TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9676, 15 December 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE LICENSING QUESTION

The issues of Continuance and Nolicense in electoral districts should he voted on quite apart from the questoin of absolute Prohibition throughout the country, which is such a great and important question that it should have a ballot paper to itself, says toe Ohristchurch "News." and not be confused with any local issue merely concerned with the suppression of the trade in liquor in the district, { and not interfering in any other way with'its consumption.

. f . UNSKILLED LABOUR.

A decided improvement has taken place in the demand for unskilled labour during the past month, reports the "Labour Journal." A feature, however, of the work offering is that it is very casual, and in many cases men lose a good deal of time going / from one small job to another. The demand for country workers has also increased considerably, and a very large number of vacancies for farm labourers of aii descriptions remain unfilled on the department's books. Th ere is still a decided reluctance on the part of single men to leave the city unless they are sent to Government works. There has been a good demand of late for married coupleß, also farm labourers, tor dairy work. The number of farmers inquiring foremen of the right stamp during the period has increased. At present there is a difficulty to get this class of labour, although wages offering range irom £1 5s to £1 10s per week, with board. During the period just endei 240 married and single men have been sent to employment, the number of dependants being 284. Of the number assisted, 117 are from the North Island; 18 from ■ the South Island, 18 from the Commonwealth, 81 from Great Britain and 6 from other parts.

THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Canadian Premier, in the course of a brilliant speech at Montreal recently, made an important and interesting reference to the Constitution of Great Britain and the United States, which is not without political significance in view of the recurring rumours regarding the movement in Canada for closer relations with its great continental neighbour. Comparing Britain and the United States, the Premier emphasised the three great principles of the British Constitution i —no taxation, except by the consent of Parliament, no legislation, except by consent of the three Estates of the Realm; and no executive authority except bv the consent of Parliament* He claimed that the British Constitution waa more demo- / cratic, more drastic, more responsive to public needs than the American. As an instance he pointed out that after President Taft had been elected, the new Administration did not come into power for four months. Again* Congress Wiis practically

powerless over the nation's President. One point on which the American Constitution was superior to the British was that it was a federated union, whereas the British was a legislative union. Experience showed that a federated union was the most potent instrument for unity in spite of ethnological and geographical divisions.

NATIVE LAND BIi,L. The work of the Native Land Com* raittee in dealing with the mammoth measure submitted for their consideration has been entirely in the direction of making small amendments with the object of securing an easily workable Bill. The original clause empowering the charging of native succession duty by the Commissioner of Stamps is struck out, as the duties are provided under the Death Duties Act of this session. As an addition to the portion of the Act which enables Maori Land Boards to secure advances from the Government for constructing and forming roads and bridges, the committee has added a clause to authorise the purchase or exchange of land for the purpose of acquiring land for roads. The Bill gives power to incorporated native owners to alienate their land. New clauses have been added empowering ihem to borrow money upon the securiy of the land for its improve- I ment, this fund to be under the control of the Maori Land Bill. Another new clause provides that when native land is owned in fee simple by more than ten owners in common, none shall be capable of alienating his interest to the Crown otherwise than by a resolution of assembled owners. This does not apply to purchases or part purchases which take places before the passing of the Act. It is provided in clause 142 that native freehold land shall nut be available for payment \.f debts of a deceased native. An amendment made provides that, where a testator expressly charges his native land in his will with payment of a debt that that charge shall be effective. Though there were about a hundred airiend- [ ments of a more or less important 1 character, the principle of the Bill has not bean affected.