FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18947, 22 August 1923, Page 5

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO SCOTTISH EXILES. (Written ■ for the Otago Daily Times.) By Robert S. Angus. EDINBURGH, June 28. In theory'’ bitr attention this week ought to be largely centred in the House of Commons, which for the first time in its recent history is giving two clays instead of one to Scottish Estimates. The menu hers have been discussing land settlement, the failure of the Fishery Board to provide adequate protection against poaching trawlers, the lack of adequate housing, and the need for more money for education. I am afraid the Parliamentary debates have not taught us much that we did not know about these subjects, and have given us little confidence of an impressive improvement’ in regard to any of them. 1 say this in spite of the fact that Mr Lloyd George took part in the land debate. Possibly he felt compelled to do so by the fact that so many members of his group are returned by Highland constituencies- Air lan Macpherson. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Sir William Mitchell-Cotts. Sir William Sutherland, Sir Robert Hamilton, and Sir Murdoch Macdonald. It did not appear that the late Prime Minister has any personal knowledge of Highland conditions, but ho made a literal contribution of what a cynic called “sob-stuff.” The House beard more than enough of generalities about the displacement of men in favour of doer and sheep in the Highland glens, but so far as I c.an make out no one attempted to explain how educated young people, many of whom have seen conditions for themselves in other parts of the \yorlcl, are or ought to be induced to settle down contentedly on a few acres of indifferent soil in an uncertain climate and far removed from markets for 'their produce. HOUSING.

Neither was it demonstrated how the supply of houses can be rapidly increased while the wages of building operatives and the price of materials remain at such a level that the dwellings cannot be provided at a rent which the prospective occupants can afford to pay. The coal owners have in mind a scheme for building houses on a wholesale scale, and Lord Weir has a plan for manufacturing houses on a wholesale scale. But the former is meant for the- benefit of one class only and the other involves interference with the supposed rights of the building operatives, who would resent the appearance of unskilled labour. EDUCATION. There are solid grounds of complaint as to the manner in which our education is financed, and representatives of the education authorities and the teachers have been to London this week to lay them before members of Parliament. We are allowed in this, as in some other services, eleveneightieths of the amount spent in England, and according to the Scottish Office officials that is a more remunerative, basis for us than any other that could bo devised. While not admitting that contention, the authorities arguo that it introduces so large an element of uncertainty that they cannot frame their estimates with accuracy, since their calculations are apt to be unset when the actual expenditure in England falls below the estimated. Moreover, they resent the idea that the Scottish standard of education, admittedly high as compared with England, should be liable to reduction through factors over which they have no control. It is admittedly impossible to make any change this year, but it is honed that by agitation some redress may be secured by the time the next Budget is framed. MR ROBERT SMILLIE AS M.P. Seven times was Mr Smillie denied by his native country an opportunity of entering the House of Commons, but he has now been accepted by the miners of Morpeth, and within 24 hours of taking his seat he has made his maiden speech. I gather that it made a most favourable impression, even on those to whom his opinions are repugnant. He spoke with modesty and force, and an effective “dig” he made at Mr Lloyd George pleased the Tories mightily. Had Mr Smillie gone to Westminster 20 years ago he would have become a considerable force there; but I am doubtful if at the age of 63 ho is not rather old to learn new tricks. On the" strength of nearly 30 years’ acquaintance with him I can predict with some confidence that at close quarters the House of Commons will find him a less formidable and terrifying person than he seemed at a distance. LORD DUNEDIN. hear a bit of interesting personal gossip which is a profound secret at present, but will probably bo revealed by the time these lines arc printed. Lord Dunedin, who is 75 years of age and was left a widower last year, is about to marry'a .lady about half his ago, Miss Findlay, who has been the chief organiser of the Savings Certificates movement, and before that was engaged in various departments of public service. I am told that her ability is equalled only by her charm. Lord Dunedin, still well remembered as Mr Graham Murray, was. for many years leader of the Scottish Bar, and since then he has been Lord Advocate, Scottish Secretary, and Lord President before reaching his present position of one of the members of the House of Lords judicial tribunal. For some years he was much troubled by eczema, and a few months ago he had a sharp attack of influenza. But I am told that ho is now in excellent health, and, judging from the step ho contemplates, ho obviously believes that himself. LANDLORDS LIMITED. Some surprise has been created by the announcement that Viscount Novar has sold his estates to a limited liability company in which practically the whole of the capital of £50,0€0 is hold by himself and his wife. A considerable number of landowners have taken this course, the effect of which is to lighten the burden of taxation and to make the beneficiary’ liable for income tax on only that part of his rent roll whjch he puts into his pocket. When a Minister of the Crown feels justified in resorting to this arrangement other landowners need have no scruples. Probably it is the only alternative to a general break-up of large estates, which may or may not be desirable, but certainly.involves a profound change in our land system. EAST LOTHIAN FARM HOURS. Some weeks ago there was a threatening dispute between the farmers and the farm servants of East Lothian as to the number of working hours. The point was referred to the arbitration of Mr Davidson, of Saughton Mains, who has decided that the hours should be increased by 20 a year and that (ho addition should bo made to the Saturday yokings. That means that for the nine busy months of the year the halfholiday will he docked of half an hour—not a serious matter. UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS. Not so long ago any lad who know little mere than the three R’s was entitled, on paying the modest fees, to take his seat in a university class-room, and though some of our most brilliant scholars started their academic career with merely that modest equipment the general effect was to lower the standard of Scottish University education as compared with the rest of the world. The institution of the entrance examination changed all that for the bettor. But the universities and the school authorities are now engaged in a lively controversy as to whether the leaving certificate should giyo complete exemption from the entrance examination. The universities are insisting that the prospective students shall show a certain proficiency in Latin—so low that I should have thought it was of little educational value. They are evidently’ haunted by the dread that compulsory Latin will go the way of compulsory Greek, and that our former devotion to the classics will disappear. Where experts differ it is not for laymen to interfere. DUNDEE’S DECADENCE. The National Council for the Training of Teachers is seriously exercised by the position of the training centre at Dundee, whore it seems only about a third of the available places are occupied. There was a .scheme for transferring the physical education course from Dunfermline to Dundee. but, of course, the Fife folk, with the powerful support of the Carnegie trustees, opposed that idea, and it, has been dropped for the present. In order to increase the attendance at Dundee it is now proposed to set up a special course for the training of infant mistresses, and if that fails the council will feel compelled to revert to a proposal that, has been held in abeyance for the present—to abandon the Dundee centre, which costs £15,000 a year, and concentrate the students in the three other centres, where there is room enough for them. Even the Fife students prefer to cross the Forth rather than the Tay, and though I do not know the local conditions, I suspect that the course here is a better one than in Dundee, to say nothing of the relative attractiveness of the two towns. BONESS AND SUNDAY GAMES. Boness was offered a public recreation ground b.y Sir James Calder on condition that Sunday games wore permitted. The community is sharply divided on the subject, and the Town Council, shirking a decision on so controversial a point, has re-

