Oddments

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1949, Page 4

Oddments

A writer says - an actor’s life) is one huge paradox. Obviously—he has to bring ..down the house to keep the roof over his head.—London Opinion. ( ® Some of the big salaries in British nationalised industries, like Sir Ben Smith’s, are not disclosed. What it is much more vital to disclose is the amount being paid in tax-free “expenses.” Some panjandrums, in addition to their salary, get £4OOO a year tax free.—The London Recorder. While film-making on an island off the Italian coast William Dieterlespied a shepherd who was “just the job.” He had a white beard a yard long and wore; a wonderful old homespun coat. He was hired there and then and next day reported for work full of enthusiasm. ' Not so, Dieterle! The shepherd had.,,used the advance the film company paid him to get his beard shaved and buy a ready-made suit!—Variety, New York. 15 * * * « Perishable is the reputation of-big men in the Labour Party. Sir Stafford Cripps was a demi-god, now he is disregarded. Mr Aneurin Bevan was feared as a coming dictator of the party. Now his big “I” statements about what he would allow to be done to his department are proved to be so much wind. On his statements Socialist M.P.’s had talked big in their constituencies. Now they feel let down and hurt in their weakest place—their fear of not holding their, seat and their £lOOO '■a year.—The London Recorder. f —The Seeker