THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8100, 21 March 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1906.

The importance of maintaining, and of resisting any attempt calculated to interfere with, the direct line of steamers between the West of England and this colony, is keenly realised by the Premier. When speaking at Geraldine recently, Mr Seddon referred, somewhat theatrically it is true* but,, at the same time, in a most satisfaotory manner, to tho determination of the Government to maintain the line in; practically, any circumstances. Mr Seddon's remarks, in connection with

the matter we have mentioned, call to mind that some years ago be realised to au extent, not generally appreciated by our public men, the great advantages that this country would derive through a better system of distribution of our chief products in the Old Country. At Geraldine the other night he made mention of what "was. known as Seddon's mutton shops scheme in Great Britain," and ne declared that his suggestions had been acted upon by a private company, which took the place of the colony, and had now cleared £50,000 in two years.

We are little concerned as to the accuracy of Mr Seddon's figures, and are certainly not disposed to accept tnem as correct. Mr Seddon's scheme, although ooutaininK a right principle of the greatest importance from the point oE view of this country, went altogether too far. The determination, however, of the Government, by means of subsidising lines of steamers, and in other ways, to broaden the sphere of operations in England for New Zealand producers, cannot be too highly commended. No sane person can possibly dispute that the most certain methods of developing, and maintaining the country's prosperity, are by increasing not only the quantity but the number of our exports, as well as by securing a reputation ou markets where our exports can be most profitably disposed of. Mr Seddon states that a shipping combination is trying to break down the "West Coast service" now in the hands of the Federal Company. Whether thib allegation is true or cot, it seems to be pretty clear that American manufacturers exporting to New Zealand secure better rates than British manufacturers, but even if the position is as suggested by Mr Seddon this colony cannot be seriously affeoted, if the Government are prepared to protect to the utmost of their power tne producers of New Zealand. The Government in this matter have done good work in the past, and there is every reason to anticipate from the Premier's spirited utterance, at Geraldine, that, >n that portion of their polioy there will be no backsliding. * # * *

Mr Seddon's allegations are probably groundless, and we are inclined to think that they are, -,but, at the same time, no harm can be done through, a straight-out declaration of the colony's determination to enter into arrangements whidh shall secure a better {distribution of Mew Zealand produce in the Old Country. Produoers must have necessary protection, and assistance, and it is the Government alone who oan ren.ier to them the necessary assistance. In this matter there mast be no half-hearted policy, no such thing as failure. Mr Seddon says, in effect, that . whatever any shipping monopoly may do the New Zealand producer is going to come out "on top," and, if the necessity arises, State owned ships shall oarry New Zealand produce to Home consumers. It is a bold declaration, but one . that is not impossible of accomplishment. We are opposed to the State entering into competition j with private individuals, aa a general principle, and especially in connection with those oonoerns which would probably be better managed and more prosperous; and, therefore, more beneficial to the country, if controlled by private enterprise; but, in those great matters, which affect not merely districts, but the whole of the people and their prosperity from the North Gape to the Bluff, State control is certainly an advisable principle. State owned railways are a success, and we should no more think of objecting to them than to the State Post Office. In view of the intensely paramount importance of our exporting under favonrabe conditions, and of developing markets for those exports, State owned ships might prove a most beneficial step in the progress of this country. At any rate the "blast" sounded by MrSeddon's "war-horn" will, no doubt, serve a useful purpose, if anything in the nature of unfair competition calculated to injure this country is being indulged in by the various shipping lines trading with New Zealand.

An interesting deoision has been given by Judge Chapman in connection with the interpretation of "work in hand," under the Chrisfcchcroh Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Assistants industrial agreement. The decision, no doubt, applies strictly to the Canterbury industrial district, but it is, at the same time, of interest to hairdressers generally,. and possibly more so to tbose upon whom the tonsorial artist operates. The deoision referred to is best explained by giving the question and answer. The question asked was as follows:—"If a number of customers are waiting in the saloon at the time provided for the assistants to leave off work, would they be considered as "work in hand," or, is this limited to the person the chair and un ' finished?" Answer: "We think, that all tbose who are actually waiting in the saloon, and'can. be fairly

be said to have become acknowledged oustomers, are within the expression "work in hand." The reason of this, that any such person, if taoitly accepted, had been led to suppose that his case could be dealt with, and thus induced to wait, has made a contract with the proprietor, and is entitled to have it carried out." In a note to the answer the Oourt states that "questions of this sort could be avoided if u were arranged that customers presenting themselves at too late an hour might be told, with the authority of the proprietor, not to wait." .It is satisfactory to realize, that under the beneficial laws of this country, there is not the remotest prospect of a man having to leave a barber's shop only partially shaved, or with but a portion of his hair cut, and that if he takes a seat in the saloon, prior to the time having arrived for the assistant to leave off work, he has entered into a contract with the proprietor of the saloou, and may insist upon the services of a hairdesser. The note, however, seems to be somewhat contradictory for the man may be told, "not to wait," and if so treated probably he wouldn't—-hence the "contract" that he has made with the proprietor does not seem, with all due deference to the Court, to be of a very binding charaoter.

Reference was made in tbe oable messages to the services rendered ia the work of rescue at the Oourrieres mines, by the Westphalian (German) miners, who were provided with a special apparatus enabling them to work with impunity iu noxious gases. This special outfit was probably what is known as Fleusa' Patent, it is designed for the purpose of supplying tbe user with artificially manufaoured air, quite independently of any communication with the outer atmosphere. The air is, nevertheless, perfectly respirable, and the apparatus is cla'med to work for four hours at a time. Being self-oontained, the movements and actions are'not impeded by air pipes or other communications with the base of ations, so that for all purpouea and especially exploring and rescue work in mines, and so forth, its usefulness is practically unlimited. The same air is breathed over and over again, but the apparatus absorbs the carbonic acid after each expiration, and supplies the requisite amount of oxygen, so as to render it pure and fit to be inhaled.