TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21257, 2 December 1930, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

There has recently been vigorous- controversy in Britain regarding the quality of Mr Baldwin’s leadership of the Conservative Party. It included voluminous correspondence in The Times, which was concluded by an editorial survey of the various views. Discussing the defects of Mr Baldwin's leadership, The Times remarked that he has cultivated the character of an amateur in politics to a point which is maddening to ardent politicians. His closest advisers complain that they find it difficult to pin him to a serious discussion, or to extract a definite statement of his views. He appears to neglect the House of Commons —appears only, for in fact he is regular in his attendance; at all events he has deliberately abandoned that right of final intervention in important debates which was invariably claimed by Iris predecessors. He has carried his loyalty to former colleagues, some of whom are by no means loyal to him, beyond all the limits that are reasonably justified in public life. It is sometimes said—and there is a good deal of truth in the saying—that the defeat of his Government at the last election was due far less to any popular confidence in the Opposition than to the certainty that a Conservative victory would mean the reinstatement of the “same old gang.” There was nothing amiss with their record, which is quite unjustly disparaged in these days; but for the most part these colleagues of his were uninspiring, ineffective, intolerably stale. After discussing the compensating merits in Mr Baldwin’s record, The Times advised the party to exercise a certain caution in setting about the extrusion of its chosen leader, suggesting that there is something to be said for waiting till Mr Baldwin can hand over the reins to a junior and not to a contemporary.

“Of all World Powers, Japan has purchased most cheaply her seat at the Centre Table, and the consequences of that important fact has sunk deep into the mind of the people,” says Mr Ellery Sedgwick, in the Atlantic Monthly. "The credentials are fixed by custom. What of your army and navy, your mills, your mines, your wealth? That her armed forces are of world strength LiaoYang and Tsushima bear historic witness; but, speaking in the large, Japan won her place on nerve. Her coal she imports from Manchuria, and it is poor enough in quality when it conies. She buys her oil, her iron, her cotton and her wool. Her factories do not reach our standard. Her machines are made in England, Germany and America. Forty millions of her people cultivate an ungenerous soil with primitive tools. The sickle which our gardeners employ for ‘trimming up’ there reaps the harvest, and its crescent blade is hot more bent than the toiler’s back as with delicate strokes he slices the thin rows of sturdy wheat with care lest he injure the stubble of rice plants or the beans planted between the bearded files. Not only is Japan lacking in natural wealth, but the energy which shapes her resources Is the brawn and bone of her people. Of these deficiences the Japanese is acutely aware. The attitude of the people is quite definitely defensive. Of that assertiveness and truculence of which much has been heard, little can be seen. . . . . The precepts of Confucius and Mencius, the philosophy of Gautama, the teachings of Shinto, alike inculcate modesty—-a virtue which shines less effulgently in the Great Republic of the West. Everything impresses upon the Japanese that, ho has his own way to make and that it ill becomes him to boast or even to acknowledge the blessings which are his.”

Last evening the Government Meteorologist issued the following forecast:—The depression is passing east of the Dominion and is being followed bj' an intense anticyclono from the Tasman Sea. Winds moderate to