TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 4 (Supplement)

TOPICS OF THE HOUR.

BT VIVIEN. At the great meeting held by the League of Red Cross Societies at Geneva in March, a definite plan of campaign was decided upon for the purpose of making a vigorous and well-organised crusade against the diseases and the social and physical evils which have exacted such bitter toll of late years. While a good deal of thought was expended on the question of alleviating the suffering in the afflicted nations of Europe, the conference concentrated its attention chiefly on the great problem of how best ■to prevent, and then to cure disease. In past times, the chief object of our medical men, of our scientists and research workers, has , been to alleviate suffering and to cure existing diseases. Modern science has gone a step further— or perhaps one might more truly say, a step backward—in the resolve to strike at the root of each disease by discovering its origin and cause and thus to prevent it the first place. More and more in late years have we come to realiso that many existing ills are of our own making and could have been prevented, and in family life the conviction is being pressed home to mothers that one of their first duties is to teach their children the simple 'laws of health and the inevitable consequence >of disobedience to those laws. The Mid-Victorian woman, one of whose accomplishments it was to faint on the slightest provocation, and whose penchant it was to be delicate, has gone entirely out of fashion, and has been replaced by a far more self-reliant and practical type. The day may even come when to be ill will be almost a disgrace, and to pose as a martyr to ill-health will provoke only pitying scorn.

At a recent meeting, of the Arts and Crafts Circle of the Women's Club, a letter was read from the Devonport Borough Council in reference to a resolution which had been previously passed by the circle and in which the members had protested against the wholesale destruction of beauti fill trees in the Devonport Borough. While pointing out that only untidy or unsightly trees were being destroyed and that they were being replaced by others of a more ornamental character, the letter at the same time expressed pleasure at the know ledge that the Arts and Crafts Circle had been sufficiently interested to take the matter up. Certainly it is a satisfaction to know that there are some women in Auckland who take an active interest in matters pertaining to the beautification of the city. In Wellington, women hKye gone a great deal further in manifesting their interest in such work, and have form-id a Women's Town-planning Com mittee, which is evincing its enthusiasm for the work in many practical ways and which is doing its best to dispel the general apathy which seems to prevail in most New Zealand towns with regard to such matters.

There is no doubt that in Auckland especially, there is so much natural, but wasted beauty, and so much room for im provement in the beautification of the city and suburbs, that it is time citizens took more interest in such work. Visitors from abroad, fresh from the beautiful tree planted boulevards and parks of Paris and other continental cities, frequently exclaim at the sight of the ugly posters, the hideout tin sheds, the little tumbledown buildings and general marks of untidiness that disfigure so many otherwise beautiful spots in our towns. To such people, this sinful waste of beauty seems tragic—as it is! And again, there is no doubt that the beautifying of their surroundings ought, in the main, to be primarily women's concern ; for, while men of artistic tempera ment generally rise to greater heights than women, yet at the same time, women in general usually have a more strongly developed artistic sense than have men. It is sometimes contended that the average man's idea of "tidying up" his garden is to cut down trees, lop off branches, and clear out all the "finicking" shrubberies. This may bo all very well up to a certain point; but beyond that point, the average woman's artistic instinct cries out against indiscriminate destruction and rushes to the defence of beautiful growing things. Given a larger field for their natural taste in this direction, women might do much to curb a too zealous spirit of so-called "tidiness" on the part of those responsible for the appearance >.f a t>wn. The South Canterbury town of Timaru, with its beautiful gardens und gaily planted ter raced waterfront, is a notable example of what may be done in New Zealand; and if Auckland women took an active interest in the improvement of parks and public gardens and in the beautification of the beaches and lovely—but alas ! how disfiguredwaterfront that extends in numberless curving bays around the har ' bour, then they would materially assist in attaining tha ideal "City Beautiful."

In view of the recent further increase in the price of books, the courses now being opened for the winter season by the' various suburban libraries in Auckland should this year prove more popular than ever. There is no denying the fact that, when economy becomes necessary, a great many people infinitely prefer to cut down their expenditure on books or other source* of mental satisfaction rather than on clothes and what they regard as physical necessities. Therein, perhaps, lies the rea son why the cost of living presses less heavily on people of this type than on those of more intellectual calibre, since the former are quite ready to do without mental recreation and cheerfully spend the money thus saved on physical requirements instead. But ev«jn apart from the cost of living, it is extraordinary how many people, especially women, seem to require the guidance of the stimulus of a literary society or reading club of some sort to ind'ioo them to read anything vorth while. Hence winter courses on the lines -napped out by various suburban libraries will probably prove not only a source of keen pleasure to booklcvers, especially in these days of expensive reading matter, but also a means of rousing enthusiasm in thosd who seem unable to discover, the treasures of literature for themselves. The reading of a fine selection will often make such a vivid impression on the listeners as to fire them with the wish to read the whole book for themselves. Hence a library course may well prove a valuable aid to self education, especially to young people.

Again, in regard to the increased cost of books, it is stated that the effect is most .serio'is on little-known writers, or on the unknown authors of first novels. Whili m some cases this may be a matter for regretespecially to the said authors!— one cannot help wondering whether there are not also very real compensations in such a state of affairs. Of late years the market lias been flooded with hundreds of such useless, absurd and actually harmful books that one wondered how any thinking individuals could be found to take the trouble to read them. Vet the cheapness uf these so-called novels -and their very multiplicity has until now always ensured numerous readers, whose literary taste naturally did not tend to be elevated llietehy. If, however, the increased cost of production results in the publication only of books by well proved writers and if those of real literary value, thrn the standard of literature published must be raised and literary taste must consequently he forced to a higher level also. There is so much that is fine, so much that is in spiring in modem literature that we can well afford to do without the overwhelm ing mass of trashy reading matter that previously threatened to make us lose our sense of literary valuesj and if the •hief effect, of costly production is to bring ihnut a change for the better in the type if books bought and read, then what ap pears to be an unmitigated misfortune