NOTES BY THE WAY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3304, 16 May 1931, Page 5

NOTES BY THE WAY

(Bv Rambler.)

The third Irish art union is not meeting with the same measure of success as the previous two. Considering that there are about a million disappointed speculators who based their future on winning one of the big prizes, this is not surprising. In addition to this many people think they will be subject to the same litigation as the Italian proprietor of the hash foundry if they won.

Mr. Scullin is getting into deep water in Australia, and now asks for a conference of all political parties to try to teach him how to swim. Like Mr. Coates, however, Mr. Lyons is not going to risk his party in any rescue work.

I notice some comment lately in the Chronicle on the little knowledge the young people of New Zealand have regarding practical farm work. I believe there is a good deal in this, judging by the experience of a King Country farmer who engaged a youth from Auckland as rouseabout. The morning after arrival, the new comer was told to start milking. He surveyed the 30 odd milk producers with a worried look, and then turned to the boss: “Couldn’t I start milking a calf till I got my hand in.”

A message from Russia states that the Soviet is recruiting female labour for its factoi'ies, as it has been proved that the gentler sex is more easily disciplined and more docile and industrious than men. This may apply to Russia where the emancipation of women is hundreds of years behind many other countries. A few centuries ago man was lord and master. He did the fighting, hunting and drinking, and had a good time generally when fighting was a more gentlemanly occupation than it is in these days of poisonous gas and long distance guns. In the old days the man with personality and courage led the armies. To-day he keeps out of range of danger and direct operations. Woman has in the meantime taken her place in world affairs, and is a fox*ce to be reckoned with in shaping the destinies of any country. They count themselves the equal of man in every way, and why shouldn’t they?

There came a knock at the Council chamber door at the monthly meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Council oix Wednesday evening. Councillors, expecting some unheralded deputation, were all attention. On the door being opened a youth without meekly asked the time. Cr. Thompson obliged. The Town Clerk: Not a bad effort. His Worship: The Council has been of some use tonight, anyhow.

At this week’s meeting of the Borough Council, it was decided to take steps to close the road through the local Domain. Well, that helps to brush up my local knowledge. I was not aware that there was a King’s highway through this particular piece of territory.

The Mayor’s baby is growing.— According to figures quoted at the last montlily meeting of the Borough Council, there has been a steady increase in the output at the Borough ’ quarries.

“Puntexv”—No, I am not at liberty to take odds on the Power Board chairmanship election which will take place on Monday next.

According to recent Chronicle reports the 8-mile has been the venue of floods, shooting, and accident during the past few weeks—must be a hoodoo on the place.

This rumour about a further “cut” doesn’t worry me in the slightest. My salarw income, pay, weekly wad or whatever I used to call it, has got to the stage where another ten or twenty per cent, off won’t make the slightest difference.

A Japanese workman remained 13 days on top of a chimney stack as a protest against an industrial settlement. There is a quiet nobleness about the Jap, and such high gesture may be emulated by Socialist leaders of other nations. We consider that such a dissatisfied one would cause world-wide attention by going aloft for as long as possible.

Heading in leading daily: “Land Board Vacancy.” We learn that no offence whatever is implied in these words.

Recent case of fraud: Jockey issues valueless cheque. Of course the acceptance was not up to expectation; the proposition was ridden too hard. Probably the protest will prove he was bored, and the judge may consequently include a rider as they approach the cage.

It is proposed to substantially modify the plans for the new Wellington railway station. Now that railway economics are being seriously considered it might be advisable to see what can be done to utilise the space around the Auckland station. It might be let as a grazing run, or subdivided into poultry farms. If you want to spend a real quiet hour after the bustle of Queen Street, the Auckland station is the place.

A local resident is responsible for the following story. While on a fishing excursion he met a clerical gentleman with whom he became friendly when discussing the piscatorial art. Trudging to the railway station after the day’s fishing they were overtaken by a lorry driven by an inmate of a prison camp who very kindly offered the two fishermen • a lift. The gentleman in His Majesty’s uniform was very loquacious and poured into the ear of the cleric a long and pathetic story of -justice miscarried and how he had been innocent of any offence against the law. His listener appeared to be deeply interested, and when the cleric reached his destination, the man in the broad arrow suit asked: “Now, don’t you think I have been rottenly treated ” The reply came as a surprise: “You may have been, my man, but as I was chaplain in Wormwoods Prison for over twenty years, I have heard such • stories scores of times.”