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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4638, 14 December 1923, Page 2

There arc many people in this country who agree with the facetious statement made many years ago by. a well-known world traveller to the effect that the population of New Zealand is 750,000— mostly Government officials ! But this Dominion will have to look to its laurels if it is to maintain its unique position in this respect, for the United States is fast becoming the land of Government functionaries. One person out of every twelve over the age of sixteen fully employed is on the public roll—natipnal, State, or municipal—for which the people pay approximately £800,000,000' a year. "I have been told that divorce is so easy to otbain in Japan that a husband can get rid of his wife on the grounds that -she talks too much,” said the Rev. F. Stubbs, while speaking of Japan at Wellington last week. The marriage sysem bf Japan was quite different to ours, he added. There was the trial system. A young Japanese could choose a girl and live with her. If they were not happy together, or a child were not born, they could mutually separate. It was not considered immoral or improper. “ i would not recommend this system to New Zealand," commented Mr Stubbs.