RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

SIDELIGHTS ON CURRENT EVENTS LOCAL AND GENERAL

(By

Cosmos.)

We find that the two unfortunates whose every idle word may be used against them are the prisoner and the politician. » » » Politics and religion may not mix, but once again Russia is rushing in where angels fear to tread. In a recent law case a. Judge remarked that the prisoner had spent a dissolute and wasted life. His Honour was probably correct, but under the circumstances it is interesting to discover just what an average man who attains the age of 72 does with his life. In the first place he sleeps for 23 years 4 months. He spends 6 years travelling and 4 years in being ill. It takes him no less than two years to dress, and 6 years 2 months to eat. This does not leave very many years for anything else, but in the remaining period of life he generally works for 18 years 8 months, and spends a solid 9 years 8 months in recreation and amusements.

Lipari Islands, from which three banished opponents of Fascism have just escaped, consist of a group of desolate volcanic islands, seven in number, off the coast of Sicily. These islands, even in the days of the Romans, served as a place of banishment for political prisoners and were twice visited by Ulysses In his travels. In fact, the only other use that any one could find for these arid and desolate islands -was as a naval base. The Carthaginians used them for this purpose and for a while the Romans continued the idea when they took possession of the territory. Sulphur springs and vapour baths were well-known institutions on some of the islands from the earliest recorded times and there was once even a sulphur-reclaiming factory. Stromboli, one of Italy’s well-known active volcanoes, is on one of the islands of this group. The Bill depriving certain Italians of their rights and sentencing them to banishment and confiscation of property was passed in January, 1926. The first opponents of Fascism to come under its power included Nitti, onetime Premier, whose nephew has now escaped; Don Sturzo, leader of the Popular Party; General Garibaldi, son of the famous Liberator; an editor or two, and a number of other journalists.

With the nefarious activities of the “fire fiend” bringing Christchurch so much into the limelight of late, it is interesting to note that arson is one of the oldest crimes known in English law. Probably in the good old days it owed its frequency partly to the inflammable nature of early building materials, and partly to the childish delight in a good blaze which is characteristic of most primitive peoples. In ancient times, however, when there were no insurance companies to foot the bill, and bear the brunt of the losses, it was a far more effective way of working off a grudge than it is today. Accordingly, if the incendiarist was captured the results were more serious for him than they are to-day. Under the Danish King, Canute, “boernet,” as the crime was then called, was punishable by death, and Edward the First resolved, like Gilbert’s Mikado, “to make the punishment fit the crime.” and fire-raisers were burnt at the stake. As this penalty existed down to the Magna Carta era, arson was pretty rare. This crime is the first dealt with in the English “Malicious Damage Act” of 1861, which prescribes a maximum penalty of penal servitude < for life for the destruction of a large number of buildings and a maximum of fourteen years for setting fire to any other structure. The offence must be “unlawfully and maliciously” carried out for the charge to succeed. Wilful and malicious destruction by fire or otherwise of any ship of the Royal Navy, Royal dockyards, arsenals, magazines, rope yards, or even victualling offices or other stores therein, or of any other military or naval victualling or ammunition stores, is a capital offence, and must, on conviction, be visited with sentence of death I Any acts done to the public danger in handling, storing, and exploding explosive materials are dealt with under the “Explosive Substances Act of 1883,” though “explosive substances” are undefined except that they shall be deemed to include also materials for making explosive substances, and this does not help very much in the matter, our southern incendiarist, with his affinity for petrol, probably coming within the boundaries of both Acts.

Yesterday’s Cables contained a reference in the course of a statement by J. L. Garvin, to the Addullamites. The political use of the term “The Cave of Addullam” owes its origin to John Bright away back in 1866. In that year a Reform Bill was introduced by Earl Russell’s Administration. Several members usually found in the ranks of the Liberal Party either opposed or withheld their sup- !

port from the measure. Among them Mr. Robert Lowe and Mr. Horsman were most conspicuous. In a debate on the Bill on March 13, the following observations by Mr. Bright excited much merriment and gave the name of “Addullamites” to this section of politicians. “The right honourable gentleman below me (Mr. Horsman) said a little against the Government and a little against the Bill, but had last night a field-night for an attack upon so humble an individual as I am. The right honourable gentleman is the first of the new party who has expressed bis great grief, who has retired into what may be called his political cave of Addullam, and he has called about him every one that was in distress and every one that was discontented. (See I Samuel, xii, 1,2.) The right honourable gentleman has been anxious to form a party in this House.

“There is scarcely anyone on this side of the House who is able to address the House with effect, or to take much part in our debates, whom he has not tried to bring over to his party or cabal: and at last the right honourable gentleman has succeeded in hooking tlie right honourable gentleman, the member for Caine (Mr. Robert Lowe) and I know there was an opinion expressed many years ago by a member of the Treasury Bench and of the Cabinet that two men would make a party. When a party is formed of two men so amiable, so discreet as tlie right honourable gentlemen, we may hope to see for the first time in Parliament a party perfectly harmonious, and distinguished by mutual and unbroken trust. But there is one difficulty which it is impossible to remove. This party of two reminds ma of the Scotch terrier which was so covered with hair that '-on could not tell which was tlie he. I and which was the tail of it”