PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 58

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Une of the features of the Pail Mall Magazine for April is an illustrated article on “Amongst tne Lions m Last Africa, ’’ the cover, in colours, representing one of j the moments. The article was written and illustrated oy .Leonard Willoughoy. In ! "Borrowed Fashions” a lady contributor, with the assistance of the illustrations, points out how very largely the spring latahions are modelled on early and MxlVictorian inodes. Albert Chevalier contributes an interesting article on “Camera Cnaracter Studies.' A skill ul amateur I photographer, _VLr Chevalier nnds it most helpful in making those hue character studies lor which he is noted. In “Mr Balfour at Leisure” Mr Harold Spender indicates i how the ex-leader may do expected to j spend his spare time with eitner music, I pnilosopuio speculation, literature, science, j and goll. Lieutenant Fowle describes how I Delhi Durbar Day was celebrated in a j frontier post. “The Cold ot Our British Ancestors,” by the Duke ol Argyll, deals ' with the story ot eome wonderlul buried treasures. The story of the underworld> which Air Henry C. Howland has been revealing under the title ot “Chu-Cnu the Shearer,” is brought to a fitting close. There are live complete short stories in aueuuon to the halt dozen in the Story Book section. The illustrations are excellent in their way, and greatly enhance the interest m the letterpress. Wo have received irom the publishers, T. C. Gregory, Bristol, a copy ol the pamphlet and samples ot the Handbills which are being scattered broadcast throughout the United Kingdom as a warning to emigrants on the so-called “Plain Facts About Conscription,” by O. .Reginald Fold'; “The Defence Act and What it Means,” by P. J. D itegan; and “The Sacred Bights of Parents,” by William Cormsh. Now, these writers are entitled to hold their own opinions, this being a free country, but when they come to scatter ex pane statements in the hope of injuring the land in which they earn their living it may become necessary to take some notice of their doings. The vast majority of the people of New Zealand have decided that it is a duty to train up the youth of the country so that they may be aole to defend themselves and those whom they hold dear from attacks by outsiders. To write ot this as training men to murder is the veriest rubb/Sh. It not attacked, the Territorials are not likely to be ever called upon to lire a shot with the intention of. injuring a fellow being. But the small minority, ignoring Die fact that a voluntary system proved ineffective, oppose Die steps now taken to train men to defend their hearths and homes, and should a force of Asiatics or others at some future time effect a landing on our shores, they presumably would bo prepared to stand calmly by (supposing the landing party permitted) and see their sisters, wives, and mothers made the sport of the invaders. To contend that New Zealand is never likely to be attacked is to set aside the lessons of the past and live in a fool’s paradise in the belief that a more vigorous people than ourselves would never seek to make such an easy conquest as we would prove if content to have no force trained to arms.