TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8130, 3 May 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

"The payment of members of Parliament is under consideration by the Government." Thus Sir Henry Campbell-Bannermah replied «n a parliamentary paper to Mr William Field, M.P., who asked the Premier whether he was considering the advisability of introducing a measure to give M.'s P. a salary. The soale of payment for meraburs in British colonies during a session is as follows:—Canada £SOO, New Zealand £3OO, Tasmania £IOO, West Australia £2OO, South Australia £2OO, Queensland £3OO, New South Wales £3OO, Victoria £3OO.

The Melbourne Age says:- "The people of Australia have not yet wakened to the full value of milk as a summer food. In connection'with butter making, our producers at present waste far too large a proportion of the nutrition In the milk which tbey handle. From the point of view of prodnotion milk has an immense advantage over meat. The total nourishment produced by a cow in the fo'm of milk during its life is far greater than that obtainable i from the primest bullock as meat. This economic fact will ultimately lead to the extensive replacement of meat by milk and milk products."

The Pre'mier will evidently have very general support for his annuities scheme if it be found prsotioable. As far back as 1898 Mr Maßsey, in a speeoh iu Parliament, said:—• "I have noticed ia connection with the Australasian Mutual Provident Society that persons can take out deferred annuities in this way: A young man, starting at the age, say, of 20 years, by a payment at the rate of 6d a week, will provide himself on rea-ahing the age of 65, with a pension of £2O per annum; and if he happens to die before he reaches the age of 65 the whole of the money will be returned to the relatives. What is there to prevent us having a class like this in conneo tion with our Government Life Insurance Department? 1 think there should be such a olasa, and that payments should be receivable at the post offices of the colony. The payments might be at regular or irregular intervals, and in large or small sums, just as the intending annuitants could afford. I would go even further, and would subsidise those pay men &e to any reasonable extent. lam willing to do anything as 1 have said, to assist those people who are willing to assist themselves."

The Ohristohuroh Press, in an article on rating for taxation purposes, that in oonnectionwith the rating on unimproved values some consideration should be given iu respect of land bona fide occupied 88 garden or pleasure ground in oonneotion witn a dwelling house. It says: L "We make it

penal for a man to have a large garden, especially in a city where it would espeoially add to the beauty and attractiveness of the place. We offer him every inducement to erect on it as many jerry-built houses as can be crowded on the land. The effect of this policy has already been nothing short of disastrous in Übristchuroh. Formerly an ideal "Uarden City," with many of its residences standing in beautiful grounds, planted with fine trees, it is now being cut up into small plots, and it is becoming as monotonous and as hopelessly vulgarised &s many a manufacturing town in the Old World. One shudders to think what would be its condition were it not for the public reserves which the foresight of ics founders set apart for the benefit of the inhabitants."

Mr T. E. Taylor, of Obristcburoh, has received an interesting letter from Mr J. Barnes, a leading business man of Manchester, who comments upon the progress of social reform in England. "I believe," he says, "that this country is becoming more sober, and the working man is becoming more thoughtful." He thinks that this is due partly to the temperance propaganda, but also to cheap entertainments and to the facilities offered by the extension of tramway systems. He describes England as becoming a new oountiy, and says that trade, espeoially in Lancashire is "booming.' The cotton trade, he adds, was never so good as at present, and two or three more years of such prosperity would make some of the Lancashire cotton magnates equal in wealth to some of the American millionaires. He believes that there will be a check next year, as mills are being run up in every direction, and the next problem will be want of workers. Then it will be the operatives' turn and there will pro> bably be two situations for every worker. He cannot see how Lan-' oashire oan possibly get trained cotton operatives io fill the situations in the mills now being erected.

Some pointed remarks on the totalisator were made at the Polioe Court by Mr 0. 0. Kettle, S.M., Auckland, on Monday. A youth had been remanded on a charge of stealing money from his employer, in order to receive the probation officer's report. The report was not favorable. It stated that the youth frequented racecourses. Mr Kettle, who has frequently spoken againat the attendance of boys and youths at racecourses, stated that In his opinion the totalisaW should never have been legalised by the State. The machine was a great temptation to men and youths, and since it had been introdcued it bad demoralised the youth of the colony. The remarks made by some of the members of the House of Representatives when the totalisator was legalised had been borne out. The detrimental effects of the machine were being folly realised in this oolony.