THE PHYSICAL DECADENCE OF BRITONS. Confined to the "Lower" Classes.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 160, 25 July 1903, Page 8

THE PHYSICAL DECADENCE OF BRITONS. Confined to the "Lower" Classes.

IT is not encouraging to learn that the British people at Home are decadent, that their physique is poor, and that it is alarming the authoi"ties. The probabilities are that many of the people of this colony, having read the cable announcing the physical imperfections of would-be recruits for the Army, will jump to the conclusion that they represent the race, which, as a whole, is getting "weedy." As a matter of fact, the "middle" and "upper" classes of Britain axe bigger, better, and physically healthier than ever before, in contrast with the puny people who seek military service. * * * The largest number of recruits for the Army come from manufacturing towns, where the conditions of employment prevailing would be considered a disgrace were they allowed in the colo-

nies. The workers are soulless, and generally hopeless; their hours are long , their relaxations few , their wages small; and the means of improving themselves physically wanting. The Royal Commission will endeavour to find out why the mam who has worked in a boot, factory eleven or twelve hoiirs a day since he left the ragged school is not as good a specimen of humanity as the young collegian who lias possessed every advantage denied to the other by the absence of means. *• * * The deadly monotony of ordinary manual employment, and the overcrowding of England, are the apparent reasons for the proved decadence of the "lower" classes. This decadence practically only covers manufacturing operatives. It is a serious thing for the Army, for the conditions of enlistment hold out inducements only to those who w ish to escape from serfdom and hunger to serfdom and a full stomach. We fear that the Royal Commission will come to the conclusion that the decadence exists, and that there is nocure — at least, at Home. * * * The colonies are wide. Canada will take, and wants to take, hundreds of thousands of emigrants, Australia won't take, but ought to take, a few millions, and South Africa would take, and welcome, many millions if the capitalists who own the country and dictate to the men who won it for them, how to run it, w r ould let them. None of these countries, however, w ant decadents, and New Zealand is not hankering after any weedy ex-factory operatives. # * * England cannot go on crow ding up her available space into towns, and leave His Grace's or My Lord's moors, and the game My Lord shoots, as sole occupants. If she won't interfere with the sacred privileges of the freehold, and introduce progressive legislation after the New Zealand pattern, she should go into the emigrant industry "on her own," run her own settlements, do away with the pernicious congestion that is killing the nation, and quit holding Royal Commissions w hen the remedy is so obvious.

A typewriting examination was held on Saturday afternoon, at Miss E. Carrs and Mrs. J. F. Gunnion's School cr Shorthand and Typewriting, Stewart Dawson's Buildings, under the supervision of Mr. A. E. Briggs, F.1.P.5., Mr. E. G. Benjamin, and Mr. Dix. This examination is the second of its kind ever held in Wellington. ihe papers touched on legal, medical 1 , commercial, and general typewriting work, m which was included a theory paper. We have seen these papers, and can confidently say that the candidates who are successful enough to gain certificates will have rightly earned the title of "expert typists." The papers were sent out under sealed covers, to be opened by the various competitors, and the time allowed was two and a-half hours. The papers have been posted Home for examination, and results will come to hand in about three months fiom date. -<• -<• * The committee decided about the local - nzes, which are to be given by Mr. Willis, of the New Century Typewriter Company, the Yerex and Jones Company, and Mr. Le Grove, of the Barlock Typewriter Company. The successful candidates were as follows • — Miss L. Morns, first prize, £1 Is; Miss Rawnsley, second prize, IDs 6d (Messrs. Yerex and Jones' prize for best work done on Yost typewriter. Mr. Le Grove's £1 Is and 10s 6d prizes, for the best operators on the Barlock typewriter, were divided between thre candidates (Miss Thompson 10s 6d, Miss Dickson 10s 6d, and Mr. Watkins 10s 6d), as their papers were all equally well done. Miss Y. Holyrod gained the New Century prize. * ♦ * Mrs. Foley gives her third annual "Novelty" Dance in the Druids' Hall, on August sth. The novelties promised are masques and dominos, fancy dresses and pinafores. Highland flings will be danced in uniform, and there will be a fine t>rogramme of songs. * * * Mr. Davidson, bookseller, of Courtenay Place, sets out elsewhere a list of new books just to hand. He keeps an up-to-date stock of literature, as may be seen by a perusal of the list.