BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

“BATH A LUXURY” NO NEED TO WASH MEMBERS’ NOTION OF CLEANLINESS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 6. “Is a bath a necessity or a luxury?” was the subject of a debate by the committee of the House of Commons considering the Housing Bill. It originated in Mr Wedgewood Benn proposing an amendment that every flat tenement must contain a fixed bath, which was defeated by 25 to 29. Labour members, supporting, insisted that a bathroom was necessary for a decent healthy life. Conservative members said that the conversion of big houses into flats was the only provision in the Bill likely to help middle class folk. If a bath in each flat was required conversion would be impossible. Colonel Newman questioned the necessity of a bath, stating that their great grandfathers washed twice—once when born, and once when they died. Major Molloy said personally he would rather live in a converted flat without a bath than in the open air. Bathing was not a necessity, but a luxury. Some of the healthiest people in the world never washed. Provision for a fixed bath was an obsession. Some people liked a piano because it gave an air of respectability to the household. TINNED MEAT CONTRACT. LONDON, June 6. An American firm secured the whole army tinned meat contract. Four Australian tenderers were considerably above the successful tender. The authorities were anxious to give one-third of the contract to the lowest Australian tenderer but could not obtain satisfactory guarantees that the firm would be able to carry out the contract. HONOURS ABUSES. LONDON, June 6. The House of Lords read a second time a Bill to prevent honours abuses. Lord Ped said the Bill might not entirely stop such transactions which needed a vigorous, healthy public opinion but the severity of the penalties would probably have a most salutary effect in putting a stop to a disreputable and discreditable trade. DELEGATION FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA. LONDON, June 6. (Received June 7, 7.15 p.m.). The delegation from Vancouver were entertained by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Mr Thompson said he had seen produce at the Manchester docks labelled as if it came from British Columbia, when it really was American stuff. Mr Thompson urged the British Government at least to see that produce was marked, so that people would know that it came from their kith and kin. He suggested that textile firms would find it advantageous to start branch mills in British Columbia. SUNDAY GAMES. LONDON, June 6. The Archbishop of Canterbury in a letter to the Secretary of the Imperial Alliance in defence of Sunday deplores the growing tendency towards Sabbath games. He says those in responsible positions must have their eyes opened to the danger of unintended progress from innocent recreation to the encouragement of great competitive games. A word of warning was greatly needed to the whole country and public bodies particularly. If Sunday were devoted chiefly to pleasurepeeking the price would be deplorable. A NEW ZEALAND APPEAL CASE. LONDON, June 6. The Judicial Committee reserved judgment in the New Zealand appeal. Smallfield V. the National Mutual Life Association.