16 JULY 1910, Page 25

The Statesman's Year Book. Edited by J. Scott Keltie, LL.D.,

with the Assistance of J. P. A. Renwick, M.A. (Macmillan and Co. 10s. Cal. net.)—There is no new feature in this year's volume, but much new information and not a few changes of detail. The general death-rate of England and Wales dropped from 1021 in 1870 (it should be explained that 100 represents the rate of 1869) to 7I.4 in 1907, and the phthisis death-rate from 102.6 to 46.3 ; pauperism fell from 100 to 81.6; while wages have gone up from 100 to 138.9. In politics the chief novelties concern South Africa, Australasia, and the Belgian Congo. Some notable figures are given concerning old-age pensions in France. The workman and employer contribute and the State adds. The maximum obtain- able is .t16 lls., or 6s. 4d. per week. The cost to the State is reckoned at something less than £2,000,000.