The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 47

The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1928.) THE WEEK.

"Nunqnam allud natura, allud sapien tia dixit.” —J UVEb'AL. "Good nature and good sense must ever join.”— Pops.

A Satisfactory Result.

The victory of the All Blacks in the

fourth and final test match of their South African tour constitutes

what is in all probability the most satisfactory result possible under the circumstances. It leaves still undecided the question of the respective superiority of the two Dominions in what has come to be regarded as a national game, and as the cabled account pithily puts it: “The New Zealanders were delighted at squaring the rubber, and the Springboks were very satisfied they had not lost it.” This reminder that South Africa is able to produce exponents of Rugb} second to none in the world may exercise a salutary influence upon young New Zealanders too apt to imagine that nt football tlie players from the Dominion have no peer. In addition, the magnificent form shown throughout by the South Africans and their tactical superiority in some respects will not be lost upon those who have the reputation of ‘ New Zealand at heart. When the players return home the matches will doubtless be fought over again, and the vexed question decided whether the selection of the teams for the test matches was always the most judicious. At least there is satisfaction in the reflection that in the final match of the tour the AH Blacks were at the top of their form,

and gave a very fine exhibition of the game. To suffer defeat would have been bitterly disappointing, and probably that thought did much to spur them on to glorious victory.

The Tasman Flight.

Owing to unfavourable meteorological

reports the flight across the Tasman of the Southern Cross, piloted by Squadron-leader Smith

and his gallant crew, has been indefinitely delayed. The decision not to attempt the trip save only under the most favourable conditions is to be commended, bearing in mind the perils to which the aviators will be unavoidably exposed. It is to be regretted that the Mayor of Christchurch, instigated thereto by the ministers of that city, should have deemed it his duty to protest against Captain Kingsford Smith's intention to arrive on Sunday, thereby evincing a spirit of narrow Sabbatarianism to which the people of the Dominion would in no wise subscribe. Fortunately for the Mayor and the ministers bad weather intervened and ended what might have proved an unpleasant discussion. Mayor Archer having put himself out of court by his ill-advised attitude, the Prime Minister promptly stepped into the breach and on behalf of the people of the Dominion invited the aviators to be the guests of the Government during their stay. Mr Rolleston, Minister of Defence, will officially welcome the visitors upon their arrival by air. The wishes expressed by Mr Coates for a safe and successful journey on the part of Captain Kingsford Smith and his comrades will be universally echoed, and there will be the keenest of anticipation for the news of the “ hop off.” Two outstanding results should be the outcome of this trial trip across the Tasman Sea: the first, an act of remembrance, when wreaths will be dropped in memory of Captain Hood and Lieutenant Moncrieff; the second a feat of observation, by which it can be decided whether a mail and passenger service by air across the Tasman under present conditions is practicable.

An Opportunity. For Peace.

The signing under circumstances of cere-

mony and solemnity of the Anti-war Pact in Paris, in which the

representatives of fifteen nations participated, has been rightly described as the opportunity for, rather than the consummation of, peace. The outstanding feature of the pact is its simplicity—the signatory Powers simply pledge themselves to renounce war as an instrument of national policy. Speaking to British press representatives at Geneva last week, Lord Cushenden described the pact as the most impressive declaration ever made by mankind of a determination to preserve the peace, a verdict which by no means savours of exaggeration. At the same time Lord Cushenden was careful to observe that it would be foolish for idealists to claim now that the pact was signed that everything was done, and that the nations might now throw all their armaments upon the scrap heap. The pact is but the opportunity upon which education in peace principles may slowly but surely proceed. Many prayers have been put up and much thanksgiving has been offered for the signing of the pact, and this is well, but it is not enough. Not until the great mass of public opinion definitely ranges itself on the side of peace and against war will the situation be made secure, and this entails patience and perseverance. It is a great gain that the proposal for the pact proceeded from the United States, but it must not be forgotten that the United States Senate has yet to ratify the pact. International disarmament must necessarily be a slow progress and dependent upon the gradual growth of public international opinion in its favour.

Resigning Ministers.

With the general election in full view,

there is timeliness in the announcement of the resignation by Messrs

Anderson and Nosworthy of their Ministerial portfolios. Neither of these resignations will occasion surprise; indeed, both have been for some time anticipated. It is some months since Mr Nosworthy intimated that he did not propose to seek re-election to Parliament. Mr Anderson’s retirement lias been forced upon him for health reasons, and is unfortunately inevitable. The resignations, together with the fact that the vacancy created by the death last year of Mi' Bollard has not yet been filled, raises an important question which Mr Coates, should he be returned to power, will be called upon to face, namely, whether in the interests of economy and efficiency the affairs of the Dominion cannot be administered by a smaller number of Cabinet Ministers than for soriie time past has been the case.

