FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 7

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS Written for the Otago Daily Times

By Robert S. Angus

EDINBURGH, Dec. 24. When Sir John Jeffrey’s retention as Scottish Under-secretary for another two months was announced a few days ago it was assumed that the main reason was to give the new Secretary of State time to consider how the vacancy should be filled That has now been settled by the appointment of Mr John Highton C. 8., at present Secretary of the Department of Health, who in turn is to be succeeded by Mr William Scott Douglas, now an Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Mr Highton, who is a West Country man, has made his way up from a humble position in the service by his energy and competence, and though civil servants have no politics, he has shown that his sympathies are very much with the under-dog. In his early days he ran off to sea and he has not yet lost his adventurous spirit. Like Sir John Jeffrey. Mr Highton knows the departments thoroughly. The introduction of Mr Scott Douglas is a welcome step. The Scottish Office has long been suspected of suffering from inbreeding, and fresh blood, especially of Scottish origin, should mean increased vigour. HOUSING SCANDAL It is often complained that Scot tish affairs get too little attention from the Imperial Parliament. But that neglect was partially repaired by two interesting debates before the Christmas adjournment. One of them concerned our housing conditions. That these are a disgrace has long been known to ourselves, and its exposure at Westminster should help to increase that sense of shame which stimulates determination to find a remedy. The discussion had its origin in a desire on the part of the I.L.P. members to taunt the Socialist majority of Glasgow Corporation on its failure to cope adequately with the problem. But it soon took a wider scope, and the Scottish Secretary was even more emphatic than his critics in condemning present conditions. These can be judged from one fact; we have about eight times as many slums as England and Wales in proportion to our population. The rate of building has unaccountably fallen this year as compared with last, and even if the present programmes are fulfilled—which is highly doubtfulslums will not be abolished for another 15 years. The debate left the impression that the slow progress is mainly due to lack of skilled labour, a strange paradox in a country which has so many unemployed. Mr Elliot declared his readiness to lead a new “drive” in housing, and he can count on the support of public opinion in any proposal he may make. One of the most promising suggestions was that the Government should bring the local authorities into a conference with employers and employed in the building trade and force them to join in a campaign which will remove the scandal. HIGHLAND PROBLEMS The other Parliamentary debate was on the state of the Highlands. Mr Gibson, the new member for Greenock, proposed a motion, which the Government accepted, calling for steps to prevent poverty and depopulation. Some interesting and a few absurd suggestions were made. Among the former were the improvement of piers and harbours, the prevention of illegal trawling, the improvement of roads, the encouragement of tourist traffic, and the development of forestry. Others, including Mr Tom Johnston, who ought to know better, blamed the deer forests and the grouse moors, which he declared should be used for cultivation. People who talk like that ought to be condemned to work out their own proposals. The Scottish Secretary declined to admit that the gloomy picture drawn by some of the critics was wholly true. He pointed to what the Government has done for the benefit of agriculture—the staple industry of the highlands —and in ' the making of roads. He also recalled that the vital statistics for the highlands are better than for Scotland as a whole Personally I am a realist —or, if you like a pessimist—about the Highlands. It is vain to expect that boys and girls, educated to the point they now rightly are, will be content with the standard of life which is attainable on a highland croft even under the best of conditions, and the more enterprising of them will continue, as they have done for a century and a-half, to seek a better livelihood elsewhere.

A GAS PROBLEM Sir Alexander Walker’s committee, appointed to consider the disposal of the Coke-oven gas made in the production of pig iron has recommended (Treasurer Dollan dissenting) that Glasgow, Coatbridge and Airdrie should buy the gas—some 18,250,000 cubic feet per day. A steady market for this by-product is essential to the success of modern plant and therefore to the employment of many thousands of workmen. It is estimated that one firm alone sends about £2OO worth of gas every day into the atmosphere. But the municipal rulers are apprehensive as to the effect on their own enterprises and probably nothing short of compulsion will induce them to co-operate. The West of Scotland cannot afford the waste which is now doing on, especially as it threatens the revival of one of its staple industries. AVIATION POSSIBILITIES The Aviation Committee of the Scottish Development Council has come firmly to the conclusion that pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to secure the transfer of at least part of the aircraft industry to this side of the Tweed. It points out that the comparative remoteness of the west from the possibility of attack is an important element; it suggests that local authorities having within their area factories or sites suitable for the making or the landing of aircraft should make these facilities known; and proposes that “ a Scottish firm ” should acquire the European manufacturing rights of some of the American types of commercial aircraft. It would be better still if some Scottish engineer were to invent an aeroplane of his own. We need a Scottish Lord Nuffield. SHIPBUILDING ORDERS In our established industries we continue to do well enough. Orders for ships continue to flow in, and the other day Messrs Denny, of Dumbarton, were able to announce no fewer than five. The Fairfield yard has obtained half of the work in connection with the provision of new engines for H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, representing, I believe, an expenditure of about £1,000,000. Ardrossan and Paisley are to provide respectively the hull and the machinery of a new naval tender. On the Forth, especially at Burntisland, shipbuilding has developed beyond all expectation, and, with orders for the capital ships of the 1937 programme of the navy about to be placed, the outlook is excellent. “ JUBILEE ” NURSES Only those who remember the time when sick persons had to depend for nursing on the efforts of some kindly but inefficient neighbour can appreciate the boon provided by the Queen’s Institute of District Nurses, established to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 'jubilee. There are now over 900 of them in Scotland and as most of them have motor cars o motor bicycles, they are able to cover a large territory. About 200 of them are stationed in the Highlands and Islands, and the Government contribute about £ 18,000 a year towards the expense. The provident scheme, under which a contribution of a halfpenny a week is paid, has now a membership of 59,000. It is an impressive proof of the good work done by the nurses, that in the 14,500 maternity cases they attended last year, the death rate of mothers and children was less than half the average of the country as a whole. COUNTY CONVENERS This week the county councils have been appointing their conveners, who are a sort of rural provost. In most cases the present holders were continued in office. In Angus the retirement of Mr F. M. Bachelor, after about 40 years’ service, left a vacancy and the council were fortunate to obtain the services of Sir Harry Hope, Bart., of Kinettles, formerly M.P. for the county. Sir Harry had long experience of local government work in East Lothian, where he proved that farming can be made to pay, and since he settled in Angus he has been a devoted servant of the public. I am glad to think that his readiness to accept the office is a proof that his health is fully restored. AN ABERDEEN LORD PROVOST Dr Henry Alexander, who a year ago retired from the Lord Provostship of Aberdeen, has had his work recognised by the presentation of his portrait, which is to be added to the local art gallery Dr Alexander was one of the most energetic civic heads that Aberdeen has ever had, and he is continuing his public service as chairman of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Housing, a member of the Food Council, and Lord Rector’s assessor on the local University Court. His main interest as Lord Provost was townplanning, and the pa - iter of his portrait, Mr David Jagger, has commemorated that by making the background of his picture an outline of the scheme prepared for Aberdeen and district under Dr Alexander’s leadership.