Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, DEC. 7. 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9021, 7 December 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, DEC. 7. 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE bushises men of l\ T ew South Wales do not seem to have much confidence in the future of industrial undertakings iu that State, when the Lithgow Ironworks Company, iibout which so much has been said, has to apply to the Stato for assistance in order to provide capital for the enterprise. The New Zealand Government lias no difficulty in getting money for loans iu Australia, and capitalists appear to prefer -1 per cent interest with good security to speculating iu Lithgow shares,"which, if the works prove a success, should yield a far higher return. Capitalists ail over rl-.o world show great readiness to si ;'.k money ou sor.:- occasions, ami where they hold hack we. may feel assured that they do so with good reason. Iu this particular case we do uot know why it lias been so difficult to raise the necessary capital from private sources, but we think that the Government would have acted wisely iu refn-iug to employ the public crodi: to bolster" up an undertaking which appareutly was not attractive to hard headed financiers. It is true that the conditions ou which the grant has boon made—that the State should be a. preferential creditor—may, through the opposition of the bank, nullify the proposed subsidy. but the State had far better keep clear of any financial entanglements with private business concerns. As we think of the flourishing businesses whicli have been established in other countries through the energy of their promoters we cannot but regret that this spirit of enterprise seems growing weaker in. .Australia- than it has been in the nasi, and that Government assistance is expected to make up the hu-i-: of private initiative.

lIT would perhaps har.lly hav.i '.■'.■en ! oxneetod tlr.-t an old and v.-c.f.lthy i maiden lady should either approve I or disapprove very strongly of coi- ! lege athletics, yet the will of Miss Jeaiies has-; given the authorities of tho Swart limorn College, in the United States, a. very knotty problem to solve with regard to the prevailing attachment to athletic contests. The will leaves to the college the sum of 0.000.0f10 dollars, winch, translated in pounds, is still a, very noble sum, on condition that the college takes no part in intercollegiate marches. We can hardly doub't what the decision of tho college will be. Fifty years ago it would have seemed ludicrous that there should be the slightest hesitation about accepting the money with the condition* attached, and that there .-liouhl be any doubt now merelv shows the enormous hold which athletic, competitions havsecured over the mind of the public. Under the conditions of the will it is perfectly open to members oi the college to' develop their bodies by cricket, rowing, football, or any or.iior form of active exercise, but thev are forbidden to seek the glory of defeating rivals outside the <-,)! lege in those, (-'ports. By no possible Argument can if- bo upheld that the intellectual or physical progress _ of students will bo retarded by Miss Jeiine»' prohibition, and the deceased ladv will have done a service bv her bequest if it does .something to put athletics in the proper perspective.

THERE is :i vigorous campaign itoing on in tin! United Stares against excessive devotion to athletics, aijd one of the medical journals contends that far too great stress is laid on muscle building. A icrcat quant it v of muscle is really "a. narasito' requiring time ami labour to keep healthy and also au undue iimonut of uouri.-lir.itmt," anil muscular workers do not- live as lonir as (lie se.ieidary who are able to "live normally. "Beys may, therefore, be taught thfit wholesome living will be oi - more benefit than piles of parasitic muscles. Physical culture is not, muscle, culture," "Piles of parasitic muscles" is a: telling phrase, and, unlike many j sounding phrases, appears to convey j ;:. truth oi considerable importance. I