PERSONS, PLEBS AND PLUTES

NZ Truth, Issue 770, 7 August 1920, Page 1

PERSONS, PLEBS AND PLUTES

Local spookists are m high glee over the prospective visit of Sir Conan Doyle, Lady Doyle and all the little Doylees. Sir Arthur's arrival is expected to give a much needed fillip to the spook business m Noo Zee. As a recent convert to spiritualism, the creator of Sherlock Holmes should be an interesting visitor. It is not correct that Tom Driver has (been elected chairman" of the reception committee set up m connection with the arrival of the Knight of the Shadowy Land.

Mr. R. J. Dando, superintending cash Juggler at the Bank of Australasia O.taki, who has been transferred to Wellington, and Mr. Leonard Clarke, who helps to look after the Ls.d. at the National Bank and who lias been transferred as chief to\the Masterton branch of the bank, are both to foe congratulated on securing two almost identically worded paragraphs apiece In Monday's "Noo Zee Times." The "Times" might have made the repetitions less boresome toy spreading the paragraphs over Monday's and Tuesday's issues.

Baxter Buckley, one of the most talented pianists we have 'had m this country, died m Wellington last week. He was a born musician and had the advantage of studying under the greatest artists of tne keyboard of recent times, notably Mark Hambourg, Rubenstein, Moskowsky, Kullah, Reif and Max Meyer. Ho was heard only too rarely m public, but the few recitals he gave were memorable ones. Baxter Buckley was the most distinguished member of that short-lived, yet talented Quartette, "The Wellington Four," the other three members of which were Herbert Bloy, Hamilton Hodges and Frank Johnstone.

News has reached New Zealand that Miss Ettie Rout, for a long time a prominent worker m Trades Union circles m Christchurch and who was the first editor of the "Maoriland Worker" when it was solely the organ of tha Shearers' Union, has got married m tho Old Dart Ettie made history during tha war and struck out m an original line of service -which caused soma of our insular wowsers to .squeak very loudly. Indeed, just as the war laid bar© the putrid patriotism of certain so-called Socialists, so Ettie's adventure m eoldierland brought the wowser element to light m the Parliamentary Labor Party.' It goes without saying that Ettie by the work she did. work that could not possibly be pleasant m the doing, saved many a mother's son from ruin and disgrace. The facts were deplorable, no doubt, but they were facts, and Ettie set herself to stem the growing tide of V.D., by preventive as. against curative after treatment. Many soldier boys will join "Truth" m wishing Ettie the best of luck and a longf, pleasant run on the matrimonial track.

There are few men to "whom Australllan tollers are more indebted than to Henry Bourne I-liggins, President of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court.

It is just as well to remind them of the fact (states Sydney "Truth") for there is orf hand a plot to divest him of his power. He has incurred the wrath of the little Czar; to the moneybags he- has long been the bete noir; and now, clearly enough, their political claquers have contrived that the workers, or some of them, should do the dirty work of attacking him. Higgins would not be the tool of Hughes — so he must go — and if he do^s, great will be the glee of the forces of Capitalism. In 1917, Higgins was regarded by some of the State judges as having fixed an excessive wage, and there was a proposal then to clip his wings, but nothing came of it. Time passed, and the reverse is the case now — but once more his position is endangered^ Meantime, the machinery of his Act has become antiquated, and his court congested, but Hughes, who could help him, prefers to let the court fuddle along, with the result that everyone is getting sick of its delays.' Hughes could relieve the position, but he prefers to stand by. and pelt mud. No' one recognises better than Higgins that the time has come to review the basic wage, and the Basic Wage Commission which Hughes appointed really suggested by Higgins, though, of course, he had nothing to do with its personnel. But the report of the commission will probably be taken as an opportunity to extinguish him. The criticism of Higgins by some unions is due mostly to things which the Federal Government, if they so wished, could remedy, but the workers no doubt will play into the hands of Billee and his piratical crew. He seems to be able to pull the leg, not only of opposition members of th« House, but of many union officials, who can generally be got to approach him on any subject out of which he wants to make political capital.

D. M. Manila!, recently exiled from Fiji for the part he took m the strike of Indian coolies there during, last January, is a barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple, London. His father was for many years Premier of Baroda, m India. Barrister Manual's vig-oi-ous propaganda against the ciirse of indentured labor m Fiji and elsewhere, has always been along constitutional lines. It was he that brought about the historic visit, some years ago of the Rev. Mr. Andrews, to Fij!, whose strong report forced the thc«n "Viceroy (Lord Hardinge) to put an end to the. recruiting of Indian labor for Fiji. Probably that explains, why Lawyer D. M. Manilal was recently shanghaied from that dusky . island.

Sir George Askwith, K.C., the name by which lie is best known m Labor circles, and who was raised to the peerage a year ago,, was one of the most successful strike-settlers Great Britain has ever known. . For years he was known as "Makepeace Askwith," and right well he earned the title of which he was proud. There were very few industrial disputes which occurred during ths time he was chief of the Labor nnd Statistical Department of tho British Board- ; of Trade, m which he did not take a hand — and a successful hand at that. He came to be Implicitly trusted by both employers and men, and Britain owes a deep debt of gratitude to him m this connection. The secret of his success was his in--finite patience, a keen perception, and a perfect genius for compromise.