TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8385, 20 March 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The conduct,'* health, and criminal tendencies of the Chinese coolies employed on the Rand are the subject of a report-in the latest Blue Book on the Transvaal administrative affairs. The average number of labourers employed during the year was 47,600, andlthe total number convicted of all classes of offences was 13,532. Of these 11,754 were convicted of offences against the regulations. Of the balance of between 1,700 and 1,800 cases to be accounted for, 243 have been convicted before a judge and jury, 26 of murder, seven of attempted murder, and 210 of housebreaking.

The last people in the world who seem able to effect combination amongst themselves, and the very people whom combination would most benefit, are the fruitgrowers of Auckland province, says the Auckland Herald. For a time a Fruitgrowers' Union had a precarious sort of existence. The executive met very occasionally, and virtually did nothing because it was not supported by the growers. Then the union drifted on to the rocks, and very neai-ly came to an inglorious end, but some enthusiasts who have laboured long and late to help the case along until their hearts were sick, and who have done splendid work in the past, combined again for one more shove in the faint hope of being, able to struggle against the killing apathy of the average grower. They are"still struggling along, but if growers do not realise thejjposition very soon, and abandon their attitude of sleepy indifference, the end'will not "be far off, and then some day they will wake up to the value of cooperation after they had already killed it in its infancy. Auckland, in its peculiarly happy situation, should have abundance of rich, ripe fruit in the season at a price cheap enough to allow one fruit meal a day in homes, which are maintained by even the most moderate means. As it is, fish and fruit are almost luxuries, instead of being, as they should be, the most common articles of diet in this city.

Just what should be clone in the way of reforming the criminal has long been a serious problem in New Zealand, along with older countries. In Michigan State prison (U.S.A.), which is inhabited by 700 of the worst characters in the States, a scheme has been evolved to humanise and reform the convicts by kindness, not to punish them What will be the ultimate result only a thorough trial can determine. The men are taught trades, and can earn money for themselves. They may amuse themselves for three-quarters of an hour a day as they please on a playing green. Bands play to them, and travelling companies perform in their theatre. By good conduct they have the chance of earning large reductions in their sentences. The various employments inplude manufacture of argicultural implements, of . furniture, waggons, brooms, and grave stones, and in addition to the machine shops there is a tailoring establishment, the laundry, kitchen, prison farm, and clerical work. After completing a set task satisfactorily, each man may work for himself at a stipulated rate of pay.

Thirty .years ago the cost of the world's defence forces would have been covered by fifty million pounds. In the twentieth century the cost has already reached eight times that amount annually. Almost' every national leader is urging increased expenditure. President Roosevelt, pleading for new Dreadnoughts, declares that the United States must keep on building and maintain the navy in the highest state of efficiency, or else "quit trying to be a great nation." "Germany," says the Kaiser, "must be so strong as to be able to impose peace on sea as well as on land" The French Premier is quoted as having put the matter in still the same spirit. Russia!, is rapidly building to replace vessels lost in the Japanese war. Japan has a construction programme involving nearly £8,000,000. France has 80 submarines built and building, Britain 40, Italy 18, Russia 23 and the United States 9. Germany will have 30 by the end of 1908. By 1910 Britain will have 60 first-class battleships, France 32, the United States 29,.. Germany 20, Japan 16, and Italy 11.