TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3195, 22 May 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. At the sitting of the Timber Commission at Wellington yesterday, Mr Andrew Qainlan, sawmiller, of Nireaha, said that he had been in business since 1873, and did not know of more widespread depression in the timberbusiness than at present. If it continued, mills would have to close down, and he did not believe in export duties on timber. Much of the depression was due to the bursting of the land boom. He could not say the public had benefited by the importation of Oregon pine. There was some mysterious goings on in reference to Oregon pine. Mr Arnold: "Do you think there- is some understanding between merchants, architects and engineers with reference to the specification of Oregon pine?" Witness: "I have my strong suspicion that way, and there is a mystery at work somewhere, and something secret." "NO COUNTRY. NO FLAG." If any foreign Power, European or Oriental, wants to fight England, and thinks it has a good chance of vic-tory,-it will attack us, notwithstanding all the frothy ebullitions of Socialist orators, says the Christchurch "Press." These men who talk so glibly about recognising no flag and having no country to defend ought to have to live for a time in the countries which England must regard asjat least potential foes, and against which her precautions of de- | fence are taken. Safe under the

British flag, which they apparently despise, they can now afford to indulge in loud, cheap talk, of which all the good that can be said is that it must open the eyes of the workers generally to the dangerous paths in which the Socialists would lead themTHE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY. To encourage settlement and dedevelopment is the Prime Minister's first duty. There is every need to restrict and limit costly public services in the South, but in the North, which is growing so rapidly, and which has been absolutely unchecked by the recent stringency, says the Auckland "Herald," a different spirit is required. All the Northern public services are understaffed. Uur railway requirements are carefully locked against us. The unlocking of the native lands, the building of development railways, and the increase of public facilities in the North generally would pay the Government handsomely and make the national balance-sheet stiil more satisfactory.