CURRENT OPINION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 192, 17 September 1909, Page 2

CURRENT OPINION

STANDARD OF UNIVERSITY HONORS,

The standard of University honors is ' admittedly high in this country. Ilia inn ii who takes a lirst class in languages and literature must necessarily have got to the heart of his matter; theie arc some really sound scientists amongst the honors men in physical science; chc | honors paper in mathematics and mathematical physics are not less difficult, and not much narrower in scope,. than the papers set before the candidates »t the Tripos examinations at Cambridge. But only one New Zealand graduate has achieved indisputable eminence in the world. Wo refer,' of course, to Ernest Rutherford, one of our greatest living physicists. The Solicitor-General, -Mr. Fitchott, is the only first-class honors man in the list quoted from who holds a public position. Although the I'liivci'siiy lias not seen he r children set in the hign places of public notice, she can claim that she is exercising no small inllurn.c in the development of our society. She furnishes good iaborjrs in the cause of science and education, and she supplies a steady stream .''f cultivated men to the nourishment of the Church. When account is had nf the difficulties against which she has to contend—of the absence of a leisur"d class such as exists in Britain, of the presence of such social conditions is

leave little opening for he r children tfl devote themselves to public life, of the unkindly climate, in short, in which the plants which she rears must struggle for existence—it must be allowed that her record is one of which she lias no cause to be ashamed.—The Dominion.

THE HOOKMAKIXG FRATERNITY. If Mr. Millar's idea were acted upon by making 'l'attersaH's Club the headquarters of all forms of sport, tirit w'ould certainly give the bookmaki ig fraternity a status that they have not hitherto enjoyed in New Zealand, nor anywhere else for that matter. If Air. Millar is not too engrossed in political matters, we should like to see him try his hand in formulating a scheme bv which cricket, hockey, football, and nli other field sports could be brought under the guidance and administrative control of Tattersall's Club. That would indeed be a wonderful combine of tt,» sporting interests o» the Dominion. The pictures of sporting harmony con jureii up by the Hon. Messrs. Carroll and Millar are quite delightful. Just tancy'bookmakers, owners, and racing clubs uniting together to make racing a splendid success! What a happy family they would make, to be sure! Grey River -Argus.

BOGEY-WORSHIP.

There is ii magnificent continuity in the uogey- worship of the Auckland Employers' Union. Every year the wearied -spectre of the "paid agitator" is held aloft and paraded as the ono cause of ■ill the troubles to which AucKland cmaloycix' llesii is heir. How pitifully and shockingly indecent is the scanty cOvor:ng accorded the beloved one, and, moreover, its clothes .do not fit. This year's garb is worth studying. First the State nuts on a duty and enables manufactures and manufacturers to thrive. Then the paid labor agitator—of course, the employer has no agitator—causes continuous increases in pay until 'he poor manufacturers are forced to turn from "a perennial source of worry" to importing the goods they former'v made Thousands of workmen starve, but the paid agitator is supported—presumably !,y the Employers' Union. Ilicse rags and tatters are stitched with statistics. In l!to:!-4 the imports were f12, ( ni.533, and in 1007-8 they were Cl/,4H4.(11i». Xow. if the manufacturers are ruined by losing "a perennial source or irritation and worry." where do they get the money |„ mm importers whilst workmen arc starving and the colony is ruinously rnsuiuj, into an excess of imports over exports and desperaLc penury ?—Ouinaru Mail.