FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21409, 10 August 1931, Page 11

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS

Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robert S. Angus. EDINBURGH, June 11. Glasgow Civic Week, now closed, may be taken as typical of the spirit in which, Scotland as a whole is facing the industrial and commercial depression. It indicates a belief that the cloud must disperse some time and a determination to show our readiness for that happy day. Indeed, the facilities which the city possesses for rapid and efficient production must have surprised even those who believed they had a good knowledge of its resources. Mr R. D. Holt, the Liverpool ship owner, an indomitable individualist and optimist, came to the Clyde the otherday to the launch of a vessel built there for his firm, and, drawing an interesting parallel between Liverpool arid Glasgow, he claimed—without challenge—that both places are meant for working in and not for lolling about by the seaside in pyjamas. A great deal of the success of the inhabitants of Britain he believed to be due to the fact that the climate is one for workers and not for loafers. That was never so true as it has been this year, and the farmers are beginning to be a little anxious lest the weather should mean pooy crops in addition to low prices. Without entering into the political aspects of the matter, it is interesting to note a passage in the speech with which Mr Lloyd George opened the Freetrade campaign in Glasgow this week. He recalled that on the same platform 28 years ago Mr Joseph Chamberlain depicted the conditions of British industry in colours as gloomy as those which are being used today and that since then it has had some of its most prosperous years. I was interested in the quotation, for I heard Mr Chamberlain’s speech. t MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.

I hear of one scheme which will make a substantial contribution to industrial recovery if 'the hifeh hopes with which it is being launched are fulfilled. It is supported by financial and scientific leader’s of the highest standing and the fact that they are saying nothing in public about their plans is in itself a good sign. Mining properties have been acquired near ‘Edinburgh, near Alloa, and in Lanarkshire, and there it is proposed to work a system which will extract from coal not merely oil and residual fuel, but gas, which will be supplied to the adjacent communities, and the heat which is generated in the process will be used to smelt ore of too low a grade to be economically workable by ordinary methods. If I were free to mention names* it would be appreciated that they are not those of men apt to lend themselvqs to a wildcat scheme, and as the capita! involved amounts to. several millions sterling it will be seen that the enterprise is a serious one. If it succeeds the British coal problem will be on the way solution. SHALE OIL DEPRESSION. In particular tlie scheme will have an important bearing on the shale oil fields, where the hope excited by the increase in the petrol tax has dashed by the subsequent reduction in price, with the result that about 2000 men are under notice.- The men’s leaders are pleading with the Governmen| that the increased duty should not apply to hydro-carbon oils which are imported in order to be refined; that concession would greatly assist one side of' the industry, but it is doubtful whether Mr Shinwell, who is the local Socialist member as well as Minister for Mines, and impudently claimed the credit for having secured the increase of the petrol tax, will be able to shake the Chancellor of the ’ Exchequer’s opposition to anything which savours of Protection. LAND TAX, At the moment of writing, the churches, the educational and charitable trusts, and other public bodies which have their funds largely invested in feu duties, are greatly disturbed by the land tax proposals of the Budget.. These would mean that the value of their' investment Would bo reduced by one-twelfth and that their work would be correspondingly hampered. I have good reason to believe, however, that their alarm will prove groundless. If the tax is imposed at all—and even that seems a little doubtful —exemption is likely to be granted to land revenues held for religious charitable (including educational) purposes. The Church of Scotland is entitled to special consideration for it is required by law to invest its endowment funds in feu duties. y LESS CRIME. If—or perhaps because—we are poor, we arc also well-behaved. According to the report of the Prisons Department for last year the number of persons convicted was smaller than it has been in any year since 1919. In 30 years the percentage of women prisoners has fallen by more than half; it is now under 11 per cent. Only to a slight extent does poverty seem to have been an element in crime; offences against the person increased to a greater, extent than offences against property, and the principal diminution ivas in drunkenness. Appended to the report are a series of human documents in the form of prisoners’ own aecouijts of how they got into trouble. These narratives have not been tested, and one may suspect an attempt at “leg-pulling” in some cases, notably_ on the part or the Irishman who “ has given up avoidable work, but fears the begging profession is getting overcrowded.” Another interesting section of the report is ithat in which Dr James Drever, a psychologist, gives the result, of his examination of the boys pent to Borstal institutions. Seventy per cefft, of the lads, he states, were of at least average intelligence and 7 per cent, of them were capable of a university education. The only variation from the ordinary population was that the number of feeble-minded was about four times as great. BIRTHDAY HONOURS. Scotland has no reason to complain of her share in the unusually short honours list. The Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow are to receive the knighthoods which are now virtually attached to their offices; Sir Thomas Jaffrey, who has done and given so much for Aberdeen, is to become a baronet; Mr James L. Caw, recently retired from the euratorship of the National Galleries, and Dr James Black Baillie. principal of Leeds University, formerly at St. Andrews, are to be knighted. In recognition of her services to women's education. Miss Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair—ner name indicates her descent from the great actress—is made a Dame of the British Empire, and Mr Francis Grant, Lyon King at Anns, receives the C.V.O. ELPHINSTONB QUINCENTENARY. Aberdeen University has had a series of ceremonies in honour of the memory of Bishop Elphinstone, one of its founders. His monument, the subject of much controversy, was unveiled in the chapel; a hall bearing his name was opened at King’s College; a special graduation ceremony was held at which the honorary graduates included the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose father was Sir George Adam Smith’s predecessor as principal of the university;- and on the following day Sir Arthur Keith delivered his rectorial address. Former students were present from all over the World", and a friend who Wok part in them tells me that the ceremonies were, conducted with •the quiet dignity which is possible when the scene is not too large and the participants are not too numerous. Aberdeen University was never in a condition ot greater vitality, and the reminder of its long record should be a further stimulus. SIR ROBERT MONCRIEFFE. By the death of Sir Robert Moncrielfe, eighth holder of a baronetcy which dates from the late seventeenth century, Perthshire has lost a county gentleman of a fine type. After five years’ army service he returned to his beautiful home 50 years ago and devoted himself to the management of his estates, to county affairs, and to the interests of the local battalion of Black Watch Volunteers. His connection with that force culminated in iiis commanding it on active service during the European war, although by that time he was well beyond the military age. “Good old Bob,”, as his men called him, was militarily efficient and personally popular, and it was'a great regret to himself and his men when he -was invalided home. Sir Robert was a successful breeder of pedigree horses, cattle, and sheep, and took an active interest in all branches of agriculture. The esteem in which he and his lady were held was shown a few months ago on the occasion of their golden wedding. HOSTELS MOVEMENT.

Promoters of the hostel movement have been greatly encouraged by a grant of

£IO,OOO from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. It should be understood, however, that the gift docs not dispense with the need for public support. Each hostel costs about £3OO, so that the money will provide only about 30, of which perhaps a dozen may be in Scotland. Many more will be needed. RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Competitive rifle shooting has declined so much in public notice that the Scottish Championship this week at Dechmont, Cambuslang, has attracted little attention. It -was won 'by Dr Charles Robertson, of Bonnyrigg, an. old member of the Queen’s Edinburgh, who was a keen shot in his undergraduate days a quarter of a century ago, and who resumed his shooting recently after an interval of 18 years. * The runner-up was Lieut. C. A. Sutherland," of Dundee. Two encouraging features were presented by the meeiing—the high standard' of the shooting and the number of yourig men who are taking up rifle shooting as a hobby. Among the veterans was Armourer Sergeant Lawrence, of Dumbarton, who ■•’•on the Queen’s Prize at Wimbledon in 1882.