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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18747, 28 December 1922, Page 4

Very naturally a serious outbreak of smallpox at Poplar in October brought the question of vaccination once again into immediate prominence. An official of the Public Health Department of the London County Council declared romewhat pessimistically that the country was ripe for smallpox. “We have,” he said, “not had an outbreak for 20 years. We are a susceptible population.'' The conclusion as to national susceptibility may be said to be authoritative. Sir George Newman, chief medical officer for the Ministry of Health, lias put on record the significant statement; “For the whole of England and Wales only 40 per cent, of the babies born are being vaccinated, and it is my duty to say quite explicitly that this condition of things brings with it, in greater or less degree, an increased risk of smallpox to the nation as a whole. There is no question in the mind of the medical profession that vaccination protects from smallpox, and the history of the decline cf the disease in this country fully confirms this.” It seems that iu the populous district of Poplar less than 20 par cent, of the children were vaccinated prior to the outbreak. General smallpox statistics indicate that from 186.7, when vaccination was introduced, to 1876, there were 58,614 deaths from smallpox in England and Wales, the mortality declining year by year till between 1907 and in 1916 the number of deaths recorded as. due to the disease was only 139. The last serious outbreak in London was in 1902, when there were 7796 cases and 1314 deaths. In the following year Liverpool had a less serious visitation. Smallpox is a very baffling disease, and, according to an officer of the Health Department of tho London County Council, there are nob many medical practitioners in London who know

it when they see it, this being a natural consequence of their having probably never seen it before. It hag been conjectured that the disease in Poplar may have been brought to the London docks from the East.