mitted to a plebiscite of the electors. The two, sides have been holding lively public meetings, and the vole takes place next week. Mr Macquiston, K.C., visited the town the other night, and reminded Ins audience of the time when Dr Norman Macleod was nearly prosecuted for heresy because he defended the lawfulness of a Sunday walk, EDINBURGH’S NEW PROFESSOR. Dr Thomas Jones Mackie, son of the late Town Chamberlain of Hamilton, has .been appointed professor of bacteriology at Edinburgh University in succession to the late Dr Ritchie. Ho hard a brilliant college career at Glasgow, and after holding a Carnegie Research Fellowship, saw ser\ ico us a doctor in Gallipoli and was afterwards in charge of the bacteriological laboratory at Alexandria. From there ho wont to be professor in Capetown, and lie now returns to his native country with high credentials in both practical and theoretical work. EMIGRATION CONTINUES. Now that the new emigration year in the United States has opened, the flow Oi emigrants across the Atlantic has again resumed its volume of 6000 a week from the Clyde, to say nothing of those who go from Liverpool or other ports. About twolb irds of the emigrants hope to settle in Canada. For the most'part they are skilled artisans who sc-:- no prospect of being absorbed into industry by any revival of (ho shipbuilding industry. Emigration from the Highlands and islands has been discouraged for the moment by tho reports as to file lot of (hose who recently went, to Canada, and thougii the accounts are regarded as probably exaggerated, it is suspected that there has been a certain lack of organisation, which ntakes caution, advisable for th© present. This emigration is what Mr Lloyd George calls “haemorrhage,” but that is not necessarily an unhealthy process when the State is producing more blood than it can healthily absorb.