THRIFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 39, 16 February 1931, Page 6

THRIFT.

A story told 111 Ireland relates that a peasant Avoman took her son to the big town on a fair day. To mark the occasion she Avould buy him a present. "Buy me a hook," said the boy. "A book! Haven't avc one of them at home?" In certain countrysides, iu every country of the world, that story clearly has a point —to everyone except the countrysklers. In certain quarters of urban areas, too, the story has an application; but among city dwellers the point usually illustrates Avasteful expenditure, Avhile in the case of the woman avlio Avent to the fair, it illustrates an excessive thrift amounting to an intemperance. Other illustrations of the same tardiness to spend —to cover a machinery-shed against the rain, to purchase a well-bred bull instead of the "scrubber" that begets poor stock, to add an extra room or two to house decently the growing family, to supply a bathroom and a washhouse —examples of that kind of "thrift" are not found in New Zealand, as they are found, for instance, in Australia. Also (publishers inform us) NeAV Zealand buys more books per head of population than any country in the Empire. All the same, every observer —especially teachers and clergy men—can point to homes Avhere there are no books except a Bible or a Prayer Book and a few old school-books. He can point to a number of homes where no Aveekly paper comes, and to a great number where no daily paper is ever seen unless it comes as a wrapping from the grocer. That state of affairs is a menace. It is a greater menace than the' occasional cruelty to animals Ave hear so much of. Yet, no one is ever fined for starving the minds of his Avife and children! Could the nation Avell do Avith a society for the distribution of decent books and decent newspapers? The first aim of such a society must be to break doAvn intemperate ideas concerning thrift, and to teach instead the joy of spending. And an idea comes belatedly: such a society might successfully discourage the distributing of books and papers — especially papers—that act as seAvers for carrying intellectual filth. —A.H.M.