TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3112, 10 February 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

FINANCIAL REFORM. The success of the Opposition party at the General Election indicates clearly that a large proportion of the electors realise the ad\isableness of reform in our financial methods, and, says the Christchurch "Press," we believe that Mr Massey and his followers will be able to exercise a wise, restraining influence upon the Government next session. We have much more faith in the good effect of their efforts than in the likelihood of the Government applying the brake voluntarily. Iri the meantime Mr Rutherford's warning comes as a useiul reminder that we should cut oar coat according to our cloth.

CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND. The worst type of criminal has the best time in New Zealand gaols, and the arrant rogue of a lawyer who has robbed his clients of thousands of pounds, the swindling agent, and a type of wolf who is much more dangerous than the average burglar is sent to do some quiet tree-plant-ing, says the Taranaki Although one may be sorry for men who are criminals because they can't possibly help being criminals, one should be most sorry for the persons on whom they prey. All the gaols in New Zealand are understaffed. There is no classification of prisoners; the mealy-mouthed element is allowedjjto disturb the working of the system, and for a very long time the high officers of th<> Prisons Department have been incompetent to carry out their work. There is not the slightest doubt that crime will Le much, more common- in the i.ear luture than in the past, mainly because there must be some natural stringency, a good deal i.f unemployment, and an increase of the pariah das.-.