CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 30, 25 June 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

DAILY BIBLE READING. "I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day; I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure. It is one of the most singular books in the world, for every time you open it some old text that you have read a score of times suddenly beams with a new meaning. Ther is no other book that I know of, of which this is true; there is no other book that yields its meaning so personally, that seems to fit itself so intimately' to the very, spirit that is seeking its guidance,"—Woodrow Wilson, President, U.S.A.

AN ANNUAL OVERHAUL. The Health Commissioner of New York suggests that every citizen should go into dry dock every year and be tlie subject of a health overhaul on the part of the State's medical representatives. His idea is tiiat if men and women were thus periodically examined it would be possible to detect signs of weakness and to guard against a threatened breakdown of health. The reward promised for this submission to regular inspection is a rise of from three to four years in the average duration of life. It is a great prize, and one would increase iij importance as one approached the psalmist's three score and ten. But would the scheme work? The liypocrondiac, who is eternally obsessed with ailments, real or fancied, would probably enjoy himself, and weary for his annual overhaul. Probably he would be on the doctor's doorstep every morning, and return at night for confirmation of the report. But for the average man the scheme will have few attractions. He is o wise person who takes care of his health, but it is good for no one to be incessantly feeling his pulse, counting his microbes, and sterilising his bacteria. Life on these terms would not be worth living.

LIGHTING TRAINS. No coroner's jury would have passed over the "fire-risk" of the Whangama.rino accident with the cheerful comment that "no (train) fires have ever been caused in New Zealand % gas escaping, and in the present case 110 damage was done by this cause." Gas may be as "efficient" as electricity—if by "efficient" is meant the giving of as much light for as little trouble—but it has been in use not because it is "efficient," nor even because it is "cheaper," hut because it was in use and much less .trouble to continue than to replace. Nothing more can be said in excuse of its maintenance in our railway system. Every motor-car builder can equip his car with electricity, but the Railway Department has been satisfied with an illuminant roost dangerous on trains. That there was no fire to add to the horrors of the Whangamarina disaster is due not to the railway managers who for so many years have had "nothing to lcarri," but to the vigilance of passengers and others wlio stopped the striking of matches and the exposure of lamps. The darkness which resulted from this precaution delayed and handicapped the work of rescue. A coroner's jury would certainly have considered this worthy of notice, and would have emphasised the public conviction that electricity should replace gas for lighting trains. —Auckland Herald.