The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3066, 10 March 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1892.

There are few men who are in the haljit of endeavouring to calculate the results of a policy being pursued at present, who do not feel serious anxiety as to the troubles of his descendants when he reads the reports of the. proceedings at the meetings of the Charitable Aid Boards. There is seldom a meeting at which the members are not called upon to deal with some old and broken down man as impeeunions, as he is incapable of work. Something has to be done with him, he is probably not a cas:j for the Hospital, there is therefore only one course, and that is to send him to some Old Men's Refuge in which to end his days, and he housed, clothed and fed at the expense of the taxpayers, many of whom are gradually descending to the same low level. These institutions only differ materially from the Old Country workhouse in i.ame and system of management. In principle they are identical. How to deal with the poor is a puzzle which every legislature in Europe is endeavouring to solve. The difficulty has grown to such enormous proportions in the old countries, that any possible measures must be slosv in action and excessively costly. The bayonet and the policeman's baton are ready means to quieten the miserable when they rebel against their fate and annoy I their more fortunate fellow subjects, and they are freely used. What a heartrending story is that told by the teachers in the public schools of London and other large cities of children coming breakfastless to have imparted to them the knowledge which the State wisely lays down shall be the birthright of every child. Our teachers have no such tales to tell. We have poverty, but of no such acute type as this fact indicates. but we have '■ poverty, and as the number i of old people increases, who are past | work it will gradually become more difficult and expensive to deal with. It will be remembered that Sir H. Atkinson some few years back advocated a system of National Insurance. We forget the details of his scheme, but believe they were somewhat on the lines of that in force in Germany, where each man between certain ages contributes a percentage of his wages, the employer paying a like sum. This payment is compulsory. Mr Chamberlain has brought forward a scheme in Parliament for National Insurance for old age. His system is, however, purely voluntary. The only inducement beyond the national desire to avoid pauperism in old age is a large subsidy from the public Exchequer. His proposal is that each man shall pay 4£d per week, or £1 per annum, which is to entitle the subscriber to a pension on reaching the age of 65, being five years , earlier than under the German system. The question suggests itself whether we in this colony should ! not adopt some system in order to i avoid the pauperism which will in- ' evitably overtake a certain portion ■ of our population when they are past work. We are by no means favourable to the State undertaking duties which should be performed by individuals, but when, as is the case with the matter under review, the State suffers directly by the non-performance of a duty, the question arises how far legislation would be wise which compelled its performance by the individual. _ The old cry, "liberty of the subject," would, no doubt, be used freely were such a proposition brought for- . ward. We answer, " liberty becomes license when its exercise is injurious to the commonwealth." We believe that Mr Chamberlain's scheme can only be very partially effective, and would only be availed of by those least likely to iind their way into the workhouse. If a remedy for the daily-increasing number of aged paupers in this colony is to be found, it will be, in our opinion, in some system analagous to that of Germany. In the present unsettled state of politics and parties it would be futile to urge that a measure should be brought forward at an early date. It is quite time, however, for the attention of the country to be called to the matter, in order that public opinion may be expressed and the way cleared for the introduction of a measure which is manifestly necessary.

During the month British imports increased £5,5GG,000 while exports decreased £1,141,000. The Queensland Government has placed a quarter of a million four year Treasury Bills at a minimum of 98. Archdeacon "Sk illis desires thankfully to acknowledge 2s fid from Mr James Laney for Dr Barnardo's Homes. Mr W. B. Perceval, AgentGeneral for New Zealand, will read a paper before the Colonial Institute in May. A Bill has been introduced into the Italian Parliament reducing the army service to two years. It is estimated the measure will save a million sterling annually. The First Lord of the Admiralty in the Mouse of Commons on Monday admitted that the Australian warships had been accepted without a trial at maximum forced draught. Mr and Mrs Wallis and family. in another column, express their thanks to their many kind friend who rendered them such kind assistance during the anxious time they have lately passed through. The many friends of Mr W. A. Murray will ho pleased to hear that he has turned up all right again. A letter has been received by Messrs S. Vaile and Son from Mr Murray, bearing the date of Friday last. Our Paeroa correspondent -wired yesterday :—" Mr Horace Chester played here la-t evening, giving great pleasure to his audience." Mr Chester will appear at Hamilton to-morrow night, and at Cambridge on Saturday. All the fruit contributed in connection with the recent harvest festival at St. Andrew's Cambridge, namely two cases of apples from Mrs Wells, and one case of plums from Mrs Selby were forwarded to the Orphan Home, Pnrnell. The Financial News says the failure of the Mercantile Bank shows it is idle for colonials to rant about the splendid resources of Australia. It feels certain the insidious growth of Treasury Bills will be quicker in its evil effects than legitimate loans. The train arrangements in connection with tho Mercer Regatta, to be held on Saturday next, will be.found in another column. Excursion tickets, including admission to sports, will bo issued from the various Waikato stations, available for tht day of issue only.

