TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8322, 31 December 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The business people of Hokitika and surrounding districts some time ago formed a Trade Protection Society for the purpose of dealing with various matters affecting their interests. At a meeting held last week a large number of members were present, and it was decided inter alia to take definite steps to considerably curtail the present credit system, and to exchange the names of all doubtful payers. It was also resolved to discontinue the system of giving Christmas presents, and to reduce the amount given in subscriptions. It was pointed out by one member that collectors always made a dead set on the business, people, without any regard to the fact that there are well-to-do citizens with good incomes who are never e\en approached. The association is a very strong one, and the members are unanimous in their determintaion to place the retail business on a better footing.

In New Zealand complaints are frequently heard of the high cost of school text-books. There is similar complaint in America. The difference is that in New Zealand the cost falls on the individual, whilst in the United States it falls upon the State. A writer in an American magazine, The Reader, remarks:—"The growing cost of text-books for public schools in our large cities has long been the subject of strong protest on the part of taxpayers and public officials. The frequent changes of text-books by school boards have made this item a heavy one on those who have to pay the money, and as it has frequently been pointed out, there seems but little reason why one book should be substituted for another. The evil has reached such a point in one large city that a decided stand has been taken against a proposed change, and it has even been suggested that a complete set of text-books be compiled and written by the teachers of that city. One school board trustee has offered

to print the books and supply them to the pupils at cost. The suggestion is not a bad one, and it may have the effect of bringing the publishers and reckless school boards to their senses."

Addressing the boys at the Sydney Grammar School, at their speech day, his Excellency the Governor, reminded them that in a few years the destinies of the country would be in their hands. "I have been surprised, and I might say horrified," he added, "to see by the newspapers that at the last Federal elections not 50 per cent, of the people who have votes recorded them. I do not care how you cast your vote, so long as you do what you think is right. There is a great trust given you, and I want you to feel that every vote counts, and that there is only one possible excuse for not voting, and that is being so sick that you are nearly dead." In the case of New South Wales, it appears, ths population entitled to vote at the Federal elections was estimated at 740,000. The number of votes recorded in the State for candidates for the House of Representatives (excluding two uncontested electorates containing 59,380 electors) was 345,791; while for the Senate candidates 355,285 votes were recorded. The figures show that less than 50 per cent, adults entitled to the franchise exercised it at the elections. The German territory in SouthWest Africa lies beween Cape Colony and Portuguese West Africa, and comprises about 322,000 square miles, more ;thjui.> three times the area of New Zealand. It has a population of about 200,000 souls, of whom under 5,000 are whites. The imports in 1903—the last date available—were valued at nearly £400,000, and the exports at £172,000. Long before the native in 1904 there had been serious complaints in the German Parliament as to the heavy cost of holding the country, and these were aggravated by the disasters to the small imperial force, and the consequent need of sending more troops to the country. Last year a sum of close on two and a half millions sterling was paid out of the German exchequer for the suppression of the rebellion, and another million and a half was asked for in December. This year three and a half millions were asked for for South-West Africa. Many members of the German Parliament hold the opinion that the country is not suitable for settlement by Europeans, and should be abandoned. \