TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9552, 27 July 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE BANK RETURNS. One of the moat useful indications of the country's financial'position is afforded by our periodical bank returns, and the figures for last quarter, which have just been published, are on the whole distinctly encouraging. Generally speaking, says the "Auckland Star," we may say that these statistics show conclusively that the recent financial crisis of which we have heard so much has been handled capably and boldly by the banks. The directors of our financial institutions recognised in time that they had advanced money so liberally that a sudden fall in prices and land values would be a very serious matter for them. They therefore determined to limit their advances and to call in all "short" money before the* pinch came. I Though the banks' customers have, no doubt, been inconvenienced by this charge of policy, events have proved that the precautions taken were wise and timely, and the result in checking reckless speculution and steadying investment has certainly been beneficial to the whole country. PHYSICAL CULTURE. The present system of physical drill in cur schools has bees asserted to be "comparatively worthless." The description was, we (Christchurch "Press") think, undeserved. The system might possibly be improved, but the cadets are certainly a credit to it, and it is difficult to think that they are not all the better for it. What is wanted is some system be which children suffering from physical weaknesses or defects should hav. such .training as they need, that by some arrangement their parents should be notified of the defects, and that as the boys grow older they should come under a system of compulsory military training which would continue the benefits accruing from the training they received in their school days. New Zealanders should be the best representatives of the British race in the world. They have everything in their favour in the way of climate, surroundings, and standard of living.