Xhe cricket match, Faterangi v. Cambridge, arranged ti) be played at CamI ridge on Saturday next, will nut be played. Yesterday morning the secretary of the Paterangi Club wired to the Cambridge secretary, inforniinß him that they wore unable to send over a team, owing to the spsrts at Mercer and other matters. It will add considerably to the attractiveness of the forthcoming Mercer Regatta that TJpppr VVaikatn will be repreHented, Messrs Hobbs Bros., of Hamilton, hiiving entered their Maori canoo Hamutaoa for the canoe hurdle races. They will puddle down to-morrow, and we Bhall be very much surprised if they do not appropriate one or more of the piizes offered. A fire, the origin of which is wraoped in mystery, occurred at Kihikihi on Saturday evening last, and by whuh Mr Alex. Armstrong, the Wnipa County Council engineer, lost two stacks of grain — one of wheat and one of rye. The crop w;is a good one, and the loss to Mr Armstrong rather severs. We need scarcely :idd that, there was no insurance, and so far no clno can be obtained as to how the tiro started. A popular lecture, on " "Womankind," by the Rev. C. H. Garland, is advertised to be delivered in the VVesleyan Church, Hamilton, on Tuesday next, loth inst. Mr Garland being tin able and popular lecturer and preacher, an intellectual treat may be expected on the occasion. Now that we hear so much about women's rights, the subject of this lecture should awaken interest in the minds of both the fair and stern sexes. Several itetrs of select music will be given by a string band. Mr Wells of Cambridge has received a letter from Mr Hudson, of the Railway Department, stiting that his (Mr Walls) application that a special tram should run from Te Awamutu to Cambridge on March 15th, the day on which the Horticultural Show will be held, has been granted. The train will be timed so as to connect with the express trom Auckland, which on that day will stop at Ruakura, thus enabling passengers from the north to reach Cambridge by the special. The ordinary return fares will be charged. Messrs Ralph Bros, are now prepared to supply first-class steam and house cal from their new mine at Huntly. The ieam from which this coal is obtained is sixty-tivo feet thick, being the thickest seam ever found in the colonies. The coal is down 200 feet and is covered with rock and Hie clay, and it is superior to any taken from the shallow workings. The new shaft which is to be the main one, is now down fifty feet, and as the sinking is safe, the water having all been drawn off by tho first shaft, it is expected it will be finished this month. The Pukekura Mutual Improve ment Society commenced a new session on Friday evening. There was a large attendmce of members and their friends. The roll was lead by the secretary, and was found to contiin the names of forty-hve members. Tho business of the evening was i short and interesting address by Mr G. J. Neal on " Phrenology." Mr Neal also lelinented the charactars of several members in a very satisfactory manner. In response to a unauimous request, he kindly consented to pay the Society another visit, which will be looked forward to by the members with great pleasure.

Xhe visit of Mes3rs Pitt and Farley, directors of Messrs Reynolds and Co., to Waikato, referred to in it late issue, has resulted in the purchase of the P»teratigi factory, and although this sale will relieve the original promoters, the _ price (£300) is little more than half the original cost. In connection with the starting of a factory at Kihikihi, arrangements have so far been completed that the question of site now only remains to be decided, and as this depends upon the securing of a good water supply, the necessary steps for ascertaining this has been left in the hands of the promoters, and when settled satisactorily, the erection of the necessary buildings, &c, will be proceeded with. Dr Kenny was suddenly called out to Tamahere on Tuesday afternoon to attend a child of Mr Casey's, which had been taken seriously ill, and when it was discovered that the child had beeu eating some strange berries growing in the garden, it was concluded that it had been poisoned, and the dangerous symptoms set up seemed to point very conclusively in that direction. Dr. Kenny was accompanied by Mr E. F. Sandes, who assisted in administering an emetic and further relieving the little sufferer. We are pleased to hear that their efforts were successful, and that the child is now considered out of danger. Messrs Booth, McDonald and Co., tho well-known-implemen'; makers of Christchurch, have an advertisement in this issue, pointing out the special merits of 'their Caclyle spading harrow, or perhaps as it is better known to Waikato farmers the screw pulveriser. Under this latter name many will no doubt remember the trial reported in our issue of October 13th of this implement given m September last at Cambridge by Mr Greig, the firm's representative, and which, although the auspices were unfavourable for the trial, the result was such as to evidence the suitability of the harrow for work in this district. Mr Lr. J. Neal, of Cambridge, has a full supply of extras in stock, and one of the machines will shortly arrive, when a another trial will be given. The following excellent notice of New Zealand mutton arising fro in Lord Onslow's experiment appears in the Weekly Despatch, a paper enjoying an enormous circulation amongst the lower middle classes ill England :-The sybarite of the Beefsteak Club had a quantity of New Zealand mutton sent to them by Lord Onslow, and organised a banquet to discuss it. They roportthat it was c;.pital eating, and they have sent out to know if the club can get a regular supply. Of course New Zealand mutton is excellent, and nothing out tho foolish prejudice of the smaller householders prevents them from making extensive use of it. But everybody kurnys that the members of the Beefsteak Club love good cheer, and their approval of this cheap victual ought to dispel much of the prejudice that exists. It is purely a prejudice, for it goes without saying that those who condemn New Zealand mutton loudest often praise it highly when their butcher supplies it to them insidiously as the best product of the Southdowns.