satisfactory quid pro quo to offer as compensation for the abolition of half of the counties in the North Island. If they have it would be interesting to know what it is. The Government that starts wiping out counties is looking for trouble, and will have no difficulty in finding it.

PROGRESSIVE TOWNS. There are few signs so promising for the future of the Dominion as the spirit of vigorous progressiveness which is being shown at present by most of the secondary towns (says the Tiniaru Herald). They are convinced, apparently, that possibilities of great development are before them, and are resolve.! to make the most of opportunity. Napier, New Plymouth and other centres have formed societies to improve their beauty spots, and draw attention to the attractions they can offer to visitors anil new residents. The beautifying societies, publicity campaigns and Thirty Thousand Clubs are not the only expression of the forward movement iii which they are engaged. Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui and Nelson have all'important harbor works either in contemplation or in hand. Half the secondary towns of the Dominion are considering modern systems of street transit, if tliev are not already committed to one scheme or another. New Plymouth is a good example of the general disposition to make progress. Undaunted by the setback which their town received when the completion of the Main Trunk railway robbed it of its chief importance as a traffic centre, the people of New Plymouth are revolving new projects of advancement. The publicity campaisjn has there been eagerly adopted. New Plymonth knows no reason why it should blush unseen, and is determined to avoid that fate. If it is no longer able to waylay nearly all the tourist and other traffic, which goes between Wellington and Auckland, it has begun to think that it might build up a very pretty

trade direct with London. On Friday hist its loading business men formed a deputation to the deputy-manager <nf the Shaw, Savili ami Albion Comiiany to discuss this aspiration. . . . Tim am will not be jealous of any progress whieh her sister towns may be able to achieve. The development of their trade, and resourees will he a good tiling for the whole Dominion, ;ind the confidence with which so niiiny (owns are looking forward lo development provides assurance that New Zealand generally is in a sound and healthy way.

THE RED FEDS. Nothing can efface the memory of the fact that the Federation, throughout the latter stages of the Waihi trouble, pursued a cruel and lawless policy, and nothing can alter the fact that the vast majority of the nation will refuse its sympathy to any political or industrial organisation, programme or policy with which the federation has anv substantia! eonncction.—Wellington Dominion.