TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8359, 15 February 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The question of setting ud a Council of Advice to assist the Home Government in dealing with colonial questions is being discussed in political circles in Wellington. One of the leading members of the Liberal party

there stated that everything pointed to the council being set up, and that ' Sir Joseph Ward would be the New Zealand representative. This looks rather "tall in print, says the Wellington correspondent of Christchurch Truth, but it is certainly within the range of probability. The aforementioned Liberal tips that inside of twelve months this country will see another Premier at the head of affairs.

Mr T. Leihy. Government poultry grader at Dunedin, has compiled a very interesting return, showing the estimated annual value of New Zealand's poultry industry, his calculations being based on the number of birds as shown by the census taken in April, 1905. The number of fowls shown in the census return was 2,784,269, and after making an allowance of 40 per cent, for males and non-layers Mr Leihy places the number of layers at 1,670,562. It is estimated that each hen lays 80 eggs, and that 30 per cent, of the eggs are used for incubating, from which chickens to the extent of 33 per cent, are hatched and reared. This gives 13,364,496 birds, which, valued at 2s each, give a value of £1,336,449. The product of eggs is estimated at 7,995,966 dozen, and the average value is set down at lOd a dozen, or an aggregate •of £333,164. At the time of the last census the number of ducks was 281,999, and by the same method of calculation as that indicated above Mr Leihy estimates the number of layers at 169,200. The product is estimated at 1,353,600 birds, which at an average of 2s each represent a monetary value of £135,360, and 789,600 dozen eggs, valued at £32,600, taking the average value at lOd per dozen.

The Dunedin Star says:—"The following will no doubt constitute a difficult matter to justify before the public of New Zealand when the nexf; election comes on. It has been pointed out several times in this paper that £lo,ooo' of the taxpayers money is being expended on the alleged cargo service between Van couver and New Zealand now supplied by the Alley steamers. The curiousness of the transaction is often laughed at in business circles, but the working man whose money it is does not seem to be alive to the question just yet. The meagre cargoes carried by these steamers are naturally not proclaimed from the housetops by the agents, but patient investigation brings their quantity to light. Some time ago we published a resume of former cargoes. Now comes thef Pondo to New Zealand, bringing about 200 tons of cargo and 448 pieces of timber. This could be comfortably carried by a coastal steamer like the Rimu, yet New Zealand is paying a subsidy of £IO,OOO for this and Canada another £IO,OOO, and there were two other lines, the Canadian and Australian line and the Oceanic line, trading in this direction from the American end before this line was brought into the trade."

An interesting leaflet has been issued by the Registrar-General (Mr E. J. Von Dadelszen) snowing the movement of population for the years 1902 to 1906. In 1902 the population of New Zealand was 807,929, being an increase on the previous year's figures of 20,272. In 1903 the total population of the colony had risen to 832,505, in 1904 to 857,539, in 1905 to 882,462, and in 1906 to 908,718. The excess of births over deaths last year was 15,913, and the net gain in population for the twelve months 28,761. In the year 1902 the net increase from abroad, after deducting the number of persons who left New Zealand, was 7,992, and in 1903, 11,275. In 1904 the excess of arrivals over departures fell a little, being 10,355 persons, and in 1905 still further—9,3o2. But the year 1905 shows the largest increase of all by arrivals, being 12,848 persons over the departures. In five years New Zealand has gained, according to the returns 51,772 persons from ahead, mostly, from Australia and the Home Country, after deducting those who departed outwards.