NOTES BY THE WAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2341, 26 October 1926, Page 5

NOTES BY THE WAY.

(By Rambler.)

A woman of ample proportions entered the drapery store and said to a young assistant, “1 should like to see a jumper my size.” “So should I, madam!” exclaimed the girl.

“A pillar of polished granite has fallen out of the cracked tower of Liberalism” is the way a Southern paper comments on the resignation of the Earl of Oxford and Asquith .from the leadership of the British Liberal Party. As in New Zealand, the Liberal Party has fallen upon evil days, but it can be said that the great party, whose real power started under the leadership of Gladstone, fought to a finish with Lloyd George at its head, even though the little Welshman developed into a showman instead of a statesman as he gave promise of at one stage of his career. Liberalism in this country has now only one representative in the House in Sir Joseph AYavd—the rest of the party aro under another name, hut when the third party is started, the Nationalists will be very little heard of, it will be lucky if it is heard of at all in a few years. AVha-t a golden opportunity was missed by those who believe ill Liberalism in this country, for it seema inevitable there will be a! political fluxing before the next election. Those who contend that married women should not be school teachers were supplied with a strong argument by a witness in a King Country police court the other day. In reply to the familiar question, “AAffiat is your occupation?” he said he had none. “What!” exclaimed the examining solicitor, “do you mean to say. yog do nothing?” “Oh, well,” returned the witness nonchalantly, “I drive my wife down to the school to work every day.” A very indignant man was H'ori when he was fined £6 for exceeding the speed limit “in his Ford.” Py corry, I tiuk et no fair. I see te motor cars going) twice over te speed I go in “Lizzie.” AAJio get te money .1 pay for te fine.” He was told by a wag standing by the Government would take it. “Py corry, I like get one over te Government for this, you know how to do et?” “Yes, Hori,” was the reply, “you give £5 to the hospital, and the Government will have to giv: another £6 is a subsidy.” Hori blinked, raised bis hands over fiis head and brought them down to his knees. “Kapai, I no let te Government have my money. 1 make ’em give it to te hospital.” Two days after the Hospital Board received a cheque for £5.

A- few days ago we had the Prime Minister of New Zealand holding out the hand of trade fellowship to the American people, and a few days later Sir James Parr, in condemning American films, stated that he loved the hinted States at a distance. There appears to be a sad lack of unanimity' in Government circles. Perhaps it was not an unwise move to pay Sir Francis Bell's expenses to London so that he would arrive there before the Imperial Conference opened. He at least is an experienced politician.

The Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright) .does not beat about ' the bush when making a, pronouncement, and this fact was well in evidence when lie dealt with Te Kuiti’s claim for a junior high school. His remarks were very candid when he dealt with the commitments of his predecessor. It appears that the little whisper that Sir James Parr promised for the ear of his successor did not * hear fruit. However, we now know where we stand in regard to the junior high school.

I suppose the building of a special railway carriage for the Duke and Duchess of York will provide work for a number of men, and help to relieve the unemployment problem in New Zealand.

One sometimes thinks that the Americans have a greater respect for royalty than the old monarchist countries in Europe. Queen Marie cf Roumania had an hysterical reception when she arrived in New York. However, sentiment or romance has no room in the American mind when it costs dollars. The Queen went to Yankeeland to try and raise a loan, and as European credit is not good in America, the enthusiasm for royalty waned, and has now petered cut.

A schoolmaster who possessed the name of Bird was always being reminded of this fact by the boys. Ouee on coming into the classroom he found the boys looking so supernaturally rfiave that he looked around for signs of trouble. Sure enough on the blackboard appeared a familiar quotation: “Flail to.thee, blythe spirit, Bird thou never werfc.”

“Who wrote that?” he rapped out sharply. Dead silence reigned for some moments. Then a small scholar rose and said : “Please, sir, I think it was Shellev!”