TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8188, 20 July 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

A London correspondent states that on May 31st, at 15 Dowgate Hill, a meeting was held of representatives of New Zealand meatimporting firms. Ita purport was to decide vhat steps should be taken to secure advantage from the visits then being paid to London by representatives German authorities. Sir E. Montague Nelson was in the chair, and a member, or else a repreoentative, of all the best known firms was present, >as also was Air H. U. Cameron. It was unanimously resolved:—"That thiß meeting, of re-*-presentatives of the New Zealand Frozen Mea*. Industry, reoognising the importance of maintaining and developing the trade, considers it advisable to arrange for the reception of the editors of the leading German newspapers during their visit to London, and for their visit i to Smitbflejd Meat Market, arid the Oold Air Stores, with the view to ultimately oreating an interest through the Press in Gemany in the question of the importation of New Zealand merit into that country." A small oomroittee, representing all interests, was formed to carry out the objects of the meeting.

The latest proposal in connection with the exodus of Jews from JRusaia is to settle large numbers of thera in the North rn Territory of Australia, in agricultural Villages. Dr Arthur, M.L. A., the president of the Immigration League of Australia, and the author of the scheme, propounded it in Sydney at a meeting called to protest against the massacres of Hebrews in Russia, and at which he was invited to attend. Dr Arthur's sohemo in a way conflicts with the ideal of many Jews, which many think to be within measurable distance of realisation, namely, that the scattered peoples belonging to the race should acquire Palestine, and make it their country. SeveraJ of the speakers regarded the Palestine ideal as" Utopian, but there were many others who expressed themselves enthusiastically in support of it. Dr Arthur's contention was that as England and America are legislating against aliens, it is Australia's uty to shelter a number] of Jewish refugees, especially as she is in sore need of immigrant*.

Buenos Ayres is complaining that it has been made the dumping ground for South African failures. Persona described as "Englishmen, more or less educated, young and old," have been trooping to the Argentine in a last hope of mending their fortunes, only .to find thut the apples which looked golden at n distance were merely coloured dust. "It is positively painful," says the Buenos Ayres Herald of May 15th, "to walk through the street of the ueutro of this city, and meet at almoßt every fifty yards little knots of good-looking young Englishmen of the well-known check suit and cloth cap variety, betraying auxi6ty and even the pangs of hunger in their transparently dull and careworn expressions." They have no equipment, no money, to assist them to make a living in Bueuos Ayres, and thexef're ttieir plight «s pitiable. Indeed South Africa seems to have supplanted Erin as "the most distressful country." Lured by the will-o'-the-wisp of lucre to South Africa, hundreds of men soon found themselves in the slough of despond. in their despair they turned their eyes to South Amerioa, took ship to Buenos Ayres, only to discover that "the landing stages of the docks literally bear the inscription 'Abandon nope all ye who enter here."'

The Birminhgam Housing Committee, as a result of a visit to Germany last year, have made several important recommendations with a view to improving the conditions ot the city, as already built, and the provision of cheerful and healthy

homes on the outskirts of the city. They recommend the adoption of Mies Ootavia Hill's system of root collecting by ladies, and ask for powers to forbid the ereotion of any new building except in accordance with a general plan of developing all uncovered land within theoity boundaries. For this purpose they recommend the formation of a special oummittee consisting of representatives in the Publio Works, Health, Baths, Parks, Tramways, and Housing committees, together with an architect, builder, medbal man, lawyer, surveyor, and estate agent, to be 00-opted by the Oounoil for their special knowledge of housing requirements and land development. The committee express the opinion that a corporation cannot own too much land, provided it is judiciously purchased, but they propose to encourage other people to build the houses. Comparing German houses with of Birmingham the deputation found the houses of the German artisan classes in a beautifully clean condition, and in no case did they see any of the conditions of filth and dirt, with dirty, ragged children in the streets, such as are met with in the lower class districts of Birmingham and other large English cities.