Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th., 1928. GRIEVANCES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1928, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th., 1928. GRIEVANCES

H IGH and low, rich and poor, have each their special grievances, and although it is easy to bear other people’s troubles calmly. sympathy follows the publication to the world of some of these complaints. An example may be iound in the lament of Lord Lascelles that photographers are injudicious in their selection of the moments to click their cameras, jord Lascelles does not, apparently, mind the publicity his position as husband of Princess Mary has brought him, but he objects to being photographed when his mouth is open. He declares that he has suffered a great deal through this, and that Princess Mary has endured a great deal more. Judging from some of the Press pictures shown of the distinguished couple, ! here is ground for their grievance, nor are they the only victims. Lady tennis-players have frequently complained of Press photographers snapping them when their attitudes are not the most graceful, and other instances could be quoted. Public sympathy will be with the victims of the too truthful

cameras, as vanity apart, none likes to be portrayed to the world looking his or her worst. It will be cold comfort to Lord Lascelles,

Helen Wills and others, that thousands in the world would give much to acquire Press pictoral prominence, flattering or otherwise. Greatness should bear its penalties as cheerfully as it accepts its privileges.

Another grievance, or rather, many of them, ventilated this week, came from Christchurch motorists, who alleged injustice in several directions. Not all of these complaints would be regarded as well-founded by public opinion, but the protest against the increasing enforcement of trivial regulations will attract much outside sympathy. Motoring traffic needs keen regulation, but it should be unnecessary for Magistrates to be called upon so often, to decide if the proper reflector was on a car, or if the number plate was sufficiently on view, and similar petty details. These by-law actions have been overdone in all parts of the Dominion of late, and if these petty prosecutions do not make the law look like an ass, they inspire uncomplimentary opinions of those responsible for the legislation manufacturing such pin-pricks. Motorists have another genuine grievance in the venial estimate taken by the law of the offence of car-iheft. Robbery under any other name is just as wrong, and punishment should more fit the crime of depriving car-owners of their valuable property. Politicians, too, are now busy airing their grievances against the Government, but space-limits prevents much comment on these. Most of such . autterances are mere grumbles, having no other aim than to attract. votes at the polling booths on November 14. Prohibitionists are also among the dissatisfied, because the women of New Zealand are not exercising their right to Parliamentary franchise just as the'“Dry” extremists dictate. However, women are supposed to be used, to being, grumbled at, and, certainly? the modern girl gets her fair share of criticism. Not that it matters —to her. Church leaders, too, with slight provocation, complain to an alleged indifferent world that it is not keeping to the path of rectitude as outlined by pastors, although there seems to be plenty of evidence that each generation is an improvement on its predecessor. Airing grievances is evidently a popular pastime, and only those who never indulge in it, can appropriately condemn it. Among these superior few, the Press could not honestly claim to be included.