QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 75, 17 April 1901, Page 2

QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.

OUR B(m: WHAT B KOOMEB OP THEM ? This question has lately been exercis ing the minds of people in the larger centres, and various theories are put forward to account for the scarcity of boys for junior positions in mercantile and industrial occupations. In New Plymouth the trouble seems to be as I acute as elsewhere. Business men generally seem to find a difficulty in getting youths for offices and shop', and in the country the farmers also have the same trouble. The demand far ex'e ids the supply. The explanation generally accepted seams to be i that people ate now better oft, on the whole, and prefer to keep their boys at | school as long as possible, hoping that with their better educational equipment they will be able to secure better positions and opportunities of advancatnent than those afforded under the heading " office boys " and " errand boys," etc. It is also contended that more youths are apprenticed to the en. gineeriog and such trade", which offer permansafc and profitable employment to competent and piinsfcaking men. Under the present labour anion laws, howflver, the number of apprenI tices which employers are permitted, to take on in proportion to journeymen are much restricted, so that the time seems near at hand when parents will hive to turn their atteation in other directions—even to the now sesmisgly despised openings offered to " office boys" and " errand boys," etc.

THE EASTER FESTIVAL. " The General " commenting in the Auckland Ilerdlfi ou this subject, observes that a few years ago, outside the Anglica t ancl Roman Catholic Churches, no one dreamed of keeping Easter; but things have changed a>'nce then, and are changing. In quite the majority of churches Easter services were held and Easter sermons preached. Con'rover sies regarding the keeping of this festival divided the church in earlier davs, but in these latter days the general observance of Easter comes as a medium of uni6cation. It is one of those things o,n which Christians of all denominations are b?coaaing more and mora inclined to be of one mind.

A WORD FOR OUR WARRIORS. Now that the Dpfence Office has despatched the Seventh Contingent, whioh h understood to ha the colony's final contribution to the British forces in South Africa, it might (suggests the Lyttelton Times) see what ground there is f.-.r the complaints from the retnrnod membra of the former contingents thaf, they havo not yet received their pay. In alone we know of a number of men who have |. kirns -or l-nck pay vnn,r.'»g into as >u<h ns «-p3O, and though die New /ieiliwd Government is not responsible for the whole amount, it should at 'oavt Hfsis-, the claimants in reaching the pi opt r authorities. TJien when this ma Vr is set-led, the Offico mich* pivo the public some particulars of the Premier's schtmo for keeping the re-

turned troopers in the defence ferce 0? j the colony. No doubt many of thoini will rejoin their old corps aud give the | advantage of their experience to thoir 'comrades. Bat many more, particularly of the later contingents, will h;ivo no old corps to join, and if left to themselves will gradually drift out of sii'ht. Perhaps a special cencesaion in connection with the proposed riile corps who have seen service in Smth. Africa might do something to realise the Premier's idea, but it would be hardly sufficient to keep them together as an efficient fighting force. Another matter requiring the attention of the Defence Office is suggested by the cablegram stating that the Duko of York is distributing war medals on hie j way to the colonies. The Canadians received their medals when passing through London on their way home some weeks ago, and the New Zoaknders whose services are already half forgotten by many of their fellow-colonists may be pardoned for wondering when , they are likely to hear of their own .' decorations.