TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8177, 9 July 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The Counoil of the Sydney Prisoners' Aid Association (says the Daily Telegraph) finds that the Habitual Criminals Act has hada wonderful effect in restraining those members of the criminal olasse9 who would be liuely to oome under th ft operation of the Act. The agent of the Association visits every applicant prisoner before discharge, and he finds that in the case of those men who have served several terms there is* a turning desire to shake the dust of New South Wales off their feet for ever, or else a strong determination to turn over a new leaf. The Association Das a good knowledge of what beoomes of every criminal, and its experience is that the Act has had, up, to the present, a most wholesome effect. The prospect of the text seutenoe boina; one for life is a prospect which the habitual criminal is naturally very anxious to avoid.

The f-rospecfc of earablishing trade between Australian States and the Mongolian countries appeals to be improving. The Mew South Wales Premier, Mr Garruthere, spoke thus to a newspaper representative io Sydney last week:—"lt is more than likely that orders will be placed for at least half a million pounds worth of material for the East, to be manufactured in this State. gAn invitation has been extended to one representative of our manufacturers to visit the Bast with a view to conferring about the matter. In other words, they do not want to meet re presentatlvea of each individual firm. There will have to be one representative on behalf of the State. Of course, a good d<?al will depend upon the prices. If oar prioes are absurd, we will get nothing, lb is probably the most important set of orders we have ever received, and it ought to mean a great improvement in cur trade.

On the state of affairs in Morocco, The Times says:—-It would be rash to look for hearty co operation ia the work of reform to the Maghzen. The energies of the Sultan, our correspondent tells us, have suffered much from repwated disappointments; and the people, indifferent and fatalistic, display no more virile quality than the Oriental virtue of resignation. It is a mournful picture;, and when it is remembered that all the labours of all the Powers which evolved the Algeoiras scheme of reforms barely touched the fringe of the real Moroccan question, what hope is there that European diplomacy will be able to infuse into this inert and diseased Oriental monaroby enough of the vitalising energy of the strenuous West to arrest its decomposition?

Seldom (says the Melbourne Argus) are interests so varied and so widespread united as those whioh formed the antl gambling deputation to present a consolidated request to the head of the Government. That Mr Bent wbb impressed by the demonstration is plain from his reply. He was'not only sympathetic but he definitely promised to call a special meeting of the Cabinet for the express purpose of reconsidering the Ministry's draft Bill in the light of the recommendations submitted to him. The personnel of the deputation indicates that the public mind has been deeply moved by recent re-

velations of the dangerous proportions to wnioh illioifc gaming has attained. Not only were the churches represented, but the friendly sooieties and the teaohing profession. Delegates from the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers' Federation stood side by side with delegates from the Trades Hall in demanding the Suppression of an evil that has become a notorious publio scandal. It is just because tbe evil is notorious and is flagrantly paraded in our midst that bo strong and so pronounced a feellog against it has feeen arouoed.

There are still ominous rumblings in the German press on the subject of the commanding position of Britain in European politioß. The Keichsbote publishes a long srtfcle, in which it argues that the assurance that England and Russia entertain uo dark designs against Germany is entirely insincere. "We are," it says, "in danger of being outwitted by the anti-German policy initiated by King Edward and M. Deloasso, which, although now being prosecuted by different methods, is still inspired by the same anti-Ger-man spirit." The Rheinisoh West falisohe Zeitung declares that the efforts of German diplomacy have entirely failed to prevent Great Britain forging an iron ring of British allies round Germany. The Standard's assurances that the approaching Anglo-Russmu agreement is in no way directed against Germany is, declares this organ, a sure proof of the contrary. Das Reioh declares that England and Russia are settling their differences at Germany's oost, since the conclusion of an Anglo-Russian agreement will render the isolation of Germany complete. On the other hand, may be quoted the Cologne Gazette:—'']* Russia and England oan come to an agreement regarding questions that might, in certain circumstances, cause serious friction, and even war, suoh an agreement would give great satisfaction to Germany."