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Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1911, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

In Auckland's nicely-situated gaol on Mount Eden, the Higher Education prisoners' studious in Gaol. habits have agreeably surprised a representative of one of the local papers. A special telegram in The Post to-day sets out the literature most dear to the sentenced men and women. Though Nat Gould's and Guy Boothby's thrills are the most popular "turns," much of the reading is above the lurid ground of melodrama. The Philosophical Institute has the comforting news that 2 per cent. of the books perused are philosophical, and 7 per cent, of them are concerned with analytical and character study. Chemistry, mineralogy, and geology have also their lovers. This is well, but one remembers a statement made by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) when he was outlining his new scheme of prison reform, over a year ago. He announced that in allotting occupations to the inmates of the gaols care would be taken to keep them away from work that might suggest their past life. For instance he declared that cracksmen would not be employed at stonebreaking (nor, we presume, at any glazier or blacksmi thing business). However, the day of the old-fashioned jemmy is passing. The Sikes of Dickens could hardly earn a living in competition with the educated plunderers of to-day. Electricity) the oxy-hydroggn blowpipe t and

other scientific aid is invoked by the burglar of 1911. Well, will the cracksmen have access to books on chemistry, physics, and electricity in the Mount Eden Library? Will the "false-pre-tences _ man be allowed a course of 'analytical and character study" to help him to sort out "mugs" when he is rereleased? We confess that we are not seriously perturbed about prisoners' researches m the technical books at the gaols, but one may be anxious about* the Minister. He has the warning about "the cracksman and the stonebreaking to square with to-day's news from Auckland. Even when Mr. Edward Tregeav's hand ' held a Government pen Mr. Tregear in his office of Secretary with a for Labour he used it Free Hand, now and then in a mannor 6 resented by the Employers' Federation. It was alleged against Mr. Tregear that he had contributed ultra-socialist articles over his own name to various papers. Tempests of wrath raged about him, and it was fairly established against him that he had committed an indiscretion. However, he was forgiven in time by the. Employers Federation. Nobody could ™ g £ arbour a grudge against genial Me. Tregear in his po-iderings about lues problems. He has retired now from the State service, and is free to write with both hands io all the world's papers. It is hoped that he will not bo too revolutionary for a start. He has plainly hinted that he yearns to play a part in the social and industrial hurly-burly, and one may well expect from his kindly temperament that he will mingle mercy with any justice that he seeks for anybody. Yet even if he -calls thunder and lightning upon the capitalistic wolf"— in the phrase of capitals friends— perhaps the wolf will not snarl at him. Mr. Tregear has an -aura of amiability like Mr. Balfour, whom, Carruthers Gould pictures so dehghtfully and good-humouredly i» the. Westminster Gazette; but, of course, Messrs Iregear and Balfour stand in different political paddocks. With characteristic chivalry, Mr. Tregear has given notice of motion. His opponents have timely warning to be on guard. Ohakune not long ago was a rough a n „, cam P alon S , th e Main ™ e , Nofc Tr unk line, and was „ WotUi chielly known by the the Candle, allegations of an occa- . „ sional "man from Ohakune about unfair treatment of cooperative labourers engaged on the railway. But Ohakune fast followed Taihape to townhood. Is there not now a Mayor of Ohakune? The settlement of canvas and slab huts has quickly soared to good buildings, and the latest index of advancement is an illuminated address. A fe* years ago it was no more possible to associate an illuminated address with Ohakune than "biled shirts" and dinner-ooate when the hash went round but to-day Ohakune can perpetrate illuminated addressed " without apology. The gilt-edged print this time is for Sir Joseph Ward. Ohakune's. loyalty has bloomed in a golden frame, and the aroma is of the hothouse. One may not quarrel with the heartiness dispensed so liberally to the Prime Minister, but one mTLy properly regret a portion of the reference to the Black pamphlet. After expressing sympathy with Sir Joseph and his family, Ohakune a voice proceeds:— "lt is doubtlea's a source of satisfaction to you to know that the vile production, which will react on the perpetrators, is reprobated, by every fair-minded right-think-ing man and woman of all shades of political opinion in the Dominion." This .peculiar sentence, while exonerating the Opposition in the latter part, seems to convey an insinuation in the middle, i'his "react on the perpetrators" infers that an organisation was at work against Sir Joseph— for Avhat? Political purposes ? Apparently the effort made in Parliament to associate the Government's opponents with the oamphlefc is. being continued, to the great disgust of "every fair-minded right-thinking man and woman of all shades of political opinion in the Dominion." iff the Government is wise it will pass the word to its. organisers and friends to keep political insinuations out of all references to the pamphlet, whether in illuminated addresses or not.