NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr. Cowan on Samoa. Authority on the Maori and lover of both Maori and Samoan, Mr. James Cowan builds the brightest hopes on the Labour Government's liberalising policy in the Pacific. He has seen the Samoans "in armed action in the lively days of old Samoa," and cannot see any hope in a. policy Jhat prevented this proud race from "travelling about the islands, or even from village to village, without a police permit." Writing in the "New • Zealand Railways Magazine," Mr. Cowan .observes: "A race of poets and orators and warriors, a race of culture and beauty, the Samoans are a finer people than the Europeans who have dictated what they shall do and.say, and even wear." Not in a Rut. Successful" operation of rail-cars and road buses would not be possible if the railway service was in a rut. In the "New Zealand Railways Magazine'1 Mr. G. H. Mackley, General Manager, points out that the service has risen to new times and new methods. "There was a time when railroading remained stabilised for years on end. Those days have gone by. The basis of the railway system remains the samesound engineering practice in the design, construction, and maintenance of everything used on the railways, strict adherence to the rules to ensure safety in the conveyance of passengers and freight,, and professional skill and judgment in planning the scheduling and operating the running of all trains. But new features, such as the co-ordination and operation of road services, the introduction of rail-cars, and spreading information regarding ,the many services the railways now perform on behalf of the public, liave added greatly to the diversity of a railwayman's activities. It is a good proof of the high quality-of railway men generally that they have been able to 'make good' in all these new directions without losing any of their ability as railwaymen in the essentials of their profession." Inquisitive Keas. The cries of comrades in distress ncV. infrequently inspire among members of the animal kingdom, as well as mankind, a not unnatural desire to see what the trouble is and, if possible, to render succour or sympathy (states the "Otago Daily Times"). Such, presumably, was the case when the six live keas, which are at present housed at the Grand Hotel, were captured in the Hollyford Valley, near Mount Christina, a few days ago. When the birds were snared and pla seed in their large cage, their piercing lamentations quickly attracted some twenty or thirty of their fellows, who, either from sympathetic motives or merely the innate curiosity for which these birds are noted, flew round the lorry and its vociferous burden on the whole of the journey to Te Anau, a distance of over fifty mile-

Trophies from the Deep, j The written word, the still photograph, and the moving picture can eacii be used in its own way as an effective means of advertising the sporting possibilities of the Dominion. But a visual demonstration in the way of stuffed and mounted specimens of what' the angler may expect to find at I the end of his hook, if he is lucky, are probably as good a boost as any. This is the view of the Government Tourist and Publicity Department, hence their dispatch to the High Commissioner's office in London of the head of a 5121b mako shark and the head of a 3291b striped marlin. These as a window display will go a long way towards disproving the assertion that fishermen have inherited one of the traits of the character of Ananias, and they will show that the deep-sea j fishing which New Zealand has to! offer tourists from overseas can hold its own with all competing waters. Effect Across the World. When German troops reoccupied the Rhineland and when ' Italian troops poured into northern Africa the population of New Zealand looked on with interest, but with little individual concern (states the Christchurch "Press"). It has been said that New Zealand is too far away from such activities to be affected, but Britain's re-arma-ment programme has spread its effect more than through Europe. Because Britain has given many and large orders to her munition and armament factories the Christchurch Tramways Board must wait for the door fittings for its ten new Diesel-engined buses which otherwise are almost ready to enter into service. The assembly of the ten buses by the board's staff has been in progress for some time, and without unforeseen delay they would probably have been on the road within a few weeks. But the order for the steel fittings for the doors has not been filled by the English firm with which it was placed. The firm has advised the board that because of the armament orders placed by the British Government the steel fittings required by the board would not be forwarded by the ship which was expected to carry them. .