TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3108, 5 February 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE RAILWAYS. Commenting on New Zealand railways, the Hawers "Star" says:--"State-owned railways should mean the lowest possible rati-s for users and fair play for ail industries, big and little. But the lines should at least approximately pay their way, and the Minister deserves encouragement in his efforts to remove the reproach which now attaches to railway finance. He has not undertaken a pleasant task. But it is high time that we had at work in the public offices a man who will set before him the ideal that ordinary business principles should have some little play in administrative work, and when he appears he deserves sympathy and help.

THE LABOUR MARKET. We do not wish to undervalue the work of the Industrial Association or to demur to the doctrine that New Zealanders ought as far as possible to use goods of local manufacture, says the Christchurch "Press." That is a duty which cannot be too often inculcated. It is a mistake, however, to claim for the policy more than it is able to accomplish, or to divert public attention from other facts having an intimate bearing on the prosperity of the Dominion. While we

dj not think that there fa unemployment on a scale sufficient to call for the elaborate Commission of inquiry proposed by -the Industrial Association, still, there is no doubt as to the excellent constitution of the tribunal proposed, and if they find, as we have no doubt will be the case, that the reports as to want of employment have been exaggerated, their labours will at v least have had the effect of clearing up the situation and reassuring the public mind.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE. Sir F. W. Borden, the Canadian, Minister for Militia and Defence, who attended the Imperial Ccnference of 1907 in company with Sir Wilfrid Laurier, has recently been in London to discuss with the Home authorities the scheme for Imperial co operation in Defence outlined at the Conference. He reports the movement to be progressng favourably, though various difficulties remain to be settled, and that the Imperial Defence Council, r.ow in possession of the various colonial views, is striving to formulate a definite plan. This intensely interesting and incalculably important movement has for its laudable purpose the placing of the military organisation of the Empire upon such a footing that it will be entirely effective, as far as it goes, when required to resist always possible attack. We say "as far as it goes," for in the very nature of our British methods it has been impos&ible to postulate that universal training of the youth of the Empire which in the opinion of rjost thoughtful is imperatively required to make successful defence absolutely certain. This universal training is a proposition, remarks the Auckland "Herald," which every self-governing part of the Empire must consider and decide upon fjr itself. But whether those trained men upon whom alone a British State can rely in time of emergency are few or many, are the whole of its adult manhood, or a mere handful of enthusiastic volunteers, it is equally desirable and necessary that all Imperial forces should be organised, officered, and equipped upon a common plan, so that in case of emergency they may co-operat6 effectively and intelligently.