FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 11

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS Written for the Otago Daily Time# By Robert S. Angus. EDINBURGH, August 23. Not within living memory have we had eo early a grain harvest. In the Lothians it is already practically complete and a crop of more than average size and quality has been reaped in ex; cellent condition. Wheat has done specially well, and with the quota assured fot home production, prices' should be satisfactory. In the North, of course, the work is hardly begun, but this year we should be spared the disheartening sight of stocks blackening in the fields late in October and reduced to a condition which makes them not worth harvesting. I said something the other day about the improved market foi; barley as the result of the spurt in distilling, but one again hears complaints from farmers the whisky-makers are using foreign grain. The manager of one of the distilleries replies that formerly the farmers grew mainly the Chevalier type of barley, which is suitable for distilling; now they are producing “common” barley, which is not. That is a matter which should be easily set to rights if the distillers are enabled to offer a steady market. I remember a famous distiller telling me that the only Scots element in the whisky he produced was the water, for the grain was from Australia, the bottles from Bohemia, and the corks from Portugal. That ought to be less true to-day than it was when I had my conversation some 20 years ago, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. - I am not altogether surprised to read that the prospect of a shilling increase in the local rates has led to an agitation in Glasgow in favour of the municipal administration of the city being handed over to a body of nominated and autocratic commissioners. That, I feel sure, would be a remedy worse than the disease, and I cannot imagine a place where civic pride is so strong resorting to it. The proper course is for the ratepayers to appoint the right sort of men to the corporation. Glasgow, when I knew it first, could command the services of some of its ablest business men who did not grudge the time and energy required for public work—Sir James Bell, Sir John Muir, Sir Samuel Chisholm, Sir John Ure Primrose, Bailie Crawford, Bailie Simons, and Sir Daniel Stevenson (the only survivor of that generation) are some of the names that occur to me. Nowadays the work of the municipality has grown to such an extent that it is almost a whole-time job, and especially in these days of depression, business men need all their attention for their own affairs. A still greater deterrent is that busy men are indisposed to submit themselves to the ordeal of popular election and the indignities which are incidental to it. The result is that the.-work of the corporation has drifted into the hands of smaller and less competent men and of Socialists who are anxious merely to exploit the municipality for the promotion of their own economic ideas. It is futile for business organisations, such as the Property-owners’ Association, to pass bleating resolutions about what they regard as mismanagement; their only course for them is to roll up their sleeves and go into the fray themselves. TRAINING THE WORKLESS. This week the Ministry of Labour is making a start with an important scheme for training unemployed men. A party of 'about 50—soon to be increased to 200 —is to be settled at Strachur, where they will be within easy reach of the Government estates of Benmore—presented to the nation by Mr Harry Younger tor forestry purposes—and of Glenbranter, formerly the property of Sir Harry Lauder —over 50.000 acres in all. The first task will be the construction of seven miles of road along the shores of Loch Eek to connect Glenbranter with Dunoon, and while the men will be employed mainly hi forestry, it is proposed to train them also in workshop practice. Another useful development, likely to be considerably extended, is the provision of holdings of two or three acres near their homes for miners out of work. Mr Noel Skelton, the Scottish Under-secretary, showed me with pride the other day a series of photographs contrasting the land, much of it little better than waste, when it was handed over to the men with its state to-day, yielding all sorts of vegetables or accommodating poultry houses, bee skeps, and even hothouses. Mr Skelton tells me that, apart from the production of food, the joy added brought into the life of the men through having something to do has made the scheme well worth while. A DESERTED VILLAGE.

The other side of the picture is emphasised by the news that what was once the prosperous Fifcshire village of Lassodie, with a population of over 2000, has been abandoned. The closing of the local colliery two years ago, deprived the community of its only moans of livelihood and the bouses are being demolished, and soon all that will be left will be the former church and the manse, whicli have been converted into a centre for week-end conferences. GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

That industrial depression is no new experience is recalled by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the oldest organisation of its kind, in a statement calling attention to the fact that it was founded 150 years ago. At that time “ trade was paralysed and much distress prevailed, and the chamber was formed for the purpose of encouraging industry, seeking new trade outlets and establishing a high standard of manufacture and integrity in business transactions.” It started with a membership of 216, now increased to nearly 2800, representative of the best elements of the west of Scotland business community. The need for the work it was founded to do has never been greater than it is to-day. SLUM CLEARANCE.

Sir Godfrey Collins, the Scottish secretary, has finished his cruise in the Hebrides and along the north-west coast and is now having a short holiday preparatory to the tour he is to make of the eastern towns next month. That he is keeping in close touch with affairs even now is shown by Ids issue of a

statement on the progress made in slum clearance. Though this is the slack time in municipal affairs, a surprisingly large number of towns have obeyed his injunction to submit the schemes they propose to get rid of their uninhabitable houses. It is hoped that the figures will kindle a spirit of emulation. The laggard towns need not think that they will be allowed to remain negligent, for Sir Godfrey is a business man accustomed to have his instructions carried out. In this connection I may mention that Coatbridge Town Council, which was challenged by the Ministry of Labour for its failure to administer public assistance in accordance with the law, has given the Minister assurances which have induced him to postpone his threatened appointment of a commissioner to undertake the work. A GREAT MISSIONARY.

Dr Donald Fraser, who died this week, will always occupy an honoured place in the long list of Scottish missionaries who have done so much to spread Christianity in Central Africa. The son of the Free Church minister at Lochgilphead, he became associated during his university days with the Students’ Missionary movement, and as soon as he had finished his course—without taking a degree in either arts or divinity —he joined the Livingstonia Mission. There he spent about 30 years, ably assisted by his wife, a qualified doctor, a daughter of the Rev, Dr George Robson, of Perth. To cover the stations for which he was responsible Dr Fraser had to travel over 2000 miles, and when the tribes in which he was interested migrated, he migrated with them. In 1922 he was elected moderator and three years later he came home permanently as one of th 6 foreign missions organisers. But his heart remained in Africa, and it was his greatest consolation that one of his sons is carrying on the work there. \ ' MR HORNEL’S BEQUEST. The friends of the late Mr E. A. Hornel, the well-known artist, have not been surprised to learn that, subject to the expiry of family annuities, he has left the whole of his estate to the public of the Stewartry of Galloway, in which he spent the greater part of his working life. His library consisted of nearly 10,000 volumes, mostly about Dumfries and Galloway, and these along with his curios and works of art will continue to. be kept at his beautiful home and studio as the nucleus of an art gallery and reference library for the district. Out of the income the trustees are. instructed to buy additional works of art under the guidance of the Scottish National Gallery trustees.