TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9672, 10 December 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

GOVERNMENT AND THE LAND BILL. There is still considerable doubt as to whether the Land Bill will corre up for discussion during the present session, wnich has now only a further fortnight to run. It is evident from what can be gathered that the Government is undecided whether to allow the Bill to rest at ths staije that it has now attained or whether to allow it to come up for a second reading debate before shelving it until next year.

WOMEN AS JUSTICES.

Mr J. Stallworthy, the member for Kaipara, chivalrously endeavoured to secure from tha Government an undertaking that in 'the next appointments to the Commission of the Peace the advisability of appointing women to the position of Justices would be considered in districts where sittings of a court are held, in order that women may have the judgment of their own 3ex in matters specially affecting themselves. The Government has now replied that under the existing law of New Zealand women are not eligible for appoinment to the office of Justice of the Peace.

THE BOOKMAKER,

Many people are crying out for immediate attention to det'ence matters, so that we shall be protected against the outside foe, but in the "bookie" and the gambling evil New Zealand has foes within that are sapping the life nut of our national independence and habits of thrift, says the "Feilding Star." It is to be hoped that the Premier will rise to the occasion, and that, when he brings down his promised amending Bill to legislate galloway meetings out of existence, he will also moye the total abolition of the bookmaker.

IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

Replying to a suggestion from Mr A. W. Hogg, Member for Mastertor, that further blocks should be opened on the improved farm system, the Government states that every effort has been made to obtain additional land for settlement under improved-farm-settlement conditions, but the Commissioners of Crown Lands report that there is no more suitable land at present available. For this reason, the original mwober of 400 of such holdings, that it was r.he intention of the Government to open, recently had to be reduced to 320. It is not, therefore, anticipated that additional land can bs opened as improved farms until further land is acquired fr.im the native owners.

"KISSING THE KOOK."

A plea that the form of oath which i ivolves kissing the book should, on sanitary grounds, be abolised, has drawn from the Prime Minister a reply that under the existing law of New Zealand (Evidence Act, ]yoß, sections 49 and 50) witnesses may, if they so wish it, be sworn in the

Scotch fashion, i.e., by holding up the right hand and saying, V I swear I by Almighty God, as 1 shall answer to God at the great Day of Judgment, that 1 will speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth"; or they may make a solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath. So that no witness is compelled to take an oath and to '"kiss the Book" against his will.