THE PASSING SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 6

THE PASSING SHOW.

(By TEE MEW ABOUT TOWN.)

Interpreting the law of the flying of flags in Germany, the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Frick, announced that the National flag may not be flown from any AIRING house in which there THE FLAG, is a Jewish member of the household. Whilst the Minister apparently prefers airing his views to viewing his Aarons, it must be realised that even the Russians are pleased to have an ikon. —B.C.H. Judging from Press reports, by the time our programme of rearming is completed we shall be so well equipped for bellicose activities that we shall have even BALKED AGAIN. Herr von Ribbentrop saluting "by numbers.' However, the game of outarming one's opponents appears to be getting on the nerves of some people. This is evidenced in a recent news item to the effect that during a billiards match in Quebec one of the players "suddenly produced a revolver and started firing it." It now transpires that his opponent (who had potted the white) retaliated by producing a series of cannons. A shop in Newton draws attention to its display of school requisites—exercise books, pens and pencils, and similar paraphernalia of learning—by a highlyTHAT CANE. amusing backdrop in the form of an inscription announcing that school reopens on March 1, and urging beholders to consider what they will need. The words are done as by a primers child, with the "s's" reversed, aid so on. But ominous ii one corner is a spirited cartoon labelled "Teecher," brandishing a cane. Although corporal punishment is rare in the modern school, and many teachers contrive to manage without it, the legendary symbol of the schoolmaster's cane persists in the cfaild mind. I was recently shown a spirited cartoon by a Standard 111. pupil in which "teecher" was depicted, minus clothes (a hint of "Sartor Resartus" philosophy about this!), but identifiable by a very large cane and a threatening aspect which shone through even the child's limitations of draughtsmanship.— Ben.

"Yes, ma'am.'' Five minutes' (silence. "I understand, ma'am." Five minutes' silence. "Yes. ma'am." Five minutes' silence. "Very pood, ma'am. I'll see to "MEOW!" it myself." The butcher liunp up the receiver with a loud rattle and a rude word, and came to the counter, wiping beads of sweat off his brow with tlie back of his hand. "Confound all wives of retired colonels," quoth he. "All she wants is a pound of steak, half a pound of chops and a penn'orth of meat for the cat, and it taken her half an hour to tell me just how slip wants the chops and just how she wants the steak and just what sort of scraps the blanky cat likes. Blow her! And what's for you to-day ?" The order given, the butcher had just ma<le the preliminary cuts towards boning a sirloin when again the telephone tinkled. Again "Yes, ma'am, very good, ma'am," in a voice that sounded as if his tie was too tigfet. The receiver went on again with a terrific crash. "Blank! Blank! Ten thoasand blankety blanks!" he swore as he came back flito the shop. (Fortunately I was the only customer there.) "That was the same old girl again," he confided. "She rings up to «ay. that the cat has just caught a nice, big blackbird, so she won't be wanting th® cat's meat, but be sure I cut the steak and the chops just as she told me."—l.M.

Apropos the recent prosecutions of "bookies," a correspondent raises a nice legal point when he points out that any person betting with a bookmaker ASE POLICE is also breaking the law LAW-BREAKERS? and is liable to prosecution. Yet the police, to catch "bookies." bet with them, and give evidence of having done so in Court. "It is not generally known," writes our correspondent, "that no Government has power to legalise a crime. Even if he is acting on instructions from his superior, a policeman is just as much an offender against the law as is anyone else if he lays a bet with a bookmaker, and the law cannot grant him immunity from punishment m a law-breaker. When Lord Russell was Chief Justice of England he presided over a Full Court which reaffirmed this principle after hearing the appeal of a convicted burglar. To catch his man 'red-handed,' a London policeman, acting on instructions from his superior officer, opened a window of a West End mansion. The burglar, passing by, succumbed to the temptation of the open window, and was 'caught ill the act.' The Court of Appeal held that the policeman had 'forged the first link in the chain of crime.' and. besides upholding the burglar's appeal, awarded him compensation. The Auckland policeman who backs a double with a bookie to get evidence against him might find himself in the same position as did the London man if the case were taken to appeal."—I.M.

THE ODD JOBS MAIC. He Is not the sort of Minister who thrives on schemes gigantic. Demanding the expenditure of public funds untold. And he never makes a hobby of financial projects frantic — All his colleagues' pet endeavours leave him noticeably cold; But If you have plans of running an art union or a whist drive. To assist you with his counsel is for him ambition's height— Introducing; Mr. Parry, whom you see in simple bliss strive To attack the litt'e problems, and attempt to put them right. It appears not all is apples in the merry world of racing. For the clubs when making fixtures find the year* has too few days. The dates that are available take quite a lot of spacing: A club when disappointed, too. unseemly Ire displays. It is apes since the public saw a leading trotting- meeting Tbat was finished ere the sparrows had retired to roost at night: The opinions of the punters would, I fear, not bear reneatinc. So it's tip to Mr. Parry—he's the man to put it right. There is some dissatisfaction in th* anglinc camps at Taupo, For the fishermen are crowded so thev haven't room to cast. There are places where the brambles twine in tangles through the raupo. And the overha njrinsr bushes catch vour line and hold it fast. Though the fish are there in plenty there are sipns that say "No Fishing." For riparian landowners are a powerful lot to ngrht: So the budding Izaak Waltons all most fervently are wislaing For a word from Mr. Parry that he soon will put it right.

Oh. there's not a lot of kudos taking care of thing* Internal. And it's seldom that he even has a chance to make a speech. When he does, there's not much boosting of l"" i !, ' PB "Hansard's" Journal. I-or he finds the leading topics are' a bit beyond his reach. vet tin your lids, ye punters, to the modest "i*. Parry. And ye ambitious fishermen, salute him i r pray, at night; When others ko on Joy-rides he perforce at home must tarry— There are lots of little troubles that lie's busy puttinp right. —SINBAD.