FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 28

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO. OVERSEAS SCOTS

By Robert S. Axecs. EDINBURGH, July 2. Though political matters do' not i usually occupy much space in these notes, events this week have been sufficiently important from the Scottish point of view to call for mention. Ot the three Liberals who have disowned Mr Lloyd George’s leadership, two are members for Scottish seats —Sir Robert Hutchison, formerly chief whip of the party, and Mr Ernest Brown, who although an Englishman, has identified himself closely with Scottish interests since he became member for Leith. The latter’s decision is the most serious blow to his party, for he is an able parliamentarian aud is both courageous aud industrious. Several other Scottish members who have uot formally severed themselves from the official party are gradually becoming more detached. 1 have in mind men like Sir Murdoch Macdonald (Inverness), Mr lam Macpherson (Ross and Cromarty), Mr Duncan Millar (East Fife), and Mr D. M. Cowan (Scottish Universities). They dislike the land tax, and still rpore Mr Lloyd George’s variations of attitude towards it, and they regard its application to Scottish feu duties as unjust. They recall Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man's declaration of a quarter of a century ago against such a proposal, and they are convinced that, in keeping a Socialist Government in office, Mr Lloyd George is disintegrating the party, with results which will be fatal at the. next election. A few weeks ago, following the example of liis father, Lord Rosebery announced that he could take no further part in Liberal polities, and the other day Mr H. J. Tennant, a format Minister, made a similar declaration. Speaking of politics I should, mention with sympathy the -illness of my good friend, Dr Joseph Hunter, the Scottish Liberal whip. He has had a recurrence of the serious trouble which laid him aside for some months last year, and his friends are anxious. I think he made a mistake from his own point of view when he abandoned medicine for politics, and the events of the last year or two have worried him in spite of the jaunty good humour with which he seemed to face them. HIGHLAND SHOW SUCCESS. In spite of the fact that it was robbed o£ more than, half of its exhibits' by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the centenary show of the Highland Society has turned out a financial success. The attendance, 70,310, was the largest for the last 10 years. That was mainly due to the visit of the Prince of Wales last Thursday, when the figures reached a record total. The directors -are entitled to sympathy on their mis--ortune and the reasons for it. Happilv no fresh cases of infection have been reported during the last few davs, ami although it is rash to be confident about so insidious a malady, it does seem as if it has been checked. PRINCE IN INVERNESS. From Edinburgh the Prince flew to Inverness, where on the following day he undertook a heavy programme, including a speech to the Scottish members of the British Legion who were holding their annual conference, and the reception of the honorary freedom of the city On the way north he had his first view of the Highlands from the air, an experience which he greatly enjoyed. As usual the Prince was received with enthusiasm everywhere and showed his happy knack of saying the right thing in the right way. Provost Mae Ewan recalled, in order to draw a happy contrast, the visit of another Prince to. the Highlands nearly -00 years ago, with disastrous results. If he had said all that was in his mind he would probably have added that Scotland has noted with a little regret that the Highlands seem to have less attraction for the present Prince than has been felt by some of his predecessors. Or perhaps he is busier than they were. “BRAW LADS” OF GALA. At the other end of the country great doings have been in progress in connection with the “ Braw Lads ” gathering at Galashiels. The Border country has a rich inheritance of communal ceremonies, which after being neglected for generations. are being revived with a pleasant combination of social and commercial purposes in view. Thus, while the folks of Galashiels had their mounted processions across the fords of the Tweed and paid a visit to Abbotsford—one can imagine th zest with which Sir Walter would have thrown himself into such an occa-sion—-tdiey also took occasion to hold an exhibition of their staple tweed products; organised by the Manufacturers’ Corporation. The display included many specimens of the fabrics of 80 or 10G years ago and one shepherd's plaid of the characteristic black and white check, woven 120 years ago, was shown in perfect condition. The most impressive ceremony was held at the War Memorial, where 12,000 spectators assembled and the ** Braw Lad ” of the year lowered his flag in respect to the memory of the 628 Gala lads who fell in the war. THE ACADEMIC YEAR,

