TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9535, 6 July 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

CRIME AND THE COLONIAL. The better educated our population becomes the more widely education and comprehension are diffused, the more confidently we can rely upon popular support for a law and order which is recognisedly for the welfare and protection of all. We have to daal in New Zealand not with any general tendency to loosen the bonds of Jaw, but with individual weaknesses and perversions. It we have a national fault, says the Auckland "Herald," it lies in an exaggerated conception of what can be done by an Act of Parliament, rather than in any general inclination to violate the Criminal Code.

NAUONAL DEFENCE,

It is pleasing to know that our kindred at Home have taken up the question of defence in real earnest, and are tendering voluntary service in this whole-hearted way. But useful as the Territorial Forces doubtless are, they do not supply the real want which Lord Roberts and other great military authorities never weary of pointing out —the want of military training among the male population generally. Gradually, however, the Empire is approaching this goal. The new Commonwealth Government has made compulsory military training h point of its policy, it is being strongy agitated for at Home at this moment, and probably when the Defence Conference meets more will be heard of it. Possibly, says the Christchurch "Star," Sir Joseph Ward, when he returns to the Dominion, will have some communication to make on the subject that will be interesting.

SOCIAL CONTROL,

In the course of a speech at Christchurch, the Hon. G. Fowlds, dealing with education matters, said that in New Zealand great importance had been placed in local control, and i.i his opinion the system-owed a good daal of its success to local control He hoped, whatever changes might occur in the Jtuture, that local control and local interest would be maintained. In other countries they found that local control was accompanied by local responsibilities, and local contributions towards the cost of education. He thought that in the days to come New Zealand would probably have to move in the same direction, by throwing more directly into the hands .of. the people the responsibilities ~Hncl control of education within othejr . oyviv;, imiripdiate neighbourhoods. The system of local rating for education had been tried in practically all the countries that were leading in educational matters, more especially in Switzerland. That little country, which had been the home of many experiments, was, in his opinion, standing in the front rank, of the nations of the world tocay in regard to educational matters. The United States were forward in education in many parts, and though there was not the same level throughout the whole country, the general standard was very high, ani there also local control with local rating was the System. In ' land the proportion out or the State fund was 51.9 per cent., local taxes 48.1 ;• Chicago (the foremost educational city in America), State 3,9, local taxes 96.1; United States general average, State 18,8. local taxes 11.2; England, State 53.7, local taxes 46.3; Wales, State 56 6, local 43.4; Scotland, State 52.3, local 47.7; Ireland, State 92.1, local 7.9. In New Zealand almost tha, total cost of education came directly from the Government.

PHYSIQUE OF YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS.

Interviewed concerning Commander Blunt's remarks on the physique of New Zealanders, Dr. Thacker, of Christchurch. said that such statements were made possible because candidates for Government positions had to undergo a rigid, and, in his opinion, a hypercritical and quibling medical examination. Commander Blunt's idea of the standard of fitness had probably been raised by reason of his stay in New Zealand. There were defects to be remedied in colunial youths in many cases, and one of the prinicpal causes of this was the use of low, crowded desks I in the schools; but curvature of the spine caused in this way was easily cured by proper physical exercise. A fact tht did not seem to be properly recognised was that in a country like New Zealand, where, as could be seen by references to the Maori race, the tendency was to a tall and vigorous growth, young children should have hard food that would exercise the muscles of, the* jaw, and build up a hardy constitution. There was too much "suckling" about the infant's nutriment; but to say that the young New Zealander compared unfavourably with his English brother was ridiculous. The race that could produce such men aa the "All-Blacks" and Wilding and Arnst, was not behind Britain in the matter of physical fitness. The

stamp of nan that was sent to fight in South Africa stood out wonderfully over the Homeland soldier—physically and mentally.

GERMANY'S AERIAL NAVY.

One of the popular questions of the hour in Germany is whether it would be wise to slacken that country's present rate of battleship construction and use the money thus saved in building what would quickly become the world's biggest "aerial navy." In other words, would it be better to have one improved Dreadnought at a cost of about £2,000,000, or 40 Zeppelin airships at £50,000 each? What change, it is being asked, would a British Dreadought have when operating at night off the German coast if it were subjected to a rain of explosives from 40 airships flying over it in quick succession and at a pace which might exceed 30 miles an hour? It is argued that it would be difficult to ,hit a Zeppelin vessel driven at such a spegd, especially in foggy weather, and at worst only a few of thfe airships could be brought down. The falling of explosives would in any circumstances quickly disorganise the defensive fire, and probably leave the battleship almost helpless under the later attacks of'the manoeuvring aerial enemy. Some experts doubt whether a moving warship would prove an easy target wnen f supplied, 7 as it would be ; with several quick-firing "guns, specially designed for defence agaififit attack from above. Others point out that .presently have great difficulty in saving their own bulky skins from assults, which will be made on them in war time by scouting aeroplanes of at least equal speed. In spite of these discouraging suggestions, however, the idea of having a great aerial fleet as a threat to all European navies, and to the British navy in .particular, has_ strongly stirred the imagination •of the German people. The Government is not'yet persuaded. It has more belief in airships for military purposes than for offenca at sea.