IN THE PILLORY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 14

IN THE PILLORY

Pockets Are Too Useful In Winter [By COMMENTATOR] Small boys are often threatened by parents and teachers that if they persist in keeping their hands in their pockets, the next pair of trousers made for them will be minus pockets altogether. But the threat does not seem successful, for the number of youths and men seen walking the streets with their hands in their pockets seems to grow each- week. Perhaps this does not seem a very serious matter, but some people say it is, because it makes for a city of slouching, round-shouldered walkers. So far as is known, the matter has not been brought officially to the notice of the Government perhaps because it is difficult to think of the appropriate Minister to take it to—but as every problem nowadays eventually is referred for Cabinet’s consideration, it may be that soon official statistics will be made available of the number of men who habitually keep their hands in their pockets, and in consequence walk in a slovenly manner. That so many men habitually walk with their shoulders rounded to permit their hands being deep in trousers pockets in Christchurch seems, in practice, to point to a lessening female influence. Because, surely, few well-dressed women like to have slovenly male escorts. The only excuse there seems to be for the habit is that it keeps the hands warm these wintry days. But if the habitual offenders only regarded the habit in the economic light, and thought how many more people would be employed if they broke the habit, and took to buying gloves instead, it would possibly stop. ' Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce might take some steps in the interests of the glove manufacturers—first making sure that none of its own members is an offender. Seriously, though, the habit seems to be increasing, and it does not improve the appearance of the city’s menfolk. The permanent state of keeping one’s hands in one’s pockets is not to be confused, however, with the occasional dipping necessary in these days of fairly free spending and giving, and it would be unjust to say that the habit of putting hands deep in pockets—and keeping them there—is most pronounced on street collection days. '