TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8148, 24 May 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The Premier has bis eye on the farmer, just now, says a southern ■ paper. What with a State line of steamers and State meat shops and State-paid trips to New South Wales, the farmer who doesn't vote for the Seddon Government after this will be an ingrate of the highest magnitude. There isn't much use in the Bawkesbury proposal, but it is a beautiful pieoe of embroidery to the other schemes to capture the imagination of the farmer the Premier has tin hand. ! If he would let the well-to-do farmer look after himself for a bit, and taokled the oase of the struggling back blocka settler, he Would be doing something irtuch more useful. It is a common sight to witness conveyances leaving Taihape laden with labourers for the co-operative works at Ohakune, says the Taihape News. No sooner does a load of men leave than an equally large baton of men are noticed with their swaga aboard returning —apparently disgusted with the conditions under which they are expected to work. Interviewing a couple of stronglooking navvies a few days ago, we elicited the same old tale that the system of working was bad. It was impossible, under the existine rules to earn a comfortable livelihood. They particularly denounced in the strongest terms, the practice adopted by the overseers in choosing mates, for inferior workmen were placed with the superior class, which marred any chance they had of earning a pomfortable wage. The member for Rangitikei considers that he has just as much hope of being elected Mikado of Japan as of seeing Mr Hall-Jones' prediction in respect to having railway communication through to Auckland by 1908 realised. Mr Remington, said, further, that though sincere in his opinion was Mr Hall-Jones, 1 he did not think it was possible to complete the Main Trunk line within five years. During his election tour Mr Remington made a personal inrpeotion of the Main Trunk line between the railheads, and feels quite positive that the work cannot be completed within the time stated., Under the present system it will be practically impossible to make muoh headway with the line during the winter months. It is a serious question and one that shou'.d be looked into without delay.

The prioe of leather is on the rise, and has now been for several months past. In November last Wellington merohants were advised from England of a rise, and this was followed about three months ago by another lift in prioe. Advice dated England, April sfch, has now been received by more than one merohant in Wellington, advising of still another increase. "A prominent Wellington boot and shoe importer, received the advice per circular, when questioned as to what was the cause of the rise in leather, said that he oould only attribute it to the big demand for leather occasioned by the Russo-Japanese war, a demand which would naturally exist long after the war ceased, on account of the equipment or the armies having tu be brought up to the standard once more. The circular above referred to reads as follows:—In November last we bad tu notify a small advance in our prices in oon sequence of the greatly . inoreased cost of leather. On that circular we stated that "these quotations must be looked upon as provisional only," that we feared we might have to make further advances, as these then made would not by any means cover the increased cost to us.

Unfortunately, there has since that date been a continual aud very substantial advanoe in the price of all kinds of leather, and also of other raw materials used in our business, and this leaves us no alternative other than to issue this further notice that on future orders we shall have to charge an advanoe averaging about 5 per cent, on our present prices. The Health Department has issued oiroulars to hairdressers submitting suggestions regarding the carrying on of business in a thoroughly sanitary manner. Most of the suggestions are already carried out by hairdressers in this city (says the Auckland Star). Two ulauses are, however, of special interest—one that shelves, etc., on which instruments are placed shall be of glass, marble or other material, and that no sponges or towelettes should-be used unless disinfected. Mr H. B. Portellio has written in reply to the Health Department suggesting that, instead of the control of hair dressers' shops being in the bands of the local bodies, it should be by the Heal u h Department direct, with special inspectors empowered to issue permits to properly qualified master hairdressers and associates to work at their trade, or that hairdressers should' be registered the same as dentists. The report of Mr Alex. Keefer, Maori census enumerator for the Waiapu (East Coast) district, which has just been furnished to the Native Minister, Hon. J. Carroll, shows that ttie natives in that part of the colony are progressive. Mr Keefer reports that the health of the Maoris generally is g'.iod, and a great improvement is noticeable in the habits of the uatives of all ages. The younger people are now taking an interest in the welfare of the old men and women~an interest which at one time they did not appear to take. The natives of the district appear to be very attentive to religious matters. Serious crime is rare, and there is less drinking than in former years. The Maori Council has done good work since its inception. Sanitary and other matters have progressed under its guidance. The attendance of the children at the schools is satisfactory, and the bova.and girls are making excellent progress. There is an increase in the population since 1901 of 137 persons. The area under ; sown grasses is greater by acres than in 1901. Sheep owned by Maoris have increased by 13,832, despite the large numbers sent to the freezing works and tbe dealers; cattle by 1,573, piga by 586. Out of 548 acres laid down in potatoes only 105 acres escaped the blight.