This week our newspapers have' given many columns to- a record of the academic successes of tire year. The lists are impressive reminders of the number of our young men and women who gain Univer-

sity qualifications—it is estimated that in Scotland we have in proportion to population five University students to every two in England—and though there is another side to that question 7 as 1 have repeatedly suggested, the lists show that learning is regarded :.s an asset. The names of the Caii'd Scholarship winners, who are thus enabled to pursue advanced studies in engineering an I music, and of the Harkness residential ! scholarships at St. Andrews are a reminder that facilities for acquiring something more than the bare minimum necessary for a degree are increasing. U NIV ERSITY A P POINTMENTS. It will be remembered that senn; months ago- Professor Sarolea resigned the Chair of French in Edinburgh University amid a cloud of controversy. That cloud is likely to be dissipated by the appointment of his successor. Mr James M. Moore, who has been senior lecturer for some years, gave up the rectorship of Madras College, St. Andrews, making a substantial financial sacrifice, in order to devote himself to a University career. His manuals on the teachings of French have revolutionised the subject. Professor Moore’s organising powers will have full scope in a department which has become the largest in the University, and the fact that he specialised in classical studies before turning to modem languages is the best guarantee against a narrow specialism. His senior lecturer is to be M. Georges Lafoureade, who. was an assistant in the University some years ago. The new chair of psychology is appropriately to have as its first occupant Dr James Drever, who has been lecturer in the subject, for the last 12 years. MR SCOTT JUPP. The Edinburgh musical world has sustained a heavy loss by the death of Mr Andrew Scott Jupp, who was a teacher of the piano at the Ladies’ College and other local schools, organist in North Morningside Church for over 40 years, and a leading figure in many musical societies. His dry humour made him a favourite alike with his pupils and with his wide circle of friends. WOMEN'S GOLF. Not so many years’ ago a choleric Scottish judge denounced the mere presence of women on the golf course ;is an outrage. I wonder what he would have said if he had been at Gullane this week to see a woman (Mrs J. B. Watson) do the first nine holes in 32 strokes, probably a stroke a hole better than he could have done himself? The winner of an event which attracted more attention than any of its predecessors was Miss Jean. M'Culloch, of West Kilbride, who as Die chroniclers were forced to mention somewhat ungallantly, first won the championship at Maehrihanish 18 years ago. But it was easier to do then, and she was under 20. The runner-up on tliis occasion was Miss Doris Park, who has been the unsuccessful finalist for the third time in succession. As the daughter of the late Willie Park, of Musselburgh, she must have golf in her veins, and her friends have no doubt that the honour which she has so narrowly missed will come her way one day soon. Her one weakness is on the putting green. The other two semi-finalists were also farmer champions—Mrs Watson, whom I have already mentioned, and Mrs Percy. That fact may seem to suggest that the more experienced—one does not like to say the older—players are better than the younger. That is only true with qualifications. Those who attended the meeting tell me that there is abundant talent among the juniors, including Miss Katherine Tennant—a young half-sister of the Countess of Oxford—Miss Alison Hopwood, and Miss M. M. RobertsonDurham, the bearer of a name well known in Scottish golf for at least two generations. The standard of play ’ showed that the days when women’s golf could be written about in a slightly patronising tone are gone. SPORTING EVENTS.

A mere chronicle of the sporting events of the week would fill the whole of this column. Indeed, it is a little amusing to read, in the Scotsman ting week a leader note in which the editor apologises for (while he defends) the fact that nowadays he is compelled to give so large an amount of his space ta sport. Inter-town golf matches, with teams of 30 or 40 each are being conducted all along the eoast, presumably to clear the courses, for the holiday visitors who, with the break up of the schools, begin to arrive this month. The number of tennis matches shows that all the followers of that game are not at Wimbledon. Cricket pursues its erratic course, and the few hours available for matches produce more definite results than might be expected. The amateur athletic championship meeting at Hampden Park, attracted 8000 spectators, who saw three Scottish records broken. F. Reid, an' Edinburgh student from South Africa, did 100 yards in 9 9-10 see; Alister F. Clark, hurdles champion for the fifth time, lowered R. S. Stronach’s record, which has stood for ever a quarter of a century, 15 3-asec; and P. B. B. Ogilvie added two inches to the pole jump record, which now stands at lift sin. A. Smith,' a Glasgow policeman, lost the hammer-throwing to A C. Nicolson, but retained the other three 561 b weight, the wire hammer, and. the discus. Thus, for the fourth year in succession, he holds the paints medal. The Crabbie medal for the best performance of the day was awarded to Reid.