TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8276, 1 November 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Commenting on the Public Works debate, the Lyttelton limes says: "For the most part, members betrayed provinoialism nothing short of disgusting in the nostrils of selfrespecting citizens, but somehow this spirit seems to animate news papers, and even business men, in many parts of the oniony. Otago, we are told, is complaining bitterly of the treatment accorded her in the Puhlic Works votes, despite the representation of that part of the colony in the Cabinet, and meet ings are being held to protest against her 'shabby treatment.' It will at least rebound to the everlasting credit of the Premier and Messrs M'Nab and Millar that they did not use their position in the Cabinet to secure excessive votes for the Southern districts. But we have not the slightest doubt that they will bo severely oritioised by some narrow-minded 'people uf the constituencies. The day will come when the Otago Central Railway will warrant an expenditure of more money, bat if the Otago people are not blind they must see for themselves that the line should never have been started, and that it simply would not pay to carry it further at present."

Writing in the "Contemporary Review," Mr Charles Simmons deals with the difficulty of teaching English boys modern languages, and attributes it largely to their defective artioulation of tfoeir mother tongue—a national failing not peculiar to the young—and their lack of any sense of relation between vocal sounds and written or printed characters. This he connects directly with the anomalies of English spelling. Mr Simmons gives some interesting illustrations of the state of mental confusion induced in children by inarticulateness of speech oomhined with want of eartraining:—"lt was only the question of a ohlld as to the meaning of 'plioity' that revealed to the teacher that 'pity my simplicity' had passed into the ohild'3 mind, and was nightly reprodaoed on its lips as 'pretty mice and plioity.' Whu can tell 'by what strange roads thought travelled' in a small boy (one who was learning Latin) when he converted 'spacious firmament' into 'sparrows ferment,' and a line from Tennyson's 'Charge of the Light Brigade' became 'Splashed all their neighbours bare'?" The same question might bo asked respecting a Sunday school pupil, who when lie reduced to writing the line of the hymn, "The gates of brass before Him burst," rendered it as "Ho gave her brass before he burst."

Owing to Sir Joseph Ward's negotiations with the American postal authorities during his recent tour, the penny post came into operation with the United States last month. As a sequel, the editor of a southern publication suggests tnat lists be opened all over the colony for the contributions of pennies, and that the pennies be handed over to charitable objects, while the lists be bound and presented to Sir Joseph Ward, The idea is one which could only be conceived by a master-wind, sarcas tically remarks the Christchurch Truth, and we can imagine how overcome the average individual will be when be realises that if the scheme evenuates ho will, for the sum of one copper, be able to write bis name in his most copper plate and imposing style for perusal by New Zealand's Premier, au'i possibly, if he contributes aa much as a shilling he will be able to write it baokwards, upside down, sideways, in Esperanto, or any way that be fancies, for Sir Joseph Ward's edification. Wfaa" 1 - gratification the Premier will get iu gloating over several hundred thousand signatures of people, who have been reckless enough to subscribe a penny to the "Ward Penny Fund," it is hard to say, but probably, while he will appreciate the compli ment, he will be of opinion that life is too short to indulge in such luxurias.

The trienuial actuarial report up on the Police Provident Fund is not pleasant reading for the taxpayers of the colony. The fund baa been in existence barely seven yesrs, and the balanoe-sheet already shows a deficiency of over £200,000. To speak exactly, the accumulated f<mds, from which, with the aid of mem■ ers' contributions and accrued interest, the claims of future pen sioners will have to be met, amount to only £27,121, whereas to be sufficient for the purpose indicated the total should be ,£241,289. During the past three years the deficiency has increased from £188,092 to £214,168, and there is no doubt, as Mr Fox says, that three years heuoe it wi'l jbe larger still. The actuary further declares that "the whule of the accrued funds are not nearly enough to meet the liability connected with the few pensioners who have already come upon the fund.'" The time is therefore fast approaching, as mentioned in the last autuarial report, when the accumulated funds will be exhausted. A demand will then be made upon

the Government, in terms of the Aot,-to meet tne defloienoy, and □□less the colony is to break faith with those who have been paying into the fund in the belief that they were providing for their old age, the demand must be mat. The certainty that the Police Fund will become a burden on tha colony has been recognised for year?. Mr Fox's report, however, emphasises the unsoundness of its present financial position, and thereby indicates what may be expected to ocour in connection with other superannuation funds, such as have been established for the benefit of the railway servants and of the teachers.