Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19124, 19 March 1924, Page 4

In the past the Americans have bought a very largo proportion of Now Zealand sheepskins (says the Taranaki Herald), hut, it appears that the Fordney tariff is adding so much to the cost, of them that British buyers, not bo handicapped, are able to give ns a better price. It will ho the same with wool. The Americans arc buying our wool, because they cannot do without it but the 'Fordnoy tariff is adding so much to the cost in the States that British manufacturers are able to pay us higher.prices for our wool and yet are aide to bc.tt American woollen manufacturers. The Fordncy tariff is, in fact, a boomerang, which hits Americans harder than it does their competitors. Intimation has been given by the Minister of Education of the introduction of a system of mental testing for the post-primary stage of public education. This, it majy be taken (says the Dominion), is by way of a preliminary step to the institution of a general system throughout the primary schools. Intelligence testing is comparatively new, its primary exponents being Galt,on, Binct, and Tonnan. There seems to be no doubt; as to (ho theoretical soundness of intelligence tests, or measurement* as some describe them, but there is sufficient, ground for apprehension that, in inexperienced hands utterly wrong deductions may ho drawn from the, results. For these, reasons it may bo hoped that the Minister, who is commended for his derire to keep in touch with the most up-to-date, met 1 in education, will proceed wilti due caution. If tho t ondoncies towards material ism continue unchecked tho world will grow worse, not better, and wo believe (says the Ilawera Star) that, there will bo no improvement until people abandon materialism and return to principles and ideals of justice, service, and honour, which cannot bo practised unless people {ire willing to control their lives and ambitions, and keep steadily before them that thorp is a real duty to be performed, the neglect of which must leave the world poorer. Service, not personal gain at the expense of others, should be the principle followed by all. employers and workers alike, and until the people ns a whole recognise that and act upon it, the world will continue in the sad state of unrest, instability, and discontent which aro everywhere so much in evidence at the prefient tinie. If (he best, and true honest service is given everybody must benefit, but if personal gain and money-making are the sole arbiters of action very few will gain permanently, and all will bo serious losers.

Through the sagacity displayed by a fox terrier a carefaker and his wife, who were asleep in a, burning bouse in Melbourne, were saved from being burnt to death two or three weeks ago. Files brought by the last English mail show that a, cat's sagacity led to tho discovery of a gas poisoning tragedy in a Surrey cottage, and in all probability saved the lives of two persons. Tho cottage is occupied by Mr Brooker, a gardener, and his wife. In the early hours of the morning Airs Brooker was awakened by the cat licking her face. There was a strong smell of gas in the house. Roused by his wife, Air Brooker went down stairs and opened all the doors and windows on the ground door. He found that all the taps in a room occupied by his wife's sister, Notta Alary Eddridge (25), had been turned full on, and the young woman was lying in her laid dead. Mr Brooker is convinced that if the, cat had not wakened his wife by licking her face they would have slept on and have shared the Info of Aliss Erridffo. Letters and telegrams found in her bag are expected to throw- light on tho tragedy. The, constitutional Government in Ormanv is not in a position to declare, with guarantees, that military preparations have not been going on behind its hack, 'there have been frequent assertions by correspondents and other observers In Germany pays the Northern Advocate) Unit the mill (ary party has been quietly and extensively organising. 'the latest assert ion is that these preparations have so far hllva need that the sound of a whistle would tiring into view and action a well-equipped and efficiently trained fighting force. A good deal of this may bo rumour and exaggeration, but there is no doubt sufficient evidence to warrant the Allied Governments, and especially the British Labour Government, which proposes to take radical steps to settle the German question, instituting a, searching iaveatication on tho subject.