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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9044, 10 March 1908, Page 4

[ Victoria is reaching : t3 millennial period. Recently it has been closing its hotels at a fairly rapid rate, and now, according to Australian exchanges the Government is closing down some of its gaols because of the decrease of crime. Not only has it done this, but it has turned one of its prisons into a butter factory. This caps Sir Joseph Ward's idea of turning prisoners into cabbage-growers. By the way, it is strange that Mr Bent, Victoria's Premier, never thought of the cabbage business, because before he was a politician he \va3 a successful grower of market cabbages, and was rhen and for years after known among oli identities as "Cabbage" Bent. Modesty, however, which is a distinguishing characteristic of the Premier of Victoria, may have restrained him from boasting of the enterprise which led on to his subsequent status and fortune in the world of politics. It is a neglect his biographers will attend to, and discuss with pride.

With reference to the Chamber of Commerce's proposal to extend the hours of the Masterton telephone service, it may be pointed out that there is no need to approach the authorities with a request on the subject, for the matter rests entirely in the hands of the subscribers. The regulations respecting telephone exchanges provide for the keeping open of an exchange having 150 or more subscribers from S a.m. until midnight, the fee being £5 per annum, but if those who have business connections are desirous of having a continuous service they have only to agree to pay at the rate of £7 per year and the service must be granted. The regulation reads: "Open continuously if desired by subscribers, on payment at rate of £1 per annum for business connections agreed to. The Chamber of Commerce has, therefore, only to approach the business people on the subject and ascertain their wishes.