THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1148, 20 September 1913, Page 3

THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS.

The September number of the Review of Reviews (6d.) contains many interesting articles. Margaret Bryant gives a short sketch of Dr. Bridges, the new Poet Laureate, once a brilliant physician, now the first living authority on the phonetics of the English language, and a master craftsman of verse. The editor discusses the Defence Act impartially. He points out that unless some provision is made for the genuine conscientious objector, many good citizens will be driven from the country. Mr L- V. Biggs, a wellknown authority on the question, contributes an informing article upon the Greater Melbourne Movement. A writer, on the Standard Gauge Question, shows that the estimate of the recent conference for converting the 4 ft. B Yz in. lines of New South Wales to 5 ft. 3 in. is practically equal to the total cost of construction during the last sixteen years. In 1897 the estimated cost was 4J4 millions, it is now 19)4 millions, the difference —,£15,000,000 ing only three-quarters of a million less than the entire cost of construction since 1897. “An Episode in a Conscript’s Life” throws an Interesting sidelight upon the hold the military authorities retain over every man who has ever trained in arms. Dr. Gray contributes a special article upon the reform of Secondary Education in England. The Editor, in his Progress, suggests that Sydney should be made the Federal Capital for the sake of economy and convenience. He discusses the Norton-Griffiths agreement, in which he considers the underwriting provision the most serious flaw. If this is accepted it is an admission that the usual group of financiers who have done this for years have lost confidence in New South Wales and its future. The other features of the magazine are well maintained.