TOPICAL READING.
MR M'NAB'S CRUSADE. It is, undoubtedly, one of the weaknesses of a volunteer system in a country like this that it lends itself very -easy to manipulation for political purposes, and this is one of the strongest arguments in favour of substituting for it a system of I national training, says the Christchurch "f ress." Mr M'Nab estimates that his plan of compulsory training for youths under twenty woul.l not be more expensive than the volunter system, but would be a vast improvement in the matter of efficiency. One very important print which will have to be carefuly thought out is the provision of an adequate supp.'y of competent officers. We believe, however, that once the principle is adopted the details of a good practical scheme can he worked out. In the meantime, we wish Mr M'Nab every success in his patriotic crusade. To educate public opinion on the subject is an essential preliminary to reform.
, DRIVEIN FROM NEW ZEALAND. A New Zealand pastoralist, who recently arrived in Sydney from the Dominion, and who is seeking pastoral land in the State, after a residence of*3l years in New Zealand, told a representative of a Sydney daily that he firmly believed that in spite of the depression in New Zealand the future of the country was not in-doubt. He had been fortunate in selling when prices were good, and he would certainly have reinvested there, but for the present unfortunate state of affairs, and he could not afford to keep his capital inactive. Unfortunately for the Dominion, here were others similarly situated, and New South Wales would doubless reap a big harvest from speculating New Zealand pastoralists. Generally, he said, the season had been a magnificent one, both for crops and cattle, tut the stock markets were practically dead, lot ! after lot being passed without a bid. The price paid for ewes during February was the lowest in the history of New Zealand, being IJd per lb. This year there was a full supply of cattle and sheep offering, bat no buyers; values were far below the cost of production, the man who purchased ir? a buoyant market and holds boom price land being in- a serious position. Then the man who had bought a farm and wants to carry out improvements on a little credit was also "up against it." Grain merchants and others had combined for their common interests, and absolutely refused to accept any further liabilities. Stringent and somewhat formidable dairy regula- ' tions. too, were harrassing dairymen ] in some localities to open rebellion, j Good dairy cows were scarce, and ; the time was not far distant when < New Zealand would be sending to New South Wales for cattle to re- \ plenish her herds. ' £
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3208, 7 June 1909, Page 4
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457TOPICAL READING. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3208, 7 June 1909, Page 4
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