CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 307, 20 May 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

PASSING IT ON. The Dunedin Star may well ask why Sir James Mills should think that the recent increase in seamen's wages makes a corresponding advance in the shipping companies' charges inevitable (writes the Lyttelton Times). Butchers and bakers tell doleful stories of running their businesses at a loss whenever sixpence or a shilling a week is added to their shopmen's pay, but the great company controlled by Sir James is not cutting its profits so fine that it need join in the lamentations of these sorely-tried tradesmen. A glance at its earnings during the last ten years suggests that the margin it lias in hand is quite sufficient to cover the trilling addition to

Apparently there are no lean years in the company's experience, and probably very ample provision is made for the depreciation of its vessels before its profits are disclosed. In 1908 its fleet ran into 112,853 tons, and was valued at about £8 9s per ton. At the end of last year it had reached 197,110 tons, and was valued at £ls 17s Cd per ton. No one remembering the splendid vessels that have been added to the company's fleet in recent years will believe that values have declined in this fashion. Ship for ship, there can be little doubt that the fleet is in better condition now than it was six years ago. But even if we accept the company's own figures and admit that no excessive provision has been made for depreciation, it still is | difficult to see how the managing director is going to justify the increase in charges he has foreshadowed. It would be interesting if he could be persuaded to make a statement on the subject for the information of those sceptical people who think that if any alteration at all is made it ought to be in the opposite direction. POTATO-DIGGIKG J!Y MACHINE. "I would urge every grower of ten acres or more to get a potato-digging machine, for in a patch of 15 acres the machine pays for itself." Such is the recommendation of a potato-grower who lias had considerable practical experience of the digging-machines—Mr. H. E. McGowan, of Willowhridge, South Canterbury. The more up-to-date potatogrowers about Willowhridge, says Mr. McGowan, now have their digging machines, and, in fact, any grower of 10 to 12 acres is considered quite behind the times unless he lifts his crop with the machine. With the machine, digging is a mere detail, and, according to Mr. McCowaij, it considerably reduces the cost of raising the crop—in fact, to about one-half the cost of digging with the fork. In addition, the ground is more thoroughly cultivated, and the weeds are well shaken out and left on the top of the ground, ready for raking up and burning. NON-HEFILLAISLE TiOTTLES. The search for the bottle that cannot be refilled has been conducted with much vigor by a small army of inventors, and success has been claimed in New Zealand

as 'well as abroad. But apparently the perfect bottle will not defeat the really ingenious adulterator. The native salesmen of Alexandria sell "English whisky" in bottles which obviously have never had the labels broken or the corks drawn, yet the unwary person who drinks the stuff finds that it is a poisonous spirit made in the country. The explanation of the mystery is revealed by an examination of the bottom of one of the bottles. 'Die dark-skinned gentlemen bore a small hole through the glass, extract the sound whisky, pour in their own concoction, and seal the opening [ with a scrap of heated glass. Presumably they use the imported spirit themselves and reserve the bottles for the cautious visitors who insist on seeing the corks drawn. THE GREAT QUESTION. The landless fathers of families want holdings situated within reasonable distance of schools and markets; they want to make homes for themselves, where they and their wives can enjoy some comfort and their children can be educated to light their own battle in life. But the land that would provide for their needs, rich land, well roaded, close to railways and markets, is in the hands of large holders. It is the great areas of private lands in Hawke's Hay, Marlborough and elsewhere, not the odds and ends of the Crown estate, that are blocking settlement. Surely it is time Mr. Massey put the screw on his land-owner friends.—Timaru Post. GERMANY'S MILITARY SCHEMES. The stupendous character of Germany's new military schemes is illustrated by the proposals for the expenditure of the capital sum of £50,000,000, to be raised by means of a levy on property. Fortresses and barracks will absorb £21,500,000, and additional field guns and rifles will cost £3.550,000. The extra manoeuvre grounds and rifle ranges required for the new regiments are to cost £2,300,000, and among the other items, of expenditure are clothing and equipment £1,900,000, horses £1,550,000. and mili-' tary stores £1,400,: 000." Nearly £4,000,000 will be expended on the army airship and aeroplane service, in addition to the supplementary estimate of £1,000,000 on the ordinary account. Germany's total expenditure on military aircraft this year will approach £0,000,000, more than seven times as much as Britain proposes to spend. It is small wonder that Europe is watching Germany's feverisli preparations for war with a certain amount of anxiety. "AN AUSTRALIAN MARCONI." A wireless station has been established in connection with the Narrabri public schools (states the Sydney Morning Herald). The permission of,the PostmasterGeneral was obtained, with the usual limitation as to power, and the station was erected bv the pupils under the supervision of Mr. 11. S. Warden. The sending radius of the station is from fifteen-to twenty miles. Several of the boys have erected stations at their homes, and send messages to and from the school every evening. While the sending radius is limited, the weather forecasts from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are received nightly, and furnish interesting matter for next day's lesson in physical geography. Mail boats are frequently located, even as far away as the Great Australian Bight, while boats in Bass Strait are heard from every evening. Next day the boat, and her route and probable cargo, form the S"bj'pct for discussion in the geography 1' won. "I am naturally pleased to fid." said the Minister of Education ( u '\ Carmichael), "that even in country schools the boys are keeping abreast of the most modern inventions. While this spirit is found among teachers and pupils, there is ground for hope that some day an Australian Marconi may arise who will bring fame to his native land."

its expenditure: — Added Year. Profit Dividend Reserve £ £ 1003 90,744 8 [i.e. 42,744 1904 129,928 10 H.C. 09,928 1905 9(1,704 8 p.e. 48,704 190G 94,900 1ft p.c. 34,906 1907 144,324 10 p.e. 84,324 1908 241,334 9 p.e. 109,007 - 1909 98,022 9 p.e. 20,355 1910 104,832 9 p.e. 33,105 1911 116,431 9 p.e. 44,764 1912 109,940 9 p.e. 38,279