NOTES BY THE WAY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4514, 3 July 1937, Page 5

NOTES BY THE WAY

(By Rambler.) Italy says that the last and decisive word in Spain now belongs to the cannon. Not the bomb, Musso? - For the first time since 1928 France is officially off gold. It's not just a simple case of overeating, like U.S.A. either. The doctors are having "to use strong measures. :■>, Just when our football reporter says that Maniapoto's chances look very good for the Peace Cup, the Acting Prime Minister says we're in for another war! That chap who kidded the Aussies that he thought Australia was a suburb of New Zealand reminds me of that old Yankee saying, "We won the war." The hopes of their being believed are about equal. "When you have all the things you want, of what use is money," asked Mr. Lyon, M.P., at Te Kuiti. "None, none at all, sir—but, pardon me, have you ever met anyone who has everything he wants? Which one of the boxers, Jarvis or Sharpe, will this limerick refer to? Soon after he came to Te Kuiti, He thought it a terrible pity, He should be battered and bashed, Perhaps his snozzle be smashed, Then be the subject of this awful ditty! Yes, I've found him. The man who hasn't heard the joke about mothers-in-law. An M.P., too! And how do I know he hasn't heard it. That's easy. He prattled to his audience on Tuesday night about the whole family being always subordinated to the wellbeing of its members! j A young New Zealand film actor ; has been chosen to play lead in a jungle film, to be made in Malaya, for j the reason that he does not drink. Even that is a better reason for selecting a lead than some Hollywood promoters seem to have discovered. It appears to Rambler, after some plays he has seen, that leading actors are not infrequently chosen purely for their pathetic inability to act. Gosh, it beats me how the Government can do anything at all these days. The Chronicle says that, house construction is too dear for a housing scheme; the Associated Chambers of Commerce hold that public works expenditure is wrongly timed, and then some overseas expert comes along to tell us we shouldn't spend any more money than is necessary these days. Quite true, too, but the only trouble is that if a Government deosn't spend money, and lots of it, it is awarded the thrice enobled order of the boot. Joey Ward said he was going to spend £70,000,000. He didn't, and his party had to save itself by a Coalition. But that Coalition was wrecked because it couldn't raise enough money to spend, and was chary about borrowing. Now the present Government is spending money like water when everyone says it shouldn't—the money should have been spent last depression and should be now. saved up for the next. But we'll go on spending money when things are dear and keep off spending it when things are cheap, I'll bet my bottom dollar. The London Censor ordered the elimination from a film about Queen Victoria of a scene showing an orchestra of young ladies at Buckingham Palace, and also the Queen kissing the Prince Consort when they became engaged. ■ i Our granny's turned in her grave, Our great-grandmother, too — And it isn't the kisses, or musical Misses, That make 'em so to do; But they groan and groan, and they turn and turn, Their ghostly feelings harrow, After ninety years or so to learn That minds could get as narrow—"We weren't (they say) so censorious In the reign of Victoria glorious!" Ladies, take heed. There is hope for that youthful figure yet. Still it seems that in Te Kuiti the men have to lead the way in slimming. Take the case of one of our mere males this week. In a fit of exuberance he had some time ago bet the sum of 10s that he would reduce his weight by 141bs. by last Wednesday. Reduce he did, but the flesh at first was stronger than the will. On the Sabbath before the fateful day still another 71bs. of avoirdupois remained over and above that required for the winning of his bet. But more than a bet was in the balance. A mighty principle prompted him to drastic measures. On but the diet of a silkworm, he then existed; of tea and coffee only were his meals. And when the last day of the wager dawned, still an extra flesh remained. Yet triumph he did. Hot baths and much exercise and still less sustenance by nightfall brought down his weight—by night mind had conquered matter to such an extent that he was lib. under weight! He collected his bet as stolidly as he had stood by his principles in casting off his flesh.