WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1931 ASSASSINATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1931 ASSASSINATION.

Not since Gavrilo Princip fired the shots that killed the heir to the Austrian Throne and his wife, and precipitated the Great War, has assassination taken such a toll in high places as it levied in Marseilles yesterday. King Alexander of Yugoslavia, who had just landed, and M. Barthou, the French Foreign Minister, who had come south to meet the King, were killed together by bullets fired from the crowd. The assassin, who is dead, is said to be a native of Zagreb, which appears to give the key to the crime. Zagreb, otherwise known as Agram, is the chief city of Croatia, and the centre of Croatian culture. It was in Serajevo, to the south of Zagreb, that a Bosnian-Serbian student struck what he thought was a blow for Southern Slav unity by killing the Archduke Ferdinand. Now (so it is reported) it is a Croat from the same part of the old Austrian Empire, a member of a race oppressed by the Austrians and Hungarians, who has struck down the head of the State that was supposed to liberate these Southern Slavs from the Austrian yoke. At the time of writing, details are meagre, but there seems to be every reason for attributing the crime to Croat hatred of the Serbs. Yugoslavia was formed of a union of Serbs and other Southern Slavs, but history repeated itself when the Serbs, who had suffered so severely through the centuries at the hands of aliens, showed that when they themselves became overlords they were unable to apply the lesson' of their own experience. The population of Serbia before the war was only two and a half millions; now it is about fourteen millions. But the Serbian Government has refused the Croats the autonomy they seek and deserve. All power has been concentrated in Belgrade. Croat culture is much higher than Serb. One of the leading authorities on Central Europe contrasts the civilised, progressive appearance of Zagreb, which looks like a modern German city, with the Oriental slovenliness and dilatoriness of Belgrade. Conflict between Croat interests and the Government of Yugoslavia culminated in a tragedy in the Parliament in Belgrade, when an unbalanced Montenegrin deputy fired on the Croat peasant deputies, and killed two. The Croats then withdre-jv and proclaimed a "social boycott" of the capital. Argument by assassination is tragically common in that part of the world, where life is cheaper than it is further west. Nationalist Serbian societies regard Princip as a hero, and many officials participate privately in the propagation of the Princip cult. King Alexander abolished Parliamentary Government in 1929, and though he afterwards introduced an amended Constitution, this was not democratic, and he remained a dictator. Apparently it is the combination of this dictatorship and the oppression of the Croats that has cost him his life.

What the political consequences of the crime will be it is impossible to say. Croatia cannot achieve independence, and does not desire it, but probably tbe assassination will tighten the bonds of Belgrade upon the community. The murdered King was on a visit to France to strengthen the Little Entente. France is Yugoslavia's banker. Relations between Yugoslavia and Italy would have been discussed in Paris. These have been strained ever since the war, and only the other day there was an outburst of antiItalian feeling in the Yugoslav Press. One naturally wonders whether a dictator could not check such manifestations of ill-will. France, as Yugoslavia's ally, would be disturbed by this development. Now France has to deal not with the King, bub with a minor who for some years will be guided by his Ministers. A new element of uncertainty is added to the already dangerous conditions of confusion and conflict in the Balkans. MONETARY CHANGES. In commenting on the Monetary Committee's report last month we said: "The greatest misfortune for the committee, though not for the country, was that the main reforms it was recommending were already launched by the opening of the Reserve Bank." Mr. J. N. Massey, one of the signatories, has gone further in his effort to remove the general disposition to minimise the importance of the report because it was not followed by legislation. What Mr. Massey says in effect is that the Government's adoption of several recommendations anticipated the publication of the report, and thus gave the public the impression that the Committee was merely following where it had shown the way. The stabilising of the exchange at the present, level was announced when the views of the Committee were known to both the Government and the Reserve Bank Board. The proposal for a National Mortgage Corporation was, as Mr. Massey says, one of the most important in the Budget, and it bad its origin in one of the Committee's recommendations; and amalgamation of Government lending departments was another proposal emanating from the same source. Certain amendments to the Reserve Bank Act* to encourage the development of a short-term money market and the use of trade and agricultural Bills, were along lines advocated in the report, and, most recent of all, the export of gold indicated in last week's statement of the Reserve Bank is in keeping with the Committee's rejection of the gold standard.

Among the remaining suggestions, the Committee's advocacy of lower interest rates is likely to be met before long by a reduction in the bank overdraft rate. The export of gold from New Zealand is of much interest, bccause of the conditions under which this was taken over from the trading banks. The price paid for this gold was not that ruling in the market, but Ihe old mint price of .£3 for gold eleven-twelfths line, and it was provided that any profits that might be derived by the Keserve Bank from the sale of the gold should be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. There was no temptation to the Keserve Bank to sell gold under these conditions, and there was equally no temptation to postpone the sale of it. So far as the bank was concerned, it could neither gain nor lose by shipping the gold abroad. But while these millions were allowed to remain in its vaults, the Government would be deprived of its "nest egg," which would amount in the aggregate to a substantial sum. The export of half a million revealed in the Reserve Bank returns can be interpreted only as a move to assist the Government. It does not affect the currency system of the Dominion, for New Zealand has been off the gold standard for many years.. One effect of the export will be to swell the steiling credits held by the Reserve Bank in London, which, of course, at their present total of £25,000,000, need no swelling. From a banking point of view, therefore, the sale of gold at the moment has no significance, but to the Government, and through it to the taxpayer, it is important.

