TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8266, 20 October 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The Dunedin milkmen are evidently getting alarmed at the agitation for the munioipal control of milk, and have passed a resolution to the effect that the reform would be of no benefit to the public, and that the "same care wouldn't to taken of the milk as at present." By this anyone would conclude, says a Ohristohurch paper that the Dunedm dairyman would shudder at the very suggestion of carelessness, but if their methods are anything like those pertaining to tne Ohristohorcb milk supply (and there seems to be no reason why they shouldn't be) there is room for very draatio reform. Perhaps the Dunedin dairyman always dresaas in spotless white, and baths bis onws before he milks them and puts them to bed.at nght-tiice, acd hits anything bearing the slightest resemblance to bacteria on the bead with if he does ho is quite right in getting virtuously indignant at the insinuation that the wholesomeness and quality of the milk he sells aren't quite what they ought to be.

The Anti-Gambling Act whioh Obtne into force recently in New South Waleß already seems to have produced a considerable affect, and it is probably most elaborate and drastic piece of legislation yet devised on this important subject. Generally speaking the object of the Act is to suppress betting-ehope and street betting, and to prevent wagering with persons under 21 years of age. Ihe only place where betting may be legitimately carried on is, therefore, the racecourse; and an attempt is made to deal with the exoessive gambling that prevails there by limiting the number uf race meetings. Altogether the Aat is a vigorous and business-like attempt to grapple with a very difficult problem, and its effects will be watched with deep interest by all interested in sooial reform throughout the Australasian oolnnies.

It whs stated in a cable message published a few days ago that the British Admiralty considers that the employment of the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy gives Great Britain an immensejadvantage over all other users of wireless telegraphy, aud that Great Britain ought notrto abandon her position at Germany's request. The key to the true significance of this news -—much more important than it might appear at first sight—is to be found in the fact that,' at the Invitation of Germany, an international oonfeience is assembled in Berlin to nobsider whether "in the interests of the world's shipping," there should net be intercommunication between all [systems of wireless telegraphy—of which it may surprise the reader to learn that there are al ready no less than seventy-thiee —so that any wireless ship or ooast station should be compelled to accept messages from any ship, irrespective of wireless system employed. The present conference rs the second of its kind. Three years ago the German Government issued invitations to a similar conference, and notes were sent round alleging that England, through the Maoroni Company, designed "to > ohtßin n monopoly in wireless telegraphy similar to that which she bad of the cables," and calling upon foreign Powers to assist in overthrowing, or in preventing, the establishment of this monopoly. Foiled on that oooaaiou, Germany is making another attempt in the same direction.

Aooording to'the Canadiau reports the British Colombia fishermen ant! oanners have had a very poor season this year. The total quantity of salmon packed on the Fraser River is less than half the return of 1902, and the factories on Puaut Sound have a similar report to make. There will be a shortage, it is said, of fully 400,000 oases and that is as serious a matter to British Columbia as the failure of the grain crops would be to Canterbury. With the idea of helping the industry, the Government extended the season by a month, but that proved of very little assistance, and it is believed that the extension will have a prejudicial effect on the season of 1910. The life history of the Paoiflo ooast salmon is peculiar among commercial fish, and makes the preservation and perpetuation of the supply a matter requiring special supervision. A writer in the Toronto Globe,discuaaing the position,saya that it is not possible to save the fish for another year. Every salmon comes in from the ocean to die, aud none returns alive to the salt water. The salmon in a "run" are four years old, and fully They have oeased to take food; their jaws are rigid and their organs of digestion are atrophied. They have no further purpose or end in life to propagate their kind, anil by the time their spawn is deposited in the shallow rapids of the fresh-water streams thepiooessos of disintegration are already far advanced.