Newspaper Ideas.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 100, 10 September 1901, Page 3

Newspaper Ideas.

The rapid growth of the Farmers' Union has shown even the least discerning of its critics, that the farming community, aB a whole, is at one, and irrespective of party is determined to organise for its own protection. The very unanimity of the farmers and the energy with which the new inovoment has been raken up by what is usually a slow moving class shows that the t country is agreed upon the necessity for such an organisation, and is determined to make this Union a power.—Christchurch Truth. Australian samples of wheat sell in London at a trifle more than New Zealand grown wheat, and freights and charges are lower, but thete advantages do not, we think, amount to more than 6d per bushel. The average production in Australia in a favourable season is about 12 bushels to the acre, which at 2s 6d per bushel is equal to 30a par acre \ the New Zealand average is about 30 bushels (last seasoa's return was a shade more), which at 2s per bushel is equal to 60s per acre. The comparison is this—that Australians can neb a profit with a return of 30s per acre, while New Zealanders are unable to m*ke a profit with a return of 60s. This, says the Wellington Post, is the problem that wants solving.

Mr Seddon loves to pose as the potential >avtour of the Empire, it is true, but it does nobody a great deal of harm, and white we may smile at bis rather loud patriotism, we must recollect that he played a statesmanlike part in fostering the, patriotism of the colony when he might have done a great deal to damp' it. For this, at all events, he deserves our thanks. —Christchuroh. Truth.

We differ from Mr Beddon oa most question*, bat it fs'but honest to recognise that he has sounded the right note in connection with the Sooth African war. It is not pleasant to think what might have bean the consequences to New Zealand had * less patriotio Prime Minister bean at the head of the State. No deubt blander* were ooßamitted in conneotioa with their return, which have riot been entirely creditable,' but, after all, they are matters of tittle moment compared with the great « f Imperial n»ity.--Clhristohur«lirT«tk; - &i ,w». hare pointed out; wages most before! they be paid, and- if 1" no *u*e 'fixing;* minimam wage of 10s a day if an not yield this amoant and re*wi«bl* profit* m wen^PrejM^ & v t *'* *jm\ £ *,* t

a single precaoHon untjl it is proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that milk from diseased cows is not injurious. Tbe proof or the refutation of the argument must be left to the scientist, but the safeguarding of the public health by every lossible precaution is a -matter that vitally concerns us all, and, as a matter jf•common sense, we should avoid running any needless risks in a matter of such grave importance.—Press. If the Department is .to be just to its teachers, itself, the public, and the school children, it should certainly either discharge its female teachers or place them on an equal footing with the males.— Free Lanoe.

If it were made an offence for a moneylender to exceed a statutory rate of interest on any sum put oat to usury, the discreditable operations of sharpers who depended entirely or the lawyer, tradesman, or othir person whose' profession was a side issue and their sharping operations the main feature of their income, it would certainly tend to curtail the evil.—Free Lance.

It is surely time for the terms of the proclamation issued by the British government and left to Lord Kitchener's rliicretion to be enforced to be rigidly carried into effect. The proclamation provide* that members of any commando committing suoh outrages shall, after a trial proving that they were present on such an ocovsion, be deemed guilty. The leader of the commando thall be sentenced to death, aad the other members of the commando sentenced to death or to a leaver puni«hnteat, according to the degree of duplicity. Tbe murdering of unarnwl men must he put an end to, and apparently leniency is not effective. - Troth. There is no doubt that once a man or a woman ha» cultivated an unquenchable thirst for aJcobolio liquors, that the Individual is as truly an invalid as if by neglecting the ordinary precautions against chills, etc., consumption had beea developed. We may blame the dipsomanias as sternly as we like for becoming one, but we should treat him or her not as a eriminal but as a patient whose disorder is partly mental and partly physical. The Government have said several times that homes for inebriates would be established, but the actual establishment seems as far off as ever.—Cromwell Argus. While tbe dredging boom was on the amount of faith shown by a publio eager te invest was simply miraoulous; now the want of faith is abo miraoulous. We are now at the other swing ot the pendulum, and the error is as great on ooe tide as it was on the other.—Gross, well Argus.

It is a remarkable thing that of the nighty-six counties in the colony* including Stewart Island, the males predominate in all except one, and about tho name there is something significantEden. The woman was evidently boss in Ed >n at the start, if Adam's version of the story is to be believed, and she means to keep np the traditions of her sex.— Tauranga Times,

The average politician who ttarta on* aa a Liberal, Radical, or Democrat usually retains a deal of popularity until" he climbs up the political and social ladder, finds out how handsome he looks in a ball tapper and frock coat, and go*g regularly to Government House. Then ha begins to pine for a title for the Bake of the missus and—good-bye to democracy, —Adelaide Critic. When all is said and done about the liquor traffic, there can hardly be any question that by far the greatest'evil arising from it is that caused by the sale of Adulterated drink. It is not only that the poisonous decoctions sold by the unprincipled vendors intoxicate and madden tha consumer, bat they have the direet effect of creating a oraving for itimulants in immoderate quantities to a far greater extent than is the case with pure, sound liquor.—Sydney Sunday Times.

The M.H.R. becomes a sort of GMr-'n-» ment agent to execute all commhaions placed in his hands; and this, rather than legislation, takes up the bulk of his Lime, and keeps him busy all the year round. For auch a commission agent a salary of three hundred a year is, perhaps, none too much. For the ideal legislator it is extravagant—but toe real M.H.8., of an up-to-date type, it is very moderate.—NUaterton Times.

If the rotten system—which is now unfortunately in vogue—of Mr Seddon running the several branches, in charge of other Ministers goes on, it would be far better to fix on the Treasury benches a number of "wooden dolls" duly labelled, and when questions are asked in regard to the business of the various departments or about "a Bill in progress, the Premier could pull the string and-the figure would speak.—Palmerston Standard. . .

Some of the detractorsjmay really have believed that his warning or caution to tha sou'hern constituency fo "go alow" was * sign of weaknan. Like disappointed terriers at a rat-hole, they sniff'-d and scratched, bat tha rat was not there.—Opotiki Herald. Whether it would be better for the United States to have a Cenoiliatiftn and Arbitration Aot, as we in New Zealand have, and as all British' communities will shortly have,' or to have rioting strikers, fortifiod mills, and anarchical manifestations of other kinds growing oat of an immense industrial dispute, is a fair question.—Napjer Telegraph.