TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8270, 25 October 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Tho suggestions attached by Mr Kinsella to his annual report on the Dairying Industry are In many waya of great public interest. It is a significant proof of the value of the technical trainiuG! in even such practical arts as butter and cheese making that the Dairy Commissioner urges the estaoiishment of dairy schools and agricultural colleges in different parts of the colony. But by far the moat important feature of these suggestions is their insistence upon the necessity for sanitation and tho enforcement of byaienio conditions in oonneotion with the milk supply. Registration of dairy herds, inspection of dairy premisos, oompulaory nasteuriaafcion of all milk or cream for butter for export, and tho compulsory sterilisation of all skim-milk and whey, to prevent the dissemination of disease among stock-—these are some of the percautions that Mr Kinsella urges upon the attention of the Government.

The position of Mr Deakin in the Australian politics otto-day 'is an unhappy oae. His political stronghold lies in Victoria, as that Mr Reid liea in New South Wales; throughout the Commonwealth he finds supporters wherever local in 7 riustriOß depend upon proteotion, or wherever it ia thought pre-Binmeutly desirable that the industries shall be created "by bounties, duties, or by other means." Under ordinary polictioal circumstances he would be generally roßnrded as a safely progressive statesman, with much mere than the overage amount of political abiluy aud sagacity, and would be universally thought of with respect and consideration Both supporters and opponents would class him among the moa" - . reputable of Australian publio men. But unfortunately for Mr Deakin and his attempts at a consistent polioy he finds that the Labour organisations of the Commonwealth are not only quite insatiable but are bo convinced of the advantages secured to them by the triangular syßtem that they have rejected his proffered alliance and are flighting him throughout the oountry only leas ardently than they are fighting Mr Keid. Under the ciroumstanaea his polioy announcements have little meaning. In mauy ways M. Ulemenoeau, the New French Premier, is a good type of the progressive French politician. In his youth he was a vigorous advocate of social and political reform; and his sojourn in the United States between 1865 and .1869 taught him the value of sane and well-ordered democracy. In spile of the part be played during the sanguinary and short-lived Commune of 1870, he has always been regarded as a force to be reckoned with in French politics. An eloquent speaker, a vigorous writer, and a duellist of the traditional 'lire-eating" stamp, be was for many years a striking figure in French publio iifo; but until he had paßsed middle ago he seemed more likely to head another re-

volution than to rise by peaceful means to a seat ia a constitutional government. As in so many other cases the oarea and responsibilities of office have had a wonderfully sobering effect on M. Clemenceau. Though he has not althogether discarded the "Socialist" views of his earler days, he has entirely changed his opinion as to the attitude Socialists should take up tuwaid the State. And though he was once prepared to denounce patriotism as a deviae invented by the buroauoraoy to enslave the proletariate, he has shown within the last few days that he is prepared to speak as boldly as even M. Delcassa in defenoe of the national honour.

One of the most interesting features of the Publio Works Statement is the portion showing what is being done by the Government in regard to the utilisation of water power. Druing the year, it appears, a number of surveys have been made, and these are evidently not yet complete, ao that the Minister was only able to speak in a somewbat hesitating and tentative way in regard to the prospects opened up. tie indicates, however, that it will probably be more profitable to supply Auckland from Kaituua, instead of from the Huka Falls as originally proposed, and states that an installation at Kaituna would give 30,000 brake horsepower at the turbine shafts. A scheme of damming the Hutt river seems to be favoured for Wellington, and iis estimated to afford. 16,000 h.p. for part time. The Clarence river at Jollie's Pass is relied upon to furnish 22,000 b.p. on a Pelton wheel, and the Opibi ia mentioned a another scarce of power. The calculations in regard to the Lake Coleridge supply are not yet completed,so ;hat the Minister is not able to say whether it would be preferable to have one oentral power station for Canterbury or two—one at Hanmer and the other at lihe Opibi. So far, everything is on paper merely, atlhough. we have a glowing picture presented of what may happen in the futare—of New Zealand manufacturing nitrates for the world, and her own desert places being transformed into hives of industries. We ourselves have gaeat oonfideuoo in the possibilities of electric! development but if anything is to he done the matter will have to be tacblad with more energy, enterprise, and expedition than the Government has hitherto shown in any of its [public works.