RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current

Events

(By

Kickshaws).

Epstein has been commissioned to create an Eve for his Adam. Judging by his Adam, a rib will never be missed.

Candidates for the American Davis Cup are threatening to strike if they don’t get a better ball. It looks like being ’vantage striker. * * *

Experts declare that the frozen cargo on the Pont Bowen is in no immediate danger of becoming unfrozen. Those experts look like having a job to keep the stuff from getting too cold, judging by the weather.

It looks as if the citizens of Wellington and elsewhere ought to have a working knowledge of snow this winter. Snow is one type of white stuff that falls from the sky when it is not raining. It must not be confused with sleet, which is frozen rain, or hail, which is frozen water produced by complicated air currents. The one thing about snow is that no two flakes are alike. Snow is like finger-prints in this respect, but It is usually easy to distinguish between the two. Indeed, if readers would take a snowflake and have a look at it tinder a microscope they will discover how marvellous it is, unless, as is usually the ease, it melts. Snow always melts when you least want it to melt, proving that one foot of snow is equivalent to one inch of rain. Snow, in fact is rain on the instalment system. You have all the advantage of rain without its wetness. Unfortunately, when snow stays put on the ground it is only deferring the evil to a fine day. It may be true that one foot of snow produces only one inch of fain, but those who have had to paddle around in thawing snow will be sceptical on this point.

There is much to be said in favour of keeping members of the House of Commons at their posts in times of crisis. The machinery which tradition ordains shall come into motion when the parliamentary machine reassembles is ponderous in the extreme. It may have been all right in the old days when the stage coach was the fastest form of travel. Today the complicated ritual of official intimation of. the opening day to every member takes at least three days, or, normally, four. It is possible that events can take place in four days which would make it impossible for Parliament to get together. There is, moreover, the burdensome rigmarole of a new session, which nobody seems able to curcumvent. One wonders in a national crisis whether the House of Commons would still insist on displaying its right to initiate legislation by demanding a first reading of the “Outlawries Bill.” This Bill is read a first time at the beginning of every session. Then, of course, the House goes into a ' huddle over an interminable address-in-reply to the King’s speech. That may last an entire military campaigning Beason. $ * * The time cannot be very far away when the tortuous methods of parliamentary procedure will have to be overhauled. The speech from the Throne which starts off every session is usually printed beforehand. One wonders if it could not be taken as read in view of this fact. In New Zealand we then see read the “Expiring Laws Continuance Bill,” to show that members have a right to legislate. That done, members settle down for a month or more to discuss votes of no-eoufidence. an address-in-reply, and to read a few ' "'ls that will never see the light of day. Indeed, one begins to wonder wuc-mer the reading of a bill the first time is really essential. The fact is that the bill is not read, and generally it has been printed. It is the same as regards papers laid on the table of the House. Although the papers are already printed the House solemnly has to decide to have them printed. In certain cases, moreover, members are at liberty to talk about almost anything, especially when imprest and supply bills are under discussion. Mr. Seddou, on one occasion, read through the whole of an electors’ roll, name by name, complete with biographical notes. Usually the essential work is rushed through in the last weeks of a session. In times of crisis the problem will be to put these last weeks first.

The centenary of the bicycle is shortly to lie commemorated in Britain. It seems incredible that the bicycle is so old. So far from the bicycle being a modern invention, the present centenary has had to cut out really old machines by commemorating the first pedal cycle. Actually, the origin of the cycle is unknown. Foot-propelled machines were iu use well over a century ago. Richard Lovell E-dgworth produced a machine in 1767. The famous “dandy horses” were the rage in 1818. Indeed, it was only the satire of contemporary humourists which killed the “dandy horse.” This machine derived its forward morion from kicking the ground with the feet. The early designers of anything comparable with a modern bicycle were handicapped for lack of engineering inventions associated with the modern machine. There were no ball bearings, no inflatable tyres, no suitable chains and sprockets, and, therefore, great difficulty in obtaining the correct gear ratios 'between the pedals and the rear wheel. The result was huge driving wheels, and the penny-farthing.

Actually the safety bicycle as we know it today is a modern device, dating back to the 80’s of last century. Maybe it is a slant on the in lie. ent conservatism of mankind to discover that tlie introduction of the bicycle caused as much opposition as did the introduction of the first cars. Letters of a most indignant kind tilled the correspondence columns of ‘The Times.” Moreover, cyclists got treated with extraordinary severity by other roadusers. In August. 1876, for example, a cyclist, was riding along the road from London to St, Albans when the mail coach approached. As the two vehicles passed the coachman lashed out at the rider with his whip, striking him in the face. Before the cyclist had recovered, the guard of the coach Hung an iron weight at him. The weight was attached to a cord, and became entangled in tlie wheel, sending the cyclist through the air. It required au indomitable spirit to go cycling in those days. Yet even in those days people were riding from Scotland to London. One enthusiast, a few years later, cycled 11,000 millthrough darkest Africa with no tail lamp, at least he took his bicycle with him.

“Regarding an inquiry from one of your correspondents in regard to vocational testing,’’ writes the Director of Education. “I have to state tbat no actual vocational guidance testing is done in Wellington. The only place where this is done is the Psychology Laboratory, Canterbury University Col lege. Your correspondent may, however, consult with the Vocational Guidance Officer at tlie Youth Centre. Civic Chandlers, Lower Cuba Street. Wellington, where information in regard to vocational guidance may be obtained.”