TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8302, 4 December 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

During tbe proceedings nt the "complimentary banquet to Mr U. C. Molntyro, at Uhristchuroh, on Friday evening, Mr T. H. Race, Canadian (Jomrninaiooer, said, in reference to tbo United States, that much had been heard lately of annexation. "Well, Canada," Mr tfaoe went on, *'is doing tbe annexation at : the rate of from 70,000 to 100,000 of 'Undo Sam's' family every year, and soon, that territory will be known, not as the United States of America, but as the 'United States of Canada.*" i The question of phouetio snelling recoived a little attention at the hands of those who attended the annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last week. In the course of his speech, Mr G. Laureuson, M.U.8., stated that the president, Mr Stavelay, had dismissed vory nonchalantly the question of phonetie spoiling, but he (Mr Laurensonj believed that the colony was going in for the change. He bad been struck by the weight of opinion in favour of dropping the superfluous "u" and the Vph" for "f.* They should adopt the phonetio spelling, and English should be made tbe universal language. In a very able review of the position, a witter bad pointed out that if Britain would not move America would, and the dominant language would not be English, but Amerioan. Tho President said that he was not an opponent of phonetio spelling, but objeated to its arbitrary introduction by any President or King.

The news that the Premier has been able to Lring about an arrangement with the Union Steam Ship Company and the Huddart-Parker Company whereby this colony is to gain the advantage of a regular oonneotion with the ocean mail services of the Commonwealth via the Suez Canal will be received with general satisfaction throughout New Zealaud. The opportunity afforded in this direction has been undoubtedly too muub hagleoted in the past. By virtue of tbo new arrangement qnoo every three weeks the steamer that usually leaves Wellington for Sydney on a Saturday will leave on. a Friday instead, which means that in ulaoe of being too late by a few hours she will arrive at Sydney in time to oonneof, with the outward mail, so that the New Zoaiand mail nan be carried'on direut without a dtlny of six davs walling for the uoxt out ward Federal mail.

The burgesses of Glasgow, who, in spite of national characteristics, have perhaps mflda more daring municipal experiments- than any other oily In the Empire, have bought an island for the purpose of segregating the habitual loafer and making him work. There are great possibilities in the idea, particularly if the authorities Show from the outset that they are determined to make the loafer earn his keep by the sweat of his brow. The ohronlc loafer is not only an expensive nuia» anoe but his besetting sin is contagious, and contact with him begets an aveision to work in the minds of many who .in the first place have, no particular fondness for industry. Life on an island with the prospect of a shortage of rations if ■ he refused to delve should have a very stimulating effect on the obronio loafer, and might be the means of restoring to him to the ranks" of industry. At any rate the expert ment is worth trying.

"The Country party" or the "Government Freeholders" have decided upon a plan of campaign for the reoees 89 a counterblast to the activity of the Government on the Land Bill. A certain number of members of the party who are effective platform speakers have been told off for the duty of addressing the constituencies and they will, as far as possible, visit nil those electorates where sitting members are either weak platform men or are opposed to the views of the party. The campaign will be commenced late in the recess, so as to close oouvenionlly early before the opening of Parliament.