WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 6

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

NOTES AT RANDOM

(By

T.D.H.)

Th© strike is off, and the indications' are that next time we could even have a visit from Their Majesties with the trains all running as usual. The British Labour Government seems to enjoy the complete confidence of all parties except the Labour Party. To most citizens, who have decorated their premises for Fleet Week flags appear to-be simply flags, and that i» the end of it. “Ngaio,” however, writes suggesting that the Union Jack might be treated with more respect than is commonly the case. “We were always taught at school,” he writes, “that the Union Jack flew at the top of the staff alone, and no other flag above or below it, except that of *. conquered nation. In this city the good old flag is subjected to much indignity. The Parliament Buildings treat it well; the Government Life and other Government Buildings fly the New Zealand Ensign at th© top of the staff, while tty good old Jack is relegated to any minor place.”

Apropos of flags, one seldom see* the Australian Ensign in New Zealand. In fact, most New’ Zealanders would be hard put to say what is the difference between their own flag and. that of Australia. The chief difference is that besides the Southern Cross in the flag common to both flags, the Australian flag has a large six-pointed white star under the union as well. Moreover, all the stars jn the Australian flag are white, whereas ours are red -with white borders. New Zealanders may not notice the absence of this flag from their decorations, but Australians who happen to be here do. At the naval sports gathering on Monday an Australian seaman from H.M.A.S. Adelaide politely thanked the ladies at the refreshment stall for their kindness. There was only one thing he wanted to say anything about, .he said, and he hoped they would not think he meant any offence by it. But when the town was full of flags, he did miss the “Aussie” flag. There was every other sort or flag, Japanese flags, French flags, Italian flags, American flags,, but you could just- about look until you were blind before you saw an “Aussie” flag in Wellington.

“They told me over the other side, said tins- Australian stalwart, “that New’ Zealanders don’t like Australians, and when you look round jour city at the flags it makes you wonder a bit if there mayn’t be something in it.. —With an ikustralian cruiser in port it is up to Wellington to show’ that there isn’t anything in it, and now that the matter has been mentioned it is to be hoped that this omission from th© city’s outfits of bunting will be made good without delay. Our local dealers in bunting might very well see to it that thev keep as good stocks on hand of the flags of the various Dominions as thev do of foreign flags —the Empire when you come to think about it does consist of something more than Great Britain and New Zealand, and it is a pity not to have a visible reminder of this when the city is necked out on gala days.

Flags and their history is a subject on which a lot of interesting matter has been written. Some people, however, Sure very matter-of-fact about flags, such, for instance, as the old sea captain in one of Mr. Conrad’s novels in command of a tramp steamer newly transferred the Siamese register; The chief officer, looking aft one morning at sea. remarked in disgust to the master, “That’s a horrible flag to be sailing under!” “A horrible flag. Mr. Jones?” said the old man in mild surprise. “I don’t see anything wrong with it.” And presently th© captain went into the charthouse, aild on his return announced that the flag was quite-all right. The elephant was in the right proportions, and facing the right way. “But, Mr. Jones,” lie add“you might take notice in the mornings that the hands hoist it right way up and don’t get the elephant upside down.” «

A cable message tells us that a German gentleman at Wurtoinburg is marrying his twelfth wife. —If he survives the. thirteenth one anything will be possible.

People who follow the careers of the ladv members of Biitain’s House of Commons should not confuse Lady Terrington, M.P.. with Lady Torrington. who recently went on tho stage in London as a member of the cast .of “Ths Green Goddess.” The two ladies are totally different people. The British peerage is full of these temptations to error. There is an Earl of Dysart and an Earl of Desart, a Lord. Sudeley and a Lord Sudley, an Earl of Lindsay and an Earl of Lindsey, an Earl of Amherst and a Baron Amherst. Many people still fail to distinguish between Viscount Grev and Earl Grey ; and the various Hamilton and Howard and Douglas titles, primary and secondary, are only to be understood by a member of the Herald’s College.

A correspondent writes: At the luncheon to the Admiral and officers of the fleet on Monday, the Governor-Gen-eral had proposed the toast of Tho King.” The brief silence prompted Mr Massey to sav: “Have we nd musician Now, in a corner of tho banqueting hall were a few friends who had banded themselves together, and who rose as one man to the Prime Minister’s appeal. Full lunged, they broke forth in “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and the strange part of it was that the chorus was lustily taken up, and was with some difficulty repressed. The Prime Minister’s grave announcement of the toast for. the second time drew forth the National Anthem, none the less heartily sung because of the smiles that hovered round the mouths of the singers.

These little slips will occur at times, and T.D.H. once heard a chairman at a nublic dinner solemnly announce: “Gentlemen, the King is drunk: Yon may now smoke.”

Sir William Orpen tells a grimly amusing war storv of a very youthful Second Lieutenant who presented a cheque for £2O across the counter of the Paris branch of Cox’s Bank. Said the Cox man, peering out: .“What rank are you. please?” To which the youth replied: “Second lieutenant,”' “Surely you know.” said the Cox man, “that a second lieutenant can only, cash up to £5.” “Of course I do.” said the youth, “the ordinary ones, but I’m off the ordinary, I’ve funds! Why, I have about £5O duo to come to mo in a few months!” “But,” said the Cox man. “you might- get killed in tlic meanwhile.” “Say, Mr. Cox,” said the youth, “are you. getting the wind-up!” THE WELL-BELOVED. Whom the Gods love die young— So down tho ages sung We shall grow old and die And lay our beauty by : And all our potent charms Lie wasted. . . . Vague alarms— See now! The Gods decree Eternal youth shall be: And old age keep the thrill Of its quick heart-beats still: The mind alert, the soul Impatient to its goal Thrusts forward. So of me, Dear Gods in charity. Of me let it be sung— Who. being old, died young. —Enid Clay.