Oddments

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1948, Page 4

Oddments

Every time I come across the words (“Loud laughter”) in brackets in an account of Parliamentary proceedings I find myself wondering what it is that makes M.P.’s so easy to amuse. Nobody could claim that the jokes in the House of Commons are good ones. In fact, most of the humour is unconscious and does not win as much as a smile. But every day you will read something of this sort: “He said that he was sure of the date, because he had written it down.” (Loud laughter.) Or, “he would not use the word untruth. Perhaps prevarication would meet the case” (Loud laughter). 1 have been told that it is good nature that makes them laugh so much. My own belief is that it is abysmal stupidity.— “Beachcomber,” in the London Daily Express. , , *

For some old-time Americans the expression “not worth a bean” must have had a literal significance. Cocoa had once a money value of its own, for in Central and South America it passed as currency among the natives, and that in spite of a plentiful supply of gold. Joseph Acosta, in 1610, recorded that the Indians “used none of their gold and silver for traffic in or to buy withall, and unto this day the custom continues among them that instead* of money they use cocoa.” The Aztecs of ancient Mexico also used cocoa for small change, as many as 8000 beans being regarded as “legal tender.” The value of the beans may be judged from the fact that “a tolerably good slave” could be purchased for 100 of them. « # 5 '

“Blazon” writes to the New Zealand Herald as follows: —“The New Zealand Rugby League deserves a formal censure from the Government for altering—one might almost say impudently—the Dominion’s coat of arms to its own taste and displaying the spurious' version in Britain on the blazers of its touring team. The League adopted the New Zealand armorial shield, but placed on top of it a wholly unauthorised crest, consisting of a kiwi. The correct crest, as anyone can ascertain by a little inquiry, is a ‘demi-lion’ holding a banner consisting of the Union Jack. The kiwi is nowhere represented in the authorised arms. Evidently the League decided that it ought to be there, and just put it in. It is an offence in law to deface the currency. The national arms should be similarly protected.”

—The Seeker