PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 66

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

; "The Making of a Shakespeare," by J. !O. Tucker, Litt.D. Melbourne: T. C. ' Lothian.—T his little grey "Nugget Booklet. is the tenth of the series, and a very, attractive series it is, commencing with the "'Maxims and Moral Reflections of La Rochfoucauld." In "The -Makings of a Shakespeare the *utho* prefaces hie very ad^ mirable reflections 'by announcing' his entire agreement with Goethe in his famous dictum, "We cannot talk about Shakespeare; everything is inadequate." But in disclaiming the, hope of saying anything both new and true about Shakespeare the author continues: "My -tfbject is to review, however imperfeotly, what went to his making, .what element of gift and character, circumstance, training, and experience were so mixed up in him that Nature could stand up and say, 'This ie a man.' " "Working from thit simple, but onerous, programme of effort, the author has produced' results both interesting and excellent. The latest addij tion to the Nugget Booklets does the series no discredit. I Life, for February, seems somewhat bej lated -when February is nearing its last I £aap . however, it may be a case of better late than never. ' Lieutenant Shaokleton dis- ; coursed with the optimism that is the in- ! dispensable equipment of the explorer on j "How I Shall Efcah for the Pole." The management of Life discourses, in large and heavy type, on "To Japan an 3 Back at our Expense- There are the pages which bristle with "Imported s*un." and the pages that deal with "Humour in^Verse," '-Imperial Affairs," "General Affairs," and > "The Intellectual Needs of 'The Man in the Street.'" Then sandwiched between these and all the other popular selections are the original articles : A review of Benson's "Lord of th» r World;" ifhe third number -n Fitchett's series, "Strange-Tages from AusI tralasian History," together with various other acceptable items in a good programme. „ Caatell's Magazine for February opens with an. article by Norman Fraser on. "My Favourite Cartoon," to which the numerous and appropriate illustrations, .give delightful point. A very wide has been mode, and to those colonials who are interested in English politioal cartoons the selection of "My Favourite Cartoon" will arouse a host of discursive reminiscences. There is plenty of fiction, mainly in short story form, 'and, distributed among the notion, several y e ?X tfiieiesting ajticlesx

"Famous Ounarders," demonstrating effeotively the development of this famous line of steamships; "An Elementary School Teacher's Work," "My Most Popular Bong," with portraits of the singers, and, perhaps most interesting of all, "Lord Aveoury's Life and 1 Work."

Report of Victorian Department of Aari* culture, 1905-7.— This substantial, welipnnted, and lavishly illustrated publica. tion is full of interest, alike to agriculturalist and pastoraliat. Climatic conctL. tions, of course, render muoh of the expert* mental work, such as the growing of maize, eto., merely of impersonal interest to us, but the questions pf ailos— admirably treated and illustrated — the various aspects of irrigation,,bringing under cultivation ©I what) we should call "tussock " lands, the- fight with the potato question, the section* injr with diseases of stock, grading* of poultry and eggs, etc., eto., all abundantly andwell illustrated, are of the greatest interest to our farmers and stock-raisers. The journal is a credit to the department from which it emanates. Our Alma. Mater.— The yearly report of the Rirerview College, Sydney, reminds on» that it has <been in existence now for 22 years; therefore, the jwrfection of work and play, study and aport reaohed in tha curriculum may not dawn to be among tho&a ■unexpected things which claim to always arrive. As usual, th« report of Rivsrview> College 1* a very pleasant one, *nd one. wjjios* tone cannot fail jgo gratify principals and students alike. The lovely position of the college on the banks of * the river, its stately buildings, surrounded bj" the wide expanse of sports, «a-rden, and recreation grounds, must be an immense factor in the development of the collective "corpore sano," in which results prove thafe the effort* of the teaching staff to enshrin« the "mens Sana" are crowned with very, gratifying succass. . Mr Henry Broadheacl has written a lotnewhat ambitious book entitled " State B«gnl«tion of labour and Labour Disputes in New Zealand," with the sub-title "A. Description end a> Criticism." Mt Broadhead it secret tary to the Canterbury Employers' Association, and was for hum yean a member o{ the Canterbury Conciliation Board, and should be in. a position )h«r«f<nr« to <te*l exhaustively with hi* subject. In hf» preface he justifies his effort by saying that nearly all the books which h»v« hitherto det.lt with) the Arbitration Act have been written by men who liv« outside New Zealand. Admirable •« many of these publication* are. from soma points of view, they hardly touch more than the surface of the subject. This will b« conceded, and it may also be conceded with respect to th* verbal opinions of many visitors who, after » few days' or weeks' sojourn, bless or curse the system according to ihei* previous predilections. Obviously their judgment leaves much to be desired. And, aftex all, on outside judgment. of any kind is not) of much value, for it. is- the people who.have>* to abide by the conditions who -are. best \jusli-" fied to form the opinion, and they atone have the power to assist in any attempt' to- amend them. For^ihis ret«on the summary =of 'the" facts presented by _ one who knows ' then* thoroughly' is calculated to be of more -»»hiV than 'any cursory «nrvey. fix .BroadheacL goes) about his wor£ in « ejrstematio w»y. Be begins -with, an HwrtoriceJ introoluctitni, startingfrom the Sweatng Commission *&f:JJ9O, -sedt the maritime strike of the same- y**r; - Then' comes the enactment pf the Industrial-Con--ciliation and Arbitration Aot, and in du9 course "The Compilation Act, 1906." Ha-ving stated bis case in a somewhat judicial manner, Mr Broadhead sums up. He points out that the act does not please ifc* worker*, and quotes reported remarks to that effect made by them «nd by the Hinister of Labour. One of hi» objections is that the term " dispute" has become too comprehensive, and that it is top easy to create one by soma persons without the consent of the general body of their co-workers. He also objects -to the act because it can bring under its operation persons employed in ne»rly every occupation. "There is nothing," he sayr, "to prevent » number of Anglican curates forming themselves into an 'industrial union of workers* for the purpose of citing their employers before the court There is no reason, to suppose ttnat "th« court • would 1 refuse to make an award fixing the minimum remuneration which should be paid to such gentlemen." He also alleges lh*t Jhe fixing of a minimum wage has produced very unsatisfactory results, and asserts that industries have been crippled by it. He admits that the act has stopped sweat"ing, but says this is not an unmixed blessing, for the reason that the minimum wag* in numerous oases puts the efficient worsen on the same level .as the less capable man. And he also claims that the act has restricted, production, and. in consequence increased importation. Evidently he despairs of legi«lation as *n agent for bringing about industrial 'concord, for his closing sentence is: — '" We have in New Zealand eeen what continual tinkering »t ißgist«.tion "Has pcoduced, *nd those of oiw pjibfic mea/who are deep.y interested in fhe material well-being of ti» people might now consider whether some means outside legislation should not • be' tried to bring about peace and conterrtment among ■> the workers of our land."