TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8350, 5 February 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Referring to the statement of the Colonial Treasurer which shows, judging by the revenue, that the colony is in a prosperous state, the Manawatu Standard remarks:—Bat there is one cold fact staring us in the face which no amount of platform oratory will prove to be wro'ng. It is this: Notwithstanding the buoyant state of the finances and the huge sums of money that are brought into circulation per medium of our exports, there is a tightness in commercial circles which extends from one end of the colony to the other. Business people everywhere complain that trade has slackened, that money is not so plentiful, and accounts are paid less regularly than they were a couple of years or even twelve months ago.' The position is sufficiently serious to set men thinking, and if they can find the cause, then a remedy should be applied.

The Cologne Gazette draws attention to a publication of Dr. Semler, a member of the Reichstag, entitled "Observations in South-west Africa, " in which stress is laid upon the question of the Boer element in the German colony. The Boer population is repi-esented as stronger than before the rebellion, and the author notes that "the Boer is disposed to regard South Africa, including our colony, as his own special territory." Commenting upon this, the Cologne Gazette declares that the Boer question is the most important of all those relating to German South-west Africa. Recent events, it says, have shown that a highly undesirable Boer element has nested in the German colony, their presence is superfluous, and the Government is urged not to make grants of Crown lands to Boers except in the case of picked and wealthy settlers. Fur ther, any Boer colonists should be apprised that their sons must become Germans and be liable for German military service.

The British boy is showing a decided disinclination to become an officer in the merchant service, and more than onp scheme is to be tried to induce him to change his attitude. It is pointed out, however, by a writer in a London paper, that these schemes fail to touch the chief consideration that is keeping boys from going to sea—the poor remuneration. In fact training-ship schemes add to the initial expenses. Under the present conditions it does not pay to send a boy to sea. The case is taken of a boy trained in the Conway or the Worcester, and then on one of the proposed secondary training ships. His two years on the Worcester cost £l6O, and his three years in the second vessel £225. Having spent £385 he may receive, as second officer in sail or third in steam, £4 10s a month, for which he will work thirteen hours a day, including Sundays. His salary will increase slowly until after, say, fifteen years at sea, he is paid £l7 or £lB a month as captain of a ,tramp. A few get commands in liners, but in the case of the average captain this £204 or £216 a year is the top rung of the ladder.

The gold production of Australia for the year 1906 shows a considerable reduction on that for 1905. The total then was 3,648,7930z fine, and that in turn was 98,5490z below the output for 1904. Queensland was responsible for the greater portionof the decrease in 1905, although the mines of Western Australia and Victoria helped to swell the total. During 1906, however, the downward movement of 1905 extended. Western Australia led the way with over 160,0000z fine less. . This arose from the poorer grade of the ore mined at Kalgoorlie, and in the outlying districts, together with the absence of any discovery of other formations of sufficient richness to make up the deficiency. Queensland also went downhill further. In the case of Victoria the Mint figures are more favourable, the total for 1906 being 781,5020z fine, against 732,603 oz fine in 1905. This chiefly arises from the improvement at Bendigo, and the additions from the dredging claims. The New Zealand outputs show an increase of nearly 39,9670z fine. The total for the Commonwealth is 3,431,9210z fine, and for Australia and New Zealand 3,964,843 oz fine, as compared with 4,141,748 oz fine for 1905. The aggregate value of this output is £16.850,582, against £17,602,429 for 1905.