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Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 19 November 1936, Page 3

The League of Nations armaments year book estimates that the permanent forces of the world in 1935-36 totalled 5.200,000, of which 545,000 were serving in navies, the total having increased by 1.700,000 since 1931-32. Europe has now 4,800,000 men under arms, compared with 3,600,000 in 1931 32. Thus Europe’s permanent forces are almost the same as in 1912-13. Long periods on relief work or sustenance do not by any means induce in the average unemployed man an indifferece to offers of private employment if the conditions are satisfactory. Several instances recorded at the Masterton placement office emphasise the fact that the prospect of a settled job almost invariably acts as a magnet. The successful applicant for a position 36 miles distant was asked what means he had of getting to the job, and replied: ‘Don’t you worry; I’ll get there all right.” Next day the employer advised the office that the man had bicycled the whole distance. “You leave that to me,” was the answer of ani other man for whom work had been J found 14 miles in the country. It was iater discovered that he had carried his swag on foot for nine miles, was given a. lift by a motorist for the remaining five miles, and arrived in time to start on the job at 7.30 a.m.! A “white collar” man three years out of work looked dubious when offered a job as a builder’s labourer; but he did not shirk it, and though every evening for about a week he thought he was at death’s door he won through, and now J has a wholesome respect for this highly i essential class of worker.

TEACHING ENGLISH , 4 ‘ Salley” (Nelson), an aspiring young journalist, sends in this story taken from an old serap-booik. Captain Sheehan subscribed wholeheartedly to Fcnianism, and after an unsuccessful invasion of Canada to rescue it from British yoke he sank io the level of teaching Chinese children in one of the Pacific Islands belonging to U.S.A, to speak English. After Sheehan had been teaching about a year the school inspector came to put the class through, its paces. At rhe head of the class was a little yellow, pig-tailed girl, and when she and the rest had finished singing “Taycher, taycher, why am I so happy?” she was brought out for questions. “Now, my child,” said the visiting official, “please tell me your name.” “Gum Hoo, sort.” ‘ ‘ How old are 'you, ’ ’ “Tin, goin’ on levin.” “Were you born here?” “I was that.” “What are your studies’” “D’ye mean my* stunts?” inquired Gum Hoo nervously. “Yes, child.” . “Rading’, ritin ’, ’rithinetie, and dam i the British,” came with a rush. “Have you ever been to Sunday ■School?” “Divvle a wan.” ‘ ‘ What is you religion ?’ ’ , ‘ * Hanythin ’; no, Dymmicrat. ’ ’ ■ ‘ ‘ What ? ’ ‘ “Hanything 1 dunno. Sa’y taycher! • What is me religion. Hanything or r Dymmicrat?” “Bad cess to yez,” said Sheehan. 1 “I towld yez it was Hanythin’.” 'Phe inspector turned to the next one, a boy, and asked his name. “None o’ your business. Ye’re from the guvment and a rap on th’ ■ skull o’ yez would be a good thing. ‘ Listen to that, will ye, taycher, th’ 5 unadhoun asked me for me name.” ; Alas the school had to be closed, but F ven now you can hear a grown China- . man calling to his wife across the gar- • den patch: “Come over here, be now, 5 or I’ll be afther batint the block aff yez. Wan. two. tree.” —Evening Post. Ledgers, cash, day. and minute books at the Star Office.