THROUGH OUR HOME FILES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14006, 10 March 1920, Page 7

THROUGH OUR HOME FILES.

Says a writer in a London journal:— Bcaosng some ot the eulogia of the late Lord Ciuibffe jn the Press ono might, pardonably come te the conclusion tJi.it he, and he alone, saved this country trom financial disaster in the early clajs of the war. The late peer would/ we fell sure, hive been among the first to repudiate any such suggestion Among the many experts that Mr Llojd Geoige, then Chancellor of the E\chequer, gathered round him to assist in dealing with the unprecedented situation created bj the utter collapse ot the delicate machmerj of international credit, Mr Walter Cunliffe, as he thru v, ;u>. owing to his high position as Governor of the Bank ot England, natuiallj -wielded considerable influent and his .services leceived well-merited recognition from his Majestj. But the otit-tanduig pei*onahtj at "that time, .ipart ftom the present Prime Minister him«ell. was the Loid Chief Justice Lord Beading. Many of the measures' that proved so amazingh fnicce<sful in ■ those critical weeks of 1914 bore the stamp of his financial genius ..and experience.

Posing as people of means, a farm laborer and his. wife invented stories of having lost their luggage, valued at £1441, on the L. and S.W.R., and tried) to obtain that, sum in compensation from the company. They were -Prank' Harold Hunt, of Stalbridge, Dorset, and his wife, Queenie, and when they appeared at the Dorchester Assizes counsel said that in the claim the woman represented that among the articles missing were a- musquash eoa.t, travelling cloak, five pairs of boots, an opera cloak, ball dresses, silver c.ip valued at £IOOO, a riding habit, hunting hoots, and oil paintings. It Was found that she had been a kitchenmaid in London, and was in a.ii impecunious position. Both were sentenced \ to six months' imprisonment. - . I ■** * *

| The largest and most powerful aeroplane ever built is now under' construction by Messrs Tickers' aviation department for the Air Ministry. The details of its design are a carefuliyguarded secret,; and both the Ministry and the builders' declare the whole matter is to. be regarded as "entirely confidential." The former also assert that particulars purporting to give engine power and other information are "mere guesses." It is added that already statements have declared , the number of passengers to. be carried will be 50, while the other magnifies the: number to .100, While the primary purpose of the new plane is understood to be of a military character it is reasonably probable that others of a similar character may ldter be built for commercial and mailing, and passenger traffic. One statement is to the effect that the Tickers machine will be equipped with six engines, eacli of 100 h.p.

The English Publishers' Circular makes an annual analysis of the bonks published in the United Kingdom during each year, and the total for 191 D was 8622. This is nn increase of 90(3 over the previous year. The publishers' output has not vet reached prewar level, which is 'over 12.000 volumes a year. The classes of literatim-, that showed an increase last year are sociology, science! technology." fiction juvenile,' and biography. ' Strange to tell, poetry, drama, and history showed a decrease. But history will catch up, with all the new material to hand It is about the only thing the war hai made

A fight hetween a crowd and a strong force of police took place after a football match in Belfast lately between Celtic and the Distillery."' The Celts boasted an unbeaten record since September. 24, and ftrosvenor Park was packed with enthusiastic spectators. The Distillery' gained an unexpected victory by the only goal of a hard-fought game. Immediately the referee blew his whistle for full time a wild rush was made for him bv a hooligan element of the crowd.' - A large force of police, some armed with stout sticks, while the others drew their batons, went to the assistance of the referee.- The crowd was iiv'an angry mood, and the police charged them. When the sound ; of batons coming in contact with heads was heard the hooligans scattered left and right, onlv to collect again- and return li'Oii.-icingly towards the police, who made three more charges. Scenes of great confusion followed. The referee reached the pavilion in safety. One of the linesmen was not so fortunate. A hooligan tried to attack him, but the linesman pluckily wrestled with bis assailant and eventually handed him over to ■ the "custody of a policeman. • About a dozen roughs then attacked the linesman, who was knocked down and severely kicked. He had to be helped to the navilion.

Mr Lloyd George, who has entered upon his 58th year, must have set up a. record for a. long continuous period in high office. He has now been a Minister for more than-15 vears, having been successively President of the Board of Trade. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Minister of Munitions. Secretary of State for War. and Prime Minister'and Thirst Lord of the Treasury. Mi- Llovd George is the only man who has sat in the Cabinet without a break since Sir Henry Camnbell-Bannerman formed his administration. Mr Churchill was an Under-Secretary in that Government but not in the Cabinet, and he has been out of office during the period, while T)r Macnamara. never a Cabinet Minister, has held office for just }3 years.

Says a contributor to a London daily: rt is a real achievement for one clan to have given us simultaneously three- men I .of the first rank is professions so widely riifferent as Lord Haldane in Law, Professor Haldane in Science, and General Haldane. the new Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia, and a- list of parallels would not be a very long one. The T.owthers niip-ht be cited with the Speaker, a diplomat of the first rank, and more than one distinguished soldier. The Cecils have given us a- Bishop, a great Egyptian civil servant, and Lord Robert and Lord Hugh for politics, but the Cecils have the preliminary advantage of being born in the purple. The Lytteltons gave, in one generation, a Bishon, a great soldier, a Headmaster of Eton, anel the accomplished Alfred.

So long as women confine their ridiculous fashions to themselves (writes a mere ' male correspondent) not. much lmrni is done. Providence, concerned "onlv for the survival of the fittest, probably arranges for the early death of those who go about in the wintry opeyn air with bare chests, and Ifigß that have nothing but silk stocking from knee to ankle. But shall we soon have to insist on the State, or the "Cruelty Society," stepping in to protect children from the crude brutnlitv of fashion-crazed women? I ask because J have just seen a fashionplate entitled "Winter Comfort for the Little Ones." The 'tiny woollen coats (pictured as blown about by a keen wind) do not reach the knees of the unfortunate children by some inches, and the lees thence are bare to the ankles, where - scantv socks _appear. Modern woman is evidently not to be trusted with children.