TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9527, 26 June 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE POLICE FORCE,

If justification were required for the appointment of a Civil Service Board, and for the removal of all public employment from political inuflences, it would be found in the disrepute into which the police force has fallen, and in the unpleasant suggestion that the po3t office is trending in the same direction, remarks the Auckland "Herald.' No adequate explanation has been offered by by the Government in any of the specific charges made of improper police appointments. The feeble explanations t attempted only make bad worse.

THE MINISTRY,

The appointment of Mr Carroll, as Acting Premier will ba a great surprise, says the Christchurch "Press." It would appear that Sir Joseph has grown jealous of his powerful colleague, the Minister of Railways, and is not anxiou3 that he should have too many opportunities of displaying his fitness for the leadership of the party. Sir Josaph could scarcely have adopted more effective way of producing a condition of suspended animation in New Zealand politics while he is in England, and it will be a very complacent country indeed if it does not chate under the taihoa of this new Fabius Maximus before October next.

THE SHORTEST DAY. Pealing with the little known fact that June 21st is no longer the shortest day, the writer of "Astronomical Note 3 -' in the "Lyttelton Times" explains that the sun used to reach northern solstice on that date at the en.: of last century, but the year 100 a was -ioc a ;eap year, and the omis?i<v: -ti trie usuai extra, | day has made the pre-jin, . a es of j equinoxes and solstices one day later ! Reckoning in New Zealand time, the shortest day is now June 22nd in leap year, and in the two successive years, and June 23rd in the third year after leap year. The longest day is December 22nd in leap year and in the following year, and December 23rd in the second and third years after leap year. These dates are gradually becoming earlier, so in course of time the 'shortest and longest days will again be the 21st of the months, but this will not be until most of us are making our observations of tha heavenly bodies upon the spot.

A SPARTAN EXAMPLE.

In proposing a vote of thanks at the meeting held at Benheim recently by Mr K. McNab in connection with uni> versal military training, Mr Justice Cooper said it would bs improper on his part to express a personal opinion on the question, when Mr McNab had shown very forcibly the urgent necessity for a competent system of defence in the Dominion. He believed that svery man in New Zealand was willing to help in the defence of th 6 country, and hs thought that a thorough system of compulsory^training was essential in order that the men might be both willing and able to properly defend the country. Willingness was one thing, but competency was the other requisite. He thought that something should be [ done to continue the training given the boys in the public school;*. He would say nothing further than to remind them of a reply made by the Spartan king when asked where was his castle. Pointing to his army, he said: "Here are the walls of which every man is a brick." He would like to see a system of military training introduced on the lines of the old Spartan democracy. I