NEWS OF THE DAY. Telegraph Pole Alight. The arm of a telegraph polo alongside the railway line south of Ellorslie was set oil lire by ' sparks from a pasting locomotive early last, evening, hut the lire was put out by 'the Kllerslie brigade with extinguishers before the wires were damaged. Fly Fishing for City Men. The opinion that tlie Auckland Acclimatisation Society should endeavour to eater a little more for'city fishermen than at present was expressed by Mr. T. S. Withers at a meetin," of the council of the society last evening. He suggested that it might be possible for the society to stock the Orere Creek, which could easily" be reached from the city, and in which feed was plentiful. The ranger was requested to prepare a report as to the possibilities of building a hatching box in the district and stocking the creek. More Goods, Less C#ish. "It is not hard to understand why there is a depression on in New Zealand when I mention that although the company sent more than double the amount of dairy produce overseas last year the monetary return was less thau in the previous year," remarked Mr. John Fisher at the animal meeting of the Southland Farmers' Dairy Federation at Invercarfill. "If you take into consideration that only one of the many hundreds of factories in New Zealand, it is not hard for you to realise the effect of the fall in dairy produce values in the Dominion." Indian Church Union. Present movements toward church union in India, which he considered would be of immense value, were described by the Rev. J. L. Gray, of the Punjab, at the meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last evening. In Southern India the movement would probably culminate in the union of the South India United Church with the Church of England, while in the north considerable progress had been made toward a union between the North Indian United Church and the Methodist and Baptist communions. Although the village Christians did not know very much about sectarian differences, they were barriers to the more intelligent and better educated people, who took' an interest in church work. Hospital Relief Office. When the relief office of the Auckland Hospital Board was planned, it was never thought that it would be so much used as it has been during recent days. Up to this week men and women have been interviewed at tlie same counter. During the week-end the office was so divided that a separate department has been made for women, so that they can be interviewed in a space attached to their own waiting rooms. Men will still attend at the main counter. Appreciation of the alterations has been expressed by many who are deeply interested in the board's relief work, because the details of the work will be conducted in a much more private way. Hours for Taxi Drivers. One of Auckland's largest taxi companies has introduced regulations which in future | will restrict the hours worked by drivers of their cars. The move, it i 3 stated, has been made in the interests of public safety and the efficiency of the service. Under the new rgulations no driver is permitted to work more than 15 hours continuously, after which a break of at least four hours must be taken. Fifteen hours', work is not as strenuous as one might imagine, owing to the fact that drivers of taxis spend considerable time doing nothing when waiting for fares, but the new regulations, it is hoped, will protect the general public from those owner-drivers who work longer than 15 hours at a stretch rather than share their cabs with other drivers. Maoris as Home-workers. A lady from the Far North who has been visiting Auckland says that she read in the "Star"' of farmers' wives having considerable difficulty in getting domestic workers in their homes. She could not understand why more advantage was not taken of employing Maori girls who, when properly trained, made fine housekeepers and were born nurses, so that they were simply splendid in their treatment of children. Her experience was that the average Maori girl did not care, what time she got up so long as she got to bed early at night. It was remarkable that they had no great inclination for listening to the wireless. It seemed to be too mechanical for them; if the voice could come unseen into the room it might be different, but they did not like to. hear a voice coming from a cabinet. They liked to hear the noises made by the wind, and a beautiful sunset almost transfixed them. The open spaces of the farm appealed to the Maori girls, and they liked to wander over the hills and bring in the cows. They liked doing jobs like that better than going down to the village for the letters and the paper. She thought the greatest good could come to the young Maori girls if the best white settlers took them into their homes and gave them a good training in housekeeping methods. As time went on, many of the half-caste and quarter-caste girls were going to make good farmers' wives, and as their whole interest I was centred in the districts where they lived, they would, if trained in housekeeping, bo the 1 more valuable as settlers.

Home Bible Reading. Gratitude to tlie Governor-General for his recent address stressing the spiritual value of Bible reading in the home was expressed at tlie meeting of the Auckland Presbytery Inst night, and the life and work committee was recommended to prepare a course to encourage and assist home Bible reading. Quick Work. The sum of' £fi disappeared from a taxi | •left temporarily in ihe vacant section opposite j the Albion Hotel, in Hastings Street, Napier, about it o'clock on Sunday night, reports the "Napier Telegraph." The ear had been left by its driver, Mr. S. Cross, for a few minutes, and during that time someone removed the money. Thief Disturbed. Disturbed by Mrs. S. J. Foster, wife of a member of the staff, a thief who entered the premises of tlio New Zealand Chemical Company, Mount Eden Road, about last night, made off after securing about 1")/ from the olliee. Entrance to the premises was gained by the breaking open of the basement dooi. The noise made by the thief in opening a money box disturbed Mrs. Foster, who called out, and the man ran away. Hospital Closed to Visitors. Owing to an outbreak of influenza affecting members of the nursing staff, it was decided last week to close the New Plymouth Public Hospital to visitors until further notice. "There is no cause for alarm," said Mr. I'. E. Stamton, chairman 'of the board. "Since the notification on Friday the mild epidemic has spread, and it has been considered advisable to close until further notice. The step lias been taken purely as a precautionary measure." Antiquity of Accountancy. The Mayor, Sir. C. A. Hislop, raised a hearty laugh at the Wellington accountants' dinner last week. In a humorous prelude to a serious speech he remarked that he had been looking into the origin of accountancy. "It is an ancient and honourable craft," he said. "Even in the days of Adam and Eve use was found for the loose-leaf system. I went a little further, and found that even in the time of Noah benefits were discovered in having a strictly limited company and also the advantages—which, 1 understand, you know best — of keeping out too much water." " 0.K." and " Oke." What does "0.K." mean? The Court of Appeal displayed some interest when Mr. J. Mason, of Napier, quoted a telegram concerning a waterside worker who had transferred from one port to another. The new union wished to know if the worker was eligible, and a telegram was sent that the applicant was "0.K." "What does it mean?" asked the Chief Justicc, Sir Michael Myers. Counsel suggested "all right." "It might be 'all kreety mused his Honor. "It even might mean 'all kronk'," he added with a smile. It was shown that the term had a definite usage and a definite meaning. "It's sometimes pronounced 'oke'," observed Mr. Justice Herdman amidst laughter.

Strange Visitor. The head of an albatross protruding from a sack on the top of the cabin of a motor lorry in- Masterton roused the curiosity of many passers-by. The bird had apparently been driven inland and was found on the middle of the road at Pirinoa by the driver of a cream lorry from Masterton. The bird was caught, but not before it had inflicted a gash on its captor's arm. It was given a drink of milk at a Lower Valley dairy factory, and was then taken oh to the Masterton Park, where it was housed for the night in company with "Billy," the park custodian's pet opossum. As it is impossible to keep an albatross in captivity, arrangements were made to convey the bird to Castlepoint, where it was liberated. Fog Signal House. Tenders for the small one-roomed reinforced concrete fog-signalling house to be erected on Tiritiri island have been called by the Public Works Department. The building will be 20ft by 19ft, and its site was chosen by the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, below the present signal station on the south-east corner of the island. It was stated recently by the Minister of Marine that the Cabinet had approved the erection of a diaplione fog signal operated by compressed air, and that at the same time a 00-watt radio beacon would be installed. It is expected that the building will be ready for use in two months, when apparatus from overseas will probably have arrived. No signalmen will be accommodated in the house, which will have an aperture in one end for the diaphonc signal. Favourite New Zealand Flower. Manuka is the favourite national flower, according to votes taken so far at the Cheeseman memorial spring flower show at present being held at the Museum. Up to yesterday the voting was: Manuka, 39S votes; kowliai, 143 votes; and clematis, 00 votes. Manuka has been in the first place each day, said Miss L. M. Cranwell, botanist at the Museum, who has organised the show. She said that about 250 votes had been given to other flowers, and a number to the fern. There seemed to be a great fear that the fern would be displaced; but the voting at present being taken was directed towards discovering the favourite flower, not emblem. People were taking a great interest in the voting, and one man apologised for the inability of his wife to vote, as she was particularly anxious to see manuka at the head. Acclimatisation Finances. It was reported at last evening's meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society that the estimated expenditure for- the year ending March 31 next amounted to £26(34, including £931 for wages and travelling expenses, £400 for payment for hawks' feet, £250 for payment for stoats and weasels, £328 for the purchase of pheasants, and £1.50 for the purchase of trout ova. The chief items in the estimated revenue, which amounted to £2789, wore game licenses £1908, and fishing licenses £700. It was mentioned that the payments for hawks' feet and stoats and weasels might exceed the estimate. Already 13,000 pairs of hawks' feet had been paid for, and allowance had been made for only 10,000, while all but 750 of the 5000 stoats and weasels allowed for had been paid for. Humble Stone Crusher Promoted. For the first time in New Zealand, probably, a local body's stone crusher, says the "Marlborough Express," will be used in the near future to break up gold-bearing boulders for a mining company. The other afternoon the Marlborough County Council consented to an application by Mahakipawa Goldfields, Ltd., for permission to put an experimental load of big wash through the county stone crusher at Para. The position, explained the county engineer, was that a quantity of big boulders coming up in the wash from the Mahakipawa alluvial mine were found to contain gold, and were missing the boxes and going over into the tailings. Lately an employee had been put on to pick out these valuable boulders, and in a/ week he was said to have recovered seven ounces of gold. The company had no plant to break up any quantity of boulders to make the gold available, and the idea was to demonstrate that crushing such warh would bo a payable proposition.