TIMELY TOPICS

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1937, Page 4

TIMELY TOPICS

ON THE DOLE. “I have met many men who have accepted the lower standard of living on the ‘ dole ’ with some measure of security rather than risk the unknown dangers of moving to another part of the (country, where itbjby might find themselves unemployed and al a distance from their friends and relatives,” says Mr J. Newsom, in his book, “Out of the Pit.” “Such a theory is based on a misunderstanding of the motives which inspire men’s need for work. It s not the work itself which necessarily attracts, coalmining is scarcely a hobby, but the resultant sense of function, freedom, and the increased standard of living which is secured. The political scientists may argue about the ‘ rights ’ the citizen processes, or should possess, may advance opinions for and against the suggestion that the State’s function is to provide paid work in industry or an adequate alternative, but I find it difficult 'to believe that in a properly ordered social and economic system so many thousands should be condemned to live in idleness of mind and body, losing their industrial efficiency, supported on doles and spiritual disintegrating.”

UNIFORMS AND COMMON LAW. “The explanation and excuse for the Fascist uniformed force (says a “Barrister” in the “New Statesmen and the Nation”) is that if they did not possess a trained body of ‘ stewards ’ to keep order at "their meetings and protect their leaders on the march they would be unlawfully attacked by their enemies. This is exactly the same excuse that has been offered throughout English history for any private army. Grant even the Fascist point that they are in serious danger of illegal attack, what they wish to do is not to seek the security of the law, but to enforce on their own a Fascist peace in place of the King’s peace enforced by the servants of the Crown. Against such a principle the English Common Law has always set its face, and it was this doctrine of

the Common Law as much as any specific statute against ‘ retainers ’ which destroyed the practice of keeping private armies.” n m El B ■ Words Of Wisdom.

When everything seems lost, noble souls find their opportunity.—Lacordaire. IU g§ g? B Tale Of The Day. She was pretty and spoke with a delightful accent. The cashier’s heart beat fast as she handed him a cheque. “I’m afraid you haven’t endorsed this correctly.” “Indeed?”

“No. It’s made out to ‘Jane H. Mattingly ’ and you have written ‘Jane Mattingly.’ ” “Jane Mattingly is my name.” “You don’t quite understand,” replied the cashier. “What 1 mean to say is you left out the ‘ H.’ ” “Oh, so I have,” she exclaimed, smiling sweetly as she took back the cheque and dipped her pen in the ink. “Age twenty-one,” she wrote.