TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8122, 20 April 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Major von Bruchhausen, a wellknown German military writer, has published a book dealing with the "coming war" between Germany and Great Britain. He argues that England is perfectly justified in wishing to make war on Germany. But the first shot against Germany will mean German mobilisation againafc France, The Major also forseea, tftaj G.er«

many would occupy Denmark,. Amsterdam,, and Brest, and with Russia and' Turkey invade and conquer India and Egypt.

Professor Bearing, the great authority on consumption, has been interviewed by the Paris Matin at Marburg on the subject of his new vacoine known as tuberoulase, which is obtained from the consumption baoillus itself. The professor states that tuberculase, besides being innoouous, possesses distinct preventive and curative powers. He hopes that it will be possible to use it to cure human tuberculosis, as it has already proved successful' with oattle. He guards his secret, however, until he is able to issue precise directions for using the vacoine. Meanwhile experiments are to be made on men by experienced doctors.

In the further report on the stores ordered for'the late South African War, and subsequently disposed of, reference is made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General to large cargoes of New_ Zealand oats, which cost, with freight,. £45,000; and had to be sold in Durban for £5,000. The Army Council held that the fault was due to the "lQr different quality" of the grain passed by the graders in:the service of the New Zealand Government. The graders replied that the oats had been kept eleven months, and the Army Council finally,, while not prepared no accept the statements of the New Zealand graders, decided that no good purpose would be served by pursuing, the question further.

There ia every reason to fear that unless some immediate acton is taken to stay the indiscriminate slaughter which regularly takes place when the shooting season opens, the wild duck, will 'shortly be wiped out in this part of the colony, says a Ohristotmrch paper. The season opens on May let, and air ready the pot-hunter is preparing for it. The favourite method is "cylinder" shooting, and' in order to gain some further information on the subject, a reporter had a chat with Dr. Moorhouse, President of the Acclimatisation Sooiety. Dr. Moorhouse said: "The length oi! theae cylindera as fixed: by our regu. iations is 30 inches, but they are now making them with, a floor, and towing them out to the weed bed in the middle of Lake Ellesmere, which has hitherto been an excellent natural sanctuary for the ducks. Any sportsman will agree that wholesale slaughter is no sport at all. The professionals usually work in couples, and they have been known to get 1,000 ducks in a week.

In connection with the proposed amendment of the tariff next session, a movement ia on foot in Wellington to form a Consumers' Defence League, having for its objects the reduction of duties on necessaries, and opposition to any further increase of indirect taxation. A preliminary meeting of those interested was held a few days ago, wbenfit was resolved to call a public meeting later with a view to forming a representative organisation, keeping apart from party politics, and having no object beyond next session's tariff proposals. A strong feeling is reported among the promoters of the movement that the cost of living should be reduced.

Mr W. Praser, M.U.R., gives his opinion of the question of the "re cord surplus" claimed by MrSed. don as followo:—The credit balance for the year 1904-5 was £761,036. The amount of former years' credit balance not transferred was £49,740, making an excess of revenuegover expenditure of £711,296. The present estimated oredit balance for 1905-6 is £775,000. The amount of former years' oredit balance antransferred was £261,000, making an excess of revenue over expenditure for this year of £514,000, showing that the excess of revenue over expenditure for the past year is £197,296 less than the excess for 1904-5. The revenue for the year euded March 31st, 1906, as stated, is £7,653,309. The revenue for the year ended March 31st, 1905, was £7,347,197, showing a very satisfactory increase for the year just ended of £306,103. The expenditure for the year 1905-6, as stated, is £7,139,300. The expenditure for the year 1904-5 was £6,635,901, showing an increase of expenditure over the former year of no less than £503.399, which, even considering the increase in the revenue, is anything but satisfactory, and shows the reason for the above stated decrease fin the excess of revenue over expenditure for the year just closed. The claim for a record surplus as distinguished, from a oredit balanoe is thus disposed of.

Mr J. Hume Cook, meirber of the Oomtnonwealth House of Representatives, recently wrote to a Parliamentary officer in Wellington asking for information in regard to the date of the first Labour member's entry into Parliament, Labour members in the Ministry, number of Labour members in the present Parliament. This | letter was referred to Mr J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., for Dunedin ' South, who, in the course of his reply, stated that there are only four members of the New 2ealand House of Representatives who are pledged to a Labour platform, and are therefore entitled to olaim to be Labour members. These are says Mr Arnold, Messrs E. G. Alien, Barclay, Arnold and Millar. In addition tweniy members give a general suprjort to Labour viz., Messrs Barber, Baume, Oolvin, Davey. Ell, Guiness, Hanan, Hardy, Hogau', Izard, Kidd, Laurenson, Lawry, R. MoKenzie, Pnrata, Sidey. Smith, Stallworthy, Tanner and Wilford. The first Labour member, was he thinks, Mr S. P. Andrews, member for a Christchurch seat, and eleoted about 1879. New Zealand never had a Labour member in the unless it be the present j