TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8313, 17 December 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Mr J. E. Le Rossignol, a professor of the University of Denver,, Colorado, who has been in New Zealand since September, studying its legislation and social conditions, toid a representative of the Anokland Star that while the Arbitration Ant had been effeotive in raising wages, it had not prevented the cost of living rising hlbo. His impression was that unless there is a marked increase in the awards with regard to wages, the workers would kick the Aot over and revert to the old system of getting nigber wages when times are bußy. Mr Rossignol thought that the time had arrived for the formation of a distinct Labour Party in the colony.

"We do no!; agree," says the Christohurch Press, ''with the opinion expressed by Sir Joseph Ward at Napier as to the desirableness of introducing the teaching of Esperanto into the currlaulum o? the State Schools. We fully admit the merits of EHperanto. It is by far the most scientific attempt that has yet been made to construct an artificial language "for easy intercommunication. It is very quiokly learner], and is simple, sensible, onr) euphonious. Nevertheless, every parent will agree that already the school curriculum embraces, if any thing, too great a variety of subjeots, and it is quite oertain that most of, the children are able to acquire only a smattering of studies in w&ioh it is desirable they should be more thoroughly grounded."

It seema to be the most obvious fauta tbat are tbe last to be turned to practical use, and tben they ate paraded bb "great discoveries." Some of the best alluvial soils in the world are prodaoed by tbe natural wearing down of the rooks, voloanio and otherwise, of the surrounding mountains, and the volcanic sand and dust which blotted out tbe features of the country after the Tarawora eruption was fertile soil within twelve mouths. But it hns only [just occurred to the United States Agricultural Department to test the value of ground , rock as manure. Carefjl experiment has shown that a ton of granite, which costs 12s Gd for quarrying and grinding, contained fertilising matter which oo'ild not be purohased abroad and imported for less than £2O.

Distriot-Jndge Kettle is insistent and emphatic in his judicial condemnation of the laxity Bbown by commission agents and others in business transactions, and a oase before him at Auckland, on Thurs day, in which an agent and a oiient were ai variance in reepwet to the payment of commission, provided another opportunity for the judge to indulge in further common!: on the subject. He expressed the opinion that the only way for litigation to be avoided in such oases was for agents to male a a proper memorandum of instructions reoeived from clients, and to pursue tbat course further by pending a confirmatory letter. That would give some sort of evidence if a dispute /arose subsequently. This was especially necessary woere tho client; refused to give the instructions in writing, or deolinad tT sign a memorandum. Verbal conversations were dangerous in business, and the judge said he could not understand wty some people in a business transaction considered it a reflection if aaked to give a signed warrant. "You don't And banks or other institutions working on a business basis relying on verbal instructions," he urged, "and why should tho smaller trader act in tbe opposite direction?"