CLUBMAN'S CHAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 19

CLUBMAN'S CHAIR.

A QUESTIONING AGE.

PROFESSIONAL RESIGNS.

HT.Z. COMPOSER'S SUCCESS. (By CHARLES MARTEN.) LONDON, October 22. The habit of asking questions is grow- f ing. At one time it was chiefly con- * fined to hecklers at election meetings | and small children. Then it spread ty> 1 the business world. Before launching I an advertising campaign a firm now 1 sends out representatives, armed with 1 questionnaires, to find out why and how often people buy soap, or whatever commodity the firm is selling. This kind of asking questions is dignified by the name of market research. The British Broadcasting Corporation has been queetioneering for a long time. Invitations are issued regularly to listeners to answer long lists of questions regarding the programmes, and thousands have co-operated in this way. M.P. Takes Busman's Holiday. Of course the Government has long been addicted to asking questions about the size and source of one's income. Now it is showing an interest in how that income is spent, and 30,000 housewives are struggling with their replies to a variety of intimate and searching queries. Individual members of Parliament, not i to be outdone, are also taking a ha.nd in this jiew game. For instance, Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the Opposition Liberals, spent most of his Parliamentary holidays cross-examining his constituents in a series of personal interviews in order to get their opinions on political affairs. Another M.P., Mr. Geoffrey Mander, has gone a stage further. He has issued a questionnaire which he invited constituents under S5 to fill up and return to him. The questions cover a number of topics, including China, Spain and home reforms. Father of Squash Racquets. When a few months ago Charles Arnold celebrated his jubilee as squash racquets professional to the Bath Club, among the many telegrams of congratulation was one from the Duke of WindIsor, Austria. Arnold has taught many members of the Royal Family, including the. King and the Duke of Windsor, when Prince of Wales. No man has contributed more to the rise in the game's popularity than has Charles Arnold. He has earned for himself the title of the "father" of squash racquets. No doubt his Royal ex-pupils shared the general regret at the news of the resignation of this famous player from his Bath Club appointment, all the more regrettable because it was the outcome of a dispute over a new ball. Arnold's - services to the game will not be lost, ' however, as he retains his chairmanship of the Squash Racquets Professional f Association. 1 Red Curtains in Whitehall. ,- Mr. Hore-Belisha has lit another v beacon. Passers-by in Whitehall, gazing r up at the windows of the rather sombre, undistinguished-looking War Office, have ,' probably wondered sometimes which, if , any, were those of the room in which the Secretary of War worked. They need wonder no longer.

One of the first things that Mr. HoreBelisha did when he received his new appointment was to order new window curtains. They are a brilliant scarlet and provide the only touch of colour in the building, as far as the exterior is concerned. In fact the War Secretary's room ia the only Minister's room in the Whitehall Government offices which can be identified from the street. Though, of course, no one suigest* that Mr. HoreBelisha intended to draw attention to himself in this waj'.

Motor Show Impressions. I could not detect anything very startling at this year's Motor Show. My first impression was one of staidness, for which the uniformity of the stands was partly responsible. At previous shows exhibitors were allowed more scope in the construction of stands, and some of them achieved wonders in the way of fantastic architecture. This year there was greater simplicity in display. The sole decoration permitted was a crimson banner overhead carrying the manufacturer's name.

The paintwork of the cars, too, was more restrained this year. Startling shades are out of fashion. Where black was not favoured preference was shown for dark green, blue and grey. One car painted a bright orange seemed almost indecent.

The general opinion, however, was that the makers were studying the interests of motorists and had produced some valuable minor improvements in the direction of increased visibility for the driver and greater roominess for the passenger.

Quieter London. Latest development in the campaign for a quieter London is the news that more streets are to be paved with rubber. The decision is the result of experiments in New Bridge Street, where rubber has stood the test well. This material, though dearer than wood, is more durable. The cost of upkeep being less, there is little doubt that in the long run rubber is cheaper.

Lombard Street, home of big banks and insurance offices, will be next to change to rubber, but it is expected «hat all the City of London roads will follow eventually. The buildings will suffer less from vibration and office workers, it is said, will experience less nervous strain when the traffic runs on rubber.

"The Laughing Cavalier." Mr. Waimvright Morgan, the young New Zealander who composed the music of "The Laughing Cavalier " the romantic musical play now running at the Adelphi Theatre, London, is one of the world's workers. In addition to composing the score he played the accompaniment at every rehearsal, frequently putting in 15 hours' work a day.

For the last three years Mr. Morgan has been connected witb a South Kensington theatre, where two short operas of his have been performed. "The Laughing Calavier" is his most ambitious effort. I think one or two, at least, of the 18 numbers will become popular this winter.