CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 214, 10 March 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

ANTARCTIC COAL. The statement of Dr. Mawson that bis expedition obtained indications of a large area of coal is not likely to raise the hopes of economical housekeeper.'; for a decrease in the annual expenditure for fuel. Taking tho price of placing New Zealand coal at tho consumer's disposal, it is manifest that even if the supply found in Antarctica proved endless and easily obtainable, the cost would be prohibitive. It is also very unlikely that this coal could be utilised in raising the temperature of the frozen regions of the south, or that it could be used by exploration parties. Of course it is interesting to know that there is a coal area in tho vicinity of tho South Pole, but Dr. Mawson seemed to be easting a glamor over the scene •f his recent exploits when lie vaguely hinted at the value of the new lands of eternal snow and ice. Some day possibly millions of years hence, when this terrestrial sphere alters its inclination to the suit,'causing the equator and the poles to change places as regards climatic conditiorfs, the discoveries of to-day will be appreciated more than they are at present. This is a» it should be. A CHECK. ON SUDDJSN STRIKES; Half the value of the strike weapon is to use it suddenly. li> fact, in the early stages of the Wellington waterside strike an official of tne utiion arjued that if victory did not come in the first ten days, every 24 hours thereafter reduced the winning chance. This opinion is absolutely borne out by tho fcistory of {be very struggle which was then in its infancy. But now,, thanks to tke L.B.r. Act, the legal right of an unregistered union to strike is so restricted by tlw preliminary requirements (including notice to the Minister, an investigation, a secret ballot, ami'the time-limits connwied therewith) tlrat a sudden blow is impossible without breaking the law. Under last session's Act, tho right to instantly wage industrial war is no longer legal. And as the sort of strike that strikers want has thus ceased to be lawful, whether t ire union is registered or not, militant unionists have come to tho conclusion* that they might as well qualify for what benefits registration may * give them. Should they decide to engage in an immediate strike, it is no more unlawful to do while rsgistercd than while unregistered; and, even if it were, they might as well be killed for a sheep as for a lamb. With the passing of the L.D.I. Act tho centre of gravity, for them, has shifted, and they consider that the balance of advantage is under the I.C.A. law that they formerly repudiated.—E. V. Hall, in; Ohristchurch Sun. SCARCITY OF RADIUM. While the curative virtues of radium are being proclaimed and hospitals ail over tho world are being urged to secure supplies, tho extraordinary scarcity of the mineral is apt to be forgotten. It is estimated by competent authorities that the world's stock of [ radium at present time amounts lo about seven grammes, or roughly a quarter of an ounce. Tliis' quantity, which could be carried in* a man's waistcoat pocket, represents the result of tho handling of thousands of tons of radium-bearing ore and the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of pounds bv various companies. But the supply is going to be increased materially in the future. An American company has offered to sell the United States Government 200 grammes of radfum during the next six years at a maximum price of £16,000 a gramme, an enormous reduction upon the current rate. The mines in Cornwall are being developed rapidly, too, and there are reports of discoveries of ore in several parts, of Europe. Rn,.- J dium should be comparatively cheap and plentiful before nr&ny years haYCr passed. AS BAD AS lidl) CAN BE. The King Country may be fairly passed among the most promising regions in New Zealand. Unlike the Bast Coast-, it is actually traversed by a railway and thus easily accessible from- both Auckland and Wellington; moreover, it will be linked by railway to Taranaki as soon as the Stratford connection is completed. IM our domestic- administration been sound in past years, had a moderate aimount of energy and intelligence been, devoted 1 to King Country settlement, iliis return would now be ono of the most closelypopulated ami most highly productive 'in the Dominion. As things,are, tile- main line still runs for many miles throuali unsettled" country, even where, the land has beeu opened to settlers roads are generally disgraceful or non-existent, ami that gteat arterial road 1 which theoretically connects Tfc Kroti 1 and Taranaki is in as. deadly a condition ns the arterial road,' connecting Te Kuiti with Auckland which is as bad as, bad can be.-Aii 'klaad Star.