TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9101, 29 May 1908, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

RABBIT-FREEZING INDUSTRY. The announcement recently made that a privati company in Auckland had decided to establish a rabbit freezing industry to commence freezing for export early next season, has been the subject of a great deal of criticism. We have more than once referred to the harm caused by the establishment of rabbit freezing industries in New Zealand, and to the apathy of the Government in not dealing with the question with a firm hand. Once rabbit freezing becomes profitable in this country, the work of the Government, who have spent thousands of pounds in suppressing the rabbit pest, will be frustrated. The opinion expressed by Mr E. Clifton, Chief Inspector of the Department of Agriculture, to a representative of the Auckland "Herald," the other day, was that the rabbit nuisance was in the greatest evidence where trapping for freezing purposes was prevalent. The Department preferred poisoning to trapping rabbits as it was the quicker method of keeping the numbers reduced. He also submitted that there was a greater probability of rabbits being removed from place to place by human agency should the freezing of them be largely entered into. This is not a very satisfactory statement to receive from a responsible official like Mr Clifton, and it only goes to show the necessity for a careful enquiry on the part of the Government into the whole business. WILL CHINA DEFY JAPAN?

The action of the Chinese Government in despatching 5,0U0 troopß to the Korean frontier, as stated in a cable published a few days ago, owing to the action of Japan in claiming the right to tax the residents of the village of Tieri-dao, may lead to interesting developments, if not serious trduble. Japan bases her right to impose the tax on the assumption that the village belongs to Korea, while China claims that it is in Chinese territory. Koiea ha 3 been before the public eye so much of late that her ultimate fate has been the cause of much conjecture. The pledge of future liberty and independence that Japan recently offered to the peoplo of Korea is hardly likely to be taken seriously by the Western nations.Whatever Japan may have intended when the war with China commenced her conduct since the signing of the treaty of peace has left little doubt of her ultimate object. It was, no doubt, necessary for Japan during the war to take formal possession of the couiitry for military purposes, but the people of Korea certainly never expected that they were to surrender their right of self-government an 1 come under the control of Japan after the war was over. Certainly a treaty was signed by the Emperor of Korea which apparently justifies Japan's action in keeping troops and officials in every part of the country, but the Koreans assert that this treaty was obtained by main force. China i* in a better positi n tc-Jay to offer resistance to her old than she was ten years ago. Pier army is being modelled on the lines of European armies, and in many ways she is adopting the ideas of the people of the-Western world. What will be the outcome of China's action in the present case? Will she defy Japan?

THE WHY AND THE WHEREFORE?

The Borough Council decided, on Tuesday evening last, to adopt a motion by Cr J. Hunter, to the effeit that all new business must be taken in open Council. The question was decided on division, and after the Mayor had ruled that the Works Committee was not "open Council." Now the Works Committee comprises the whole Council, and the position at present is that should any new busi-

Neds be of such a nature as to require investigation by the Works Committee, it must lie strictly tnhooed at the Works Committee meeting, unless it has been duly relegated to the Committee by the same people when sitting as a Council. This position of affairs seems a little grotesque, and it is very easy to see how difficulties can arise. The idea of introducing 3uch a system as that resolved upon means that the Council intends to adhere strictly to it, as Cr Hunter explained that hi 3 motion was designed to prevent Committees assuming the functions of the whole Council. What is to happen if on the/lay following an ordinary Council meeting something transpires coming within the definition of "new business" and of an important nature which the Works Committee should properly deal with? A fortnight must elapse before -the sulject can even be mentioned in the Coulicil. Then, perhaps, it goes on to the Works Committee, who in turn must report to the Council unless given power to act. It means that the supposed business is delayed three weeks at least before it is dealt with, unless a special meeting of the Works Committee is called immediately after the Council meeting. The only alternative is the suspension of the new standing order, and this is likely to occur fairly frequently. Seeing that the whole Council is ,a Works Committee, the new standing order is quite unnecessary—in fact it will be a stumbling block.