HORN IS GOING—MOTOR BIKE SHOULD BE NEXT

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

HORN IS GOING—MOTOR BIKE SHOULD BE NEXT

Brieflets

HATS OFF TO 808 SEMPLE!

May all the blessings of Allah be showered upon the Hon. R. Semple’s head! At last the stupid tooting 'and hooting of car horns and sirens and shrill clarions are to be cast from our midst. At last we shall be able to sleep with only the dull monotony of motor engines speeding on the nearby highway. But one thing remains to make road noises fully tolerable —it is the elimination of those accursed motor-cycles of the two-stroke breed whose riders always seek midnight for their homeward journey. You can hear them coming from afar, like the nerve-shattering approach of shrapnel; then they chug-chug past your window and are leaving the restless storming in his anguish. Put these off the road and we shall sleep in peace.—“ Midnight.” ★ RUAT AN GAT A ROAD. Sc straight that it is dubbed by residents the “Ninety Mile Beach,” a section of the road leading from the overhead crossing towards Ruatangata is utterly and absolutely spoiled because of its surface. Complete neglect has allowed the road to fall into huge potholes that it is impossible to dodge. I have heard much of bad roads —and I’ve travelled over a good many of them—but never have I come across one of such importance being in such a shocking state. It is high time that something was one to improve mat-ters.—“Four-Wheel Brakes.” ★ HUMAN ELEMENT IN DAIRY GRADING. It seems a great pity that such things as cream and butter grading should rely solely on the personal element for its being carried out. Upon one man’s sense of taste and smell de--pends the difference between a high price and a low price—a matter of some consideration to dairy farmers. There is, of course, the argument that butter, -like other foodstuffs, depends for good sale upon good flavour, which is, in itself, a personal matter. However, it would be a most acceptable thing if a means could be conceived by which butter and cream quality could be determined by mechanical and not human devices. —“Farmer.”

ALARMING H.S. REPORTS. It is alarming to read reports of the uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions ruling at the Whangarei Girls’ High School. It seems inconceivable that children should be allowed to work in conditions so conducive to bad health. Surely it is more important that the rising generation should grow robust and strong than merely have Euclid and French at their finger tips. I echo the remark of Dr. Hall: “I am glad I have no girls going to school.” —“Health Before Learning.”

★ HOSPITALS BY LOTTERY. Strange as it may appear, the support of some of our most essential organisations, namely hospitals and schools, depends to a great extent upon charity and lotteries. State lotter-

ies are mooted as a means of providing funds for hospitals in this country. It might be all right as a means of raising the finance, but the principle is surely wrong. To think that people have to be enticed with the prize of riches in order that the country may have money for hospital treatment! Admittedly, this policy has been adopted elsewhere in the world, but why should New Zealand merely follow others like this? It was bad enough years ago. when schools had to organise cards and raffles and all sorts of things to provide essential things for the education of the children, such as playing fields, etc. I suppose they still do. —“No Charity.”

AN EXAMPLE FROM PORTLAND. Our streets in. Whangarei ' are not bad compared with those of many other towns, but the footpaths could have some improvements • done to them. Close by us are the fine concrete paths of Portland, an example of what footpaths should be. The streets there, also, are a picture, being lined with a variety of trees always kept in good, trim. Something of this nature could be adopted more in Whangarei. Trees cannot be equalled for making a street look attractive; nor can level concrete paths be beaten for good, dry walking surfaces.— “Dry Feet.”

THE EMPIRE’S FUTURE. Germany moves towards trade with British Dominions; Great Britain moves away from trade agreements, preferring her own products to those of the colonies. Is history to repeat itself in the drift of Imperial holdings from the Mother Country in favour of some more opportunist nation?— “Scotty.”

★ PRIZE WITHOUT MONEY. Among the sea-going, the grain race has become a recognised event, for which the prize is honour, no more or less. Amongst the mothers of civilisation is an unrecorded challenge to have the most charmingly obedient child, for which the prize is not. gold or silver, only honour and praise. So likewise doth the sheep farmer link himself with that great body of men who stand before the world and acclaim great joy when the first spring woolly appears to gladden his heart. And herd, too, the prize is not wealth, but only honour, and praise, and expression of amaze. —“80-Peep.” ★

MAORI LIVING CONDITIONS RE-

YEALED. Shocks may have followed the publication of the report of the committee of inquiry into maternity services. However, those who have seen something of the living conditions of Northland Maoris were not in the least surprised at the divulgences; in fact, many consider the report mild and reserved rather than truthfully outspoken. It is the best thing that has been -made public for a long time, and it is to be hoped someone will take up the cudgels on behalf of the Maoris we have allowed to get into this present state. —“Pakeha.’