“Where’s a bookshop?” ia, happily, an easy question to answer; but uninformed guessers would find it more difficult to supply tho name of the writer whose works are in meet constant demand at the marts of literature. Wc should not he sorry—though wo might be rather surprised—to learn that New Zealand taste harmonised with the judgment of London book-buyers in this .matter. “When it comes to the world’s best seller,” recently said a leading bookseller to a representative of the Times, “there is no one to -compare witli Rudyard Kipling. Year in, year out, it is the same with all his books. We sell whofe stacks of them, every day.” Yet, as The Times pointedly observes, most of the younger novelists and versifiers of the day are loftily scornful of the author of “Plain Tales from the Hills” and “Barrack-room Ballads.” “In their juvenile intolerance, and because they do not approve his politics, they deny his power as a writer. In this case the gentle reader knows better.” The gentle reader may turn his back on Kipling when he discovers a writer of a younger generation who has produced anything in prose or verse equal to “The Madness of Private Ortheris” or “Mandalay”—not before. The literary (not popular) reaction against Kipling is sometimes attributed to the so-called jingoistic tone of his sentiment. It is true that he has celebrated the honour and glory of Britain in memorable strains; but it may be questioned whether there is any contemporary writer of eminence who has so often counselled, not to say lectured, his countrymen in deprecation of vainglorious bluster as has the author of the “Recessional.” “Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood,” once declared a poet who lived to wear, or at least to possess the right to wear, a coronet. It does not necessarily follow that coronetcd heads and kind, faithful hearts are never found in individual muon. Raven Hill had a capital cartoon in Punch of November 1 depicting Mr Bonar Law’s five Secretaries of State. The Duke of Devonshire, the Earl of Derby, Viscount Peel, and the Marquis Gurzon stand abreast in their imposing robes, the coronet of each on a shelf just above his head, while their colleague, Mr Bridgeman, a pygmy in the insignificant garb of ordinary morning existence, the only Secretary of State in tho Government who is not a peer, poses complacently in front of them. Tire Spread op Democracy. Chorus of noble Secretaries of State: “ AVhere’s your coronet?” Home Secretary: “Sorry I haven’t got one. But I have a kind heart.” In connection with this situation it may be noted that the. nirae Minister, in answer to a criticism regarding the unusual number of peers in his Cabinet, has stated emphatically that his selections were made solely on the consideration of merit. He declined to regard high rank as a bar to high employment —a not unreasonable attitude, though the matter of legislative convenience cannot he entirely ignored. Perhaps it is not altogether surprising that the relegation '■ to undersecretaries of the exposition of foreign, Indian, colonial, and military affairs in the .House of Commons has excited some critical comment. At the same time Mr Lloyd George and his lieutenants have no right to complain, since the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Derby were offered seats iu the Coalition Cabinet* only a/few months ago. Work was' resumed on the local waterfront at 8 am. yesterday, when all the labour available was engaged on tho overseas steamers Maimoa and Kent, the Union Company’s inter-colonial steamer Paloona, and the coastal steamer Breeze. Owing to the shortage of labour' the Breeze will nob get away for Wanganui, via porta, till to-morrow or Saturday. About 75 men were employed on the Kent, 50 on the Maimoa two or three gangs on the Paloona, and one gang on tho Breeze. The Paloona is to go down to Port Chalmeift to-day, where she will undergo overhaul before withdrawing. The Kent is also to go to Port to-day, where she will commence loading wool and general cargo for Great Britain. Several of the shipping offices wore open yesterday to conduct urgent business, and closed again at noon. Thby will re-opon this morning. *As few vessels are expected until after tho New Year the ■waterfront will be quiet till about tho middle of next weak. A Press Association telegram from Wellington says the Post reports that in tho course of a few days the Alliance of Labour will take a ballot, for which papers have been printed but ore not yet distributed. Tho paper asks: Do you favour an affiliation of organisations ceasing work ns a protest against a reduction in wages. The papers are returnable to the local secretaries of unions on January 15. An Opotiki Press Association message reports that after a two days’ search in which Maoris assisted the police, Tamati Tuhaereroa was arrested and charged with attempted criminal assault on a 13-year-old white girl whom ho is alleged to have knocked off a bicycle as she was riding homeward, but cleared out when a passerby interfered, preventing him from carrying his purpose into effect. The psychology of the human mind is sometimes difficult to understand and the standard of morality adopted by some people is of a low nature. It should be accepted without question, by all persons with the slightest pretensions to moral rectitude, that (ho burying place of our dead shall be immune from thefts; but such is not the ease, as is shown by an instance which has been brought under our notice. Last Saturday afternoon members of a bereaved famijy visited ihe Southern Cemetery and tenderly placed two vases of beautiful flowers on the grave of a recently-deceased relative, without a thought entering their minds that, these flowers would not remain there till nature withered them. But tho meanspirited vandal decreed otherwise, as on visiting the cemetery on the Sunday it was discovered that every flower had been removed from tho vases, maybe to decorate come sitting room or to occupy a prominent place in some home, and to bo admired by friends. It is difficult to conceive how any human mind could descend to such low depths of theft, and it. is a pity that such crimes go undetected and that the culprit gets off without due punishment. A Gisborne Press Association message states that the results of tho Horouta special licensing poll, taken under the Act of last session to give East Coast Maoris an opportunity of reviewing their decision in 1911 voluntarily to prohibit themselves from obtaining liquor on licensed premises, is now announced. Tho voting was 1272 for restoration, and 221 against. Henry Walter Davis ran amok in tho Grand Hotel bar on Tuesday and smashed 44 tumblers and a decanter valued at £3 6s. In consequence he appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday morning and was fined 20s for committing wilful damage and 10s for being found drunk. He was also ordered to pay tho amount represented by the damage he had done.

The Postal Department advises that mails which left Wellington per s.s. Maunganui on November 15 via San Francisco arrived in London on December 21. A Christchurch Press Association message says that at a meeting of seamen at Lyttelton yesterday (he business was not divulged but lib was stated unofficially that the seamen are hopeful of returning to their ships early in the New Year. Archbishop Julius, in welcoming the delegates to the twelfth conference of the Church of England Men’s Society, said this society had met with many discouragements but had come through them (wires our Christchurch correspondent). There were croakers, but ho did not believe in them. The society was doing the work God had set it. Dealing with the work of the Church generally, he said the Gospel of conversion was not a living thing in churcn. If a man wished to be converted he had to go to the Salvation Army. There was something wrong with a ministry when men were not being converted. One reason why evangelical revival had died clean out was its action in absolutely dropping social activity. A monster carnival opened at Caroline Bay yesterday on the lines of a Mardi Gras (says a Timaru Press Association message). '.Thousands of people from all parts of South Canterbury attended during the afternoon and the evening. The attractions embrace a pantomime, pierrot entertainments, a masked ball, sand, building competitions, and an endless variety of side shows. The .whole effort was organised to provide funds for the improvement and beautification of the bay. The carnival will continue .to-day and on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, and will conclude on two days during the week of the swimming championships which will bo held in Timaru at the end of next month.

A sharp earthquake shock was felt in Dunedin at 5.40 p.m. yesterday, but was not preceded by any tremors. The shock,, which appeared to travel from south to north, was over in a few seconds, and there were no further disturbances. Buildings shook and windows rattled, but no serious damage resulted. An unusual incident occurred in a local garage where a now car was on view. The batteries were in the habit of short-circuiting, and, when the shook occurred, the vibration caused a short-circuit, and the electric horn sounded for some seconds. At the detective office in the Police Station, a telephone, which stands on the mantelpiece, fell to the floor. A mirror also fell, but did not break. A young man named Roy Rolfe accidentally trod on a large snake while at work hear Coolamon, in New South Wales. It bit him on the back of his left arm. Rolfe grabbed the snake by the neck. After several attempts he unwound the snake from his arm. but it coiled its body around his nock and struck at his face several times. Rolfe, however, had his right hand free, and kept the snake from biting his face. After a time ho was able to break its back. He scarified the wound, tied his bootlace Vound his arm, and started to walk to the homestead. Before reaching the house he collapsed. A doctor was summoned, and Rolfe was taken to the hospital in a state ci coma; He soon recovered. An interesting revolution is taking place in Japan, in regard to diet. The people are becorqing moat-eaters, and an important trade’ with Australia may result. A few days ago this question' was discussed by Mr Wearn© (New South Wales Minister of Lands), the Consul-General for Japan, . and Mr Kaikuta, who is officially studying Australian land settlement measures. A visit of inspection was paid to the Homebush abattoirs, gnd Mr Wcarne states that the visitors were impressed with the manner in whioh carcases are prepared for the Eastern market. Mr Kaikuta, on his return to Japan, will advise the authorities of the possibilities. Tire Consul-Gcneral referred to the fact that the Eastern nations have never been groat meat-eaters, but a change is taking place. The Japanese especially are beginning to appreciate meat dishes. Mr Cramsie (chairman of the Meat Board) said that Japitn should be able to take all the exportable meat from New South Wales. £SO Reduction! 1923 model Harley-David-son motor cycles, fitted with carriers, lamps, pump, tools', Goodyear tyres; best value offering. Remember, £SO per machine reduction. 1925 models now on view.—W A Justice and'Co., Imperial Garage; Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt. Williamson’s Princes street, are the diamond ring exports. They give you prompt attention and fine value.—Advt. •We have no patience with slavery in any form, hence our' enthusiasm for “No-Rub-bing” Laundry Help, the rescuer of beautiful womanhood from the thraldom of washboard slavery.—Southern Stores.—Advt. To wear a suit or" costume tailored by G. S. Roberts, Stock Exchange Buildings, will give you that sense of pride and satisfaction which come from being properly groomed. —Advt. Buy your Christmas gifts now while wo have the large selections.—Molliaons Ltd.. corner George and Frederick streets, Dunedin, —Advt. The nip for nippy winter weather, Watson’s No. 10. Fine old Scotch whisky.— Advt. A. B. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank cf Australasia, corner of Bond ana Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 3859.Advt. Xmas Jewellery.—Just’ landed, large selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, and silver ware. Compare values.— Peter Dick, Jewellers, 490 Moray place.— Advt.

John M'Dowell was fined ss, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. Of throe first offenders one was fined 20s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, one ss, or 24 hours’ imprisonment, and the other was remanded for a wqek for medioal treatment,