Sir William Sim.

The glowing and eloquent tributes paid

alike by Bench and Bar to the memory of the late Sir William Sim furnish

a fitting tribute to a member of the judiciary who has served his country well. The late judge was an outstanding example of. a man who, adequately equipped for his task of administering justice, strove with sincerity and conscientiously to discriminate between the true and the false, the innocent and the guilty. The emoluments of office weighed but lightly with Sir J William Sim; he desired above all else to do his duty. Thanks to the higly character of. the men selected to administer justice in the Dominion, not

the slightest suspicion, of partiality or unworthy motives has ever sullied a judgment given, and Sir William Sim was in the line of that honourable tradition. The Dominion is justly proud of the mental and moral calibre of the members of its legal profession, and of whom Sir William Sim was a burning and a shining light whose demise will be universallv mourned.

Co-operation in Industry.

The Government has reached a wise de-

cision in not attempting to legislate during this session on industrial arbitration, and in its

stead to reassemble the National Industrial Conference, which met last year, but which was unable to come to an agreement. Mr Coates has logic on his side when he observed that the failure of the . representatives of industry to agree after an honest and prolonged effort to do so shows the very real difficulty of the subject, and where the experts have failed to point the way it would be rash for anybody less qualified to move except with the utmost caution. The Prime Minister, adopting the policy of caution, anticipates that another conference may ■pave the way to agreement. Doubtless he is encouraged in this belief by the example of the Mond Conference in the Homeland. The signs of the times plainly point to the realisation on the part of all parties in industry of the folly of maintaining a hostile attitude when co-operation is so obviously the way to general prosperity. Given a hearty co-operation between Capital and Labour, and all classes of the community must benefit immeasurably.

General Young, commandant of the New Zealand Defence Forces, made an inspection of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in Dunedin on Thursday night.' There was a muster of about 05 officers and men. General Young complimented 'them on their fine appearance, and expressed his best wishes for their future welfare.

In connection with a safety first poster competition which is being promoted by the Otago Education Board, the Electric Tower and Lighting Committee of the City Council has authorised the payment of an amount not exceeding £5 as a donation towards the same, this being on par with the board’s ovzn contribution. The competition is the outcome of the circularisation of a poster dealing with the danger of fallen electric wires, and it embraces additional features, such as motor traffic, health, etc. The annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand will this year be held in Wellington from Friday, October 12, to Monday, October 15. Among the matters that will be considered will be remits dealing with the questions of State and municipal trading, bankruptcy revision, Companies Act revision, Crown Suits Act, distress warrants affidavits, military training, c.o.d. parcels, and taxation.

The definition of milliners’ work was the principal point involved in a recent application before the Arbitration Court to have the New Zealand Millinery Factory, Auckland, added as a party to the dressmakers and milliners’ award. In his written judgment, Mr Justice Frazer said the application was contested on the ground that the making of hats or hat bodies by machines was not milliners’ work. The court was of opinion that any work customarily performed by hand by milliners was none the less milliners’ work when it was performed with the aid of machines. The solution of any difficulties arising from the application, of 'the conditions of a shop milliners’ award for factory milliners, appeared to lie in the provision of a separate award or section of an award, for factory milliners As other millinery factories were at present bound by the existing award, the court decided to add the factory under discussion to the award. Writing in the Evening Standard (London), “Olympian” has some interesting comments about the progress as a golfer t>f a quondam New Zealander. Thus: “Dr Gillies, who believes in adding to the gaiety of golf, amused his fellow medicos at Sidcup last evening by a new departure in high tees. The doctors were playing a friendly match against the club. Often Dr Gillies, who is an honorary member of Sidcup, has gone round the course driving from the top of a lemonade bottle. Last night he varied the manoeuvre by teeing the ball on the head of an indiarubber doll, after the manner of William Tell and the apple, only that in the doctor’s case the tee was a dummy. The doll was supported by a liberal foundation of sand. With no more than the ordinary number of waggles, the doctor, amid laughter and applause, made an excellent, clean shot from the first tee, and won the hole in four.” Twelve bankruptcies, of which 10 were in the North Island, were notified in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette. . Charged with the murder of Joe Shum at the Kyeburn gold diggings on July 17, William John Hardie appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at the Police Court on Saturday morning. The accused was remanded to appear at Naseby on September ,5. Following on the recent spell of dry weather, bush fires ■were, prevalent on the hills around the city on Sunday, and from these and a large tussock fire on Flagstaff, rose a heavy pall of dense « smoke, which, at times, during the day, /almost completely obscured portions of the • higher levels. In the evening the fires were still blazing, and Flagstaff especi- • .ally, its peak, almost encircled by a huge .- ring a flattie, presented * wonderfully spectacular sight. , ' ' '