TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8117, 11 April 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Sir James Hector is our authority (says the Wanganui Herald) for the statement that in New Zealand, out of 192 sea fishes, some of which are only known from single specimens, we have nearly as many varieties used for food as are brought to marbet in the British Islands. .In these circumstances it seemß a great pity that systematic efforts are not made to develop tho trawling industry in New Zealand. It is not intended to suggest that New Zealand oould enter into active competition with America and England in the European market, bat it is within the power of this colony to cater more adequately for the requirements of its own people, and the project is of such importance as tb deserve more than passing notice. It is admitted that an imperfect knowledge obtains in this country regardingithe sea fishes used by the people as food, but if proper syetom of exploitation was carried out by the State, one of our material resources would be developed and that languishing industry made a good commercial institution.

The Auckland Chamber of Cemmerce has at length sucoeeded in inducing the Telegraph Department to fall in with its views regarding the desirableness of issuing receipts for telegrams despatched. At a meeting of the council of the chamber, last week, a letter was received from the Department stating that it was intended to issue pads of telegraphic forms, with a butt attachment upon which the sender might write the necessary particulars. The butt would be (late stamped and initialled by the counter clerk, and then returned to the person presenting tho message. A charge of 2s would, it was stated, be made for a book of 100 forma. The members present expressed satisfaction with th proposal, and was resolved to thank the Department for thus meeting the wishes of the chamber.

In au article un the hours of labour the Manawatu Standard says: There is a fast growing tendenoy to ahirk work and obtain a maximum amount of pay for a minimum amount of labour. A reasonable amount of recreation is beneficial, but the bounds of prudence have been overstepped in New Zealand long ago. Generally speaking, the closing custom is overdane, and the soonei workmen and employers face the matter and arrive at a more satisactory understanding the batter it will be for the colony as a whole, Only under very exceptional circumstances such as an agricultural and pastoral show, which assists so

largely tho development of the country, Hliould tbe reoognised holidays bo exceeded, and if ourtailment could bo effected th« employers would benefit aa well as employees. The prosperity of tbe colony has, to some extent, made people careless.

When be tackled tbe timber question, Mr H. (Jr. Ell struck a theme which the country is interested in (says a Cbristchurch paper). The Government lias been ignoring the timber question and planting settlers on the best timber lands of the North, and making regulation* insisting on the clearing of so many aorea per year on pain of something Seddonesque and dreadful. Right on the track of the Main Trunk Railway tbe Government bare insisted ou the destruction of hundreds of thousands of acres of magnificent timber. Before trie Government planted the unfortunate settler on tho land and made him clear it, it waa worth at least £2O per acre for timber alone. Now tbat timber is destroyed, the ground is cumbered with useless logs, and after spending £3 per acre on it, it isn't worth a fourth what it waa ij its virgin state. That is one of tbe details of the Seddon Government's land polioy, that doesn't get much adverisemeut in the Government's electioneering speeches.

The veteran French officer General de Negrier, has given to the "Revue des Deux Mondea" his oritioiama of the Russo-Japanese campaign. The chief lesson which the General draws from the Eastern battlefields is tbat the old tactics lof Napoleon must return. Victory will be with the army which attacks and attacks again. The trenches with telephone communication, the tangles of barbed wire, the pits sharp stakws, and tbe electric mines, have all failed to keep off the conquering attack of deaperare and well-fed troops.® The galloping trooper who reminds one of the old days of the tournament, must go. Cuirassiers and hussars, dragoons and lancers, will all be merged m one force of oavalrymen. The new cavalryman will carry the infantryman's rifle, which has already been issued to tbe English treopers, and he will fk'ht for the most part afoot, using bis horse as though it were a mere bicycle to carry him from plaoe to Dlace. And the infantryanm must leave bis volley-firing, learn more individuality, and keep bis bayonet for a last resource.

The Mercantile Gazette ooaoiades an artiole on "The Land Boom" aa follows:—"There must oome a slump —that is inevitable; indeed, it may be said to have already begun. Ia that long stretch of country from Wellington to New Plymcuth .business is declining. Wholesale traders in these localities complain that retailers are wanting longer credit, and bills are now renewed in greater volume. Jbiven if this does not indicate tne beginning of a slump, it must nevertheless come for the simple reason that the conditions which have accentuated the prosperity of the colony cannot continue. JProduce prices mnst fall and borrowing must be curtailed. It fa to be feared that New Zealand has not made tne best use of the opportunties offered in the years, of prosperity. We have built up uo new industries, and there lias been very little expansion of the old ones.