Free Speech Campaign

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22327, 30 July 1934, Page 6

Free Speech Campaign

The presbyterial calm of First Church was rudely disturbed a few minutes before the commencement of the morning service yesterday when Mr John Gilchrist rose from his seat and made the following remark: “ Friends, with all due reverence for this building, and the purpose for which you are gathered together, I am going to ask you to take notice that a struggle for free speech is imminent in this city. I ask for your co-operation in making it successful.” He then resumed his seat about one minute before the choir filed mV Mr Gilchrist informs us that he will be heard by the City Council at its meeting on Wednesday night.

Motor Cycle Stolen A motor cycle, owned by Mr K. Thomas, of 67 Heriot row, was taken from Cumberland street between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 1.30 a.m. yesterday. The machine is a Douglas, 2| horse-power, 1925 model, bearing the registered number 23257.

City Police Court A first offender for drunkenness who appeared in the City Police Court on Saturday morning before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., was fined 20s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

Inspection of Libraries Mr Ralph Munn, who recently made an examination of New Zealand libraries on behalf of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, passed through Auckland on Saturday by the Mariposa on his way home, after having toured Australia to examine libraries there. He informed the Press Association that be was at present preparing his report, which would bo tabled before the Corporation and would be sent to the Dominion probably next summer.

Fires in the City The City Fire Brigade had a busy time with chimney fires over the weekend. On Saturday engines were called out on four occasions to deal with fires which had broken out in chimneys, and yesterday the South Dunedin Brigade answered a similar call to Cargill road. An outbreak of a more serious nature resulted in the brigade being called out at 3.21 p.m. on Saturday to Princes street South, where fire had broken out in the premises of Messrs Rogers and Hart, electroplaters. The brigade effected a good save, and only slight damage was done to the walls and floor of the building. The cause of the fire is not known. No particulars of insurances are available. Electrified Cows

The mornings may, be bleak, but the work of the dairy farm has to go on. It was 3 a.m. on Tuesday last (says the Auckland Star), and milking was in progress at a town supply farm, when the cows suddenly took panic and started to jump round the milking shed. They looked for all the world like an ungainly lot of two-steppers. A farm hand-engaged at the other end of the shed asked his friend to hand him his tin of tobacco, which at the time was resting by a conduit carrying electric wires. On touching the tin, his pal received a severe shock, but fortunately it had no serious effect. An electrician was called in, and on examining the wires found the cows’ lively movements were due to a fair amount of electricity running over the concrete of the shed. It was a couple' of hours before milking could be resumed, and as the results were much as usual the cows, like the milker, had not really suffered materially from the shock. Appeal in Licensing Casa

Appeals against the alleged severity of the penalties imposed by the magistrate (Mr C. It. Orr Walker) in charges brought under the Licensing Act, on the grounds that the penalties were excessive and improper, were heard by Mr Justice Johnston in the Supreme Court at Timaru on Friday. George Sara was the appellant and Joseph Devlin was named as respondent. Mr W. D. Campbell, who appeared for the respondent, said that ne would contend that there was no right of appeal in a case where the defendant pleaded guilty, and alternatively, if there was a case, that the defendant had lost his right by not being in time with his form of appeal. Mr Sargent, for the appellant, quoted section 326 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1927, to prove that the court had power to deal with the appeal. After lengthy argument, Uis Honor granted an adjournment of the hearing till next session, in order that an appeal might be made to tbe magistrate for a rehearing.

Wage Restorations The move to restore wages in New Zealand to the level that obtained prior to the country suffering financially in the economic blizzard that swept the world, is gaining impetus. A number oil private employers have shown their belief that better times are at hand by increasing the salaries of their staffs, and many local bodies have acted similarly. Some councils have taken their courage in both hands and have restored the .full 10 per cent, cut which was imposed by general order of the Arbitration Court, but other* are inclined to exercise caution and have made the restoration of wages only partial. Since October of last year more than 30 local bodies throughout the Dominion have restored whole or part of the salary cuts.

Organ Recital . • There was an unusually large attendance at the organ recital given in the Town Hall last night by the city, organist (Dr V. E. Galway). The programme which Dr Galway had chosen included music representing a considerable diversity of character. The opening item wa« Mendelssohn’s Prelude in C minor, which received artistic treatment at the organist’s hands. Westbrook’s Andante, based on the Westminster Chimes, was an interesting piece of organ work, and the overture to "William, Tell ” (Rossini) was another item which .proved highly popular with the audience. Other items played by Dr Galway were: “ Symphonic Pisan ” (C. Edgar Ford), the wellknown Minuet of Boccherini, Bach’s popular “Fugue in G major,” and “ Sea SurgeSea Plaint” (Julian Nesbitt); The assisting artists for the evening were Mr* H. C. Campbell (pianist) and Miss Elvira Wycherley (’cellist). Sirs Campbell gave a very fine performance of the first movement of Schumann’s Concerto, in A minor, the orchestral . accompaniment being played on the organ. The beautiful “Kol Nidrei ” (Bruch), which was also accompanied by the organ, was the item chosen by Miss Wycherley, whose playing of this work revealed her sympathetic understanding of the spirit of the composition. Sea Training for Boys The prospects for New Zealand boy* wishing to join the mercantile marine are discussed - in a further, letter which the secretary, of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (Dr E. P. Neale) recently received from England. The letter is from the general manager of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, London, who.states: “We already have about four New Zealand boys as apprentices, and it is difficult to make' a considerable increase on this number owing to the impossibility of finding officers’ berths for these■ lads on maturity. If, however, you have ; a specially eligible lad at any time and will communicate with Captain Lewis, our superintendent in Auckland, I will see if it is possible to find an appointment for such- a lad. We, however, do not care to engage too many boys, for the reason already explained, as their position , will not be an enviable one if there is no berth for them when indentures are completed.” ■ ‘ ''■ - ’, ' " Art Society’s Exhibition The Otago Art Society’s exhibition ‘ in the Pioneers’ Hall will be brought to a close on Thursday next. Only a few more days remain, therefore, in which lovers of art in the community will have the opportunity of seeing the work on view. In addition to paintings by well-known artists in Dunedin, the work • of. some ..of- the younger members of the society is worthy of inspection, and' the progress made by some of these is more than , a little encouraging. The crafts section is a distinctly interesting one,,; and .those who visit the exhibition should not fail to see the coffee table made from a beautifully grained piece of kowhai, in which the attractiveness of this New Zealand timber is enhanced by the fine workmanship displayed. Wary Birds A definite wariness-of disposition, combined with an almost uncanny sense of self-protection and ability to use heavycover, protected areas and rivers or deep ditches to avoid the pursuing sportsman, has been distinctly noticeable this season in the Stratford Acclimatisation-'Society's district on the part of pheasants', ducks and quail, which form the main 1 attraction for sportsmen seeking to put game up' in ' the area. The birds’ favourite defence is the heavy cover affordedby manuka and fernand they show a predilection for quartering, near a river or big drain so that they can “flip” from one side to the other according to circumstances. Many a portsman who has ■ laboriously beaten heavy country and- at last put a bird up has had to stand helplessly while the result of perhaps half a day’s strenuous pursuit sailed serenely across a stream well out Of range. The Fruit Season ■

There are indications,of an early fruit season in Canterbury this, year. ! An officer of the Agricultural Department stated on Friday that, in the course of inspections carried out during the week/he had noticed that buds on some varieties of peach and plum trees were swelling. Generally speaking, the present winter had been favourable to orchards in the Canterbury district, owing to the frosts and cold weather checking the insect pests, and the rains and snow thoroughly wetting the subsoil, consequently there should be better growth and'larger, fruit in the new season. Last year most: of the fruit was on the small side, owing to the dry winter and dry conditions in several preceding winters. Even if nest summer should be dry, the fruit should develop well because of the moisture that the ground had received.

Capital and Labour In an article in the diocesan organ of recent date. Dr Burgmann, Bishop of Goulburn, New South Wales, said that Australia had thousands of idle hands and a considerable accumulation of idle capital. If the capitalist no .longer had the ,wit or imagination to .devise profitable ways of using his capital, and thua providing employment, was it rational or possible for the State to, stand by and allow both capital apd men, to rot ■in idleness? In the face of such dire need, he said, there should surely, be some way in which the State could bring together this capital, or its monetary equivalent, and the unemployed and put both to work for the good of Australia. ' If the capitalist could do it, well and good. .The country had waited a considerable time for private enterprise to meet the need. It could not wait much -longer. Governments must act soon, or expect reactions. : : A pretty Handbag is always a nice addition to the toilet. See the new ones at Williamsons, the jewellers. They are remarkable value.—Advt. Port Chalmers,—J. Watson's. clearing winter sale general drapery, clothing, boots and shoes, furnishings, now proceeding.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets, next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359 Adyt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturmer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt. Who is Peter Dick?. The leading-firm for optical and jewellery service. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians; 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt. I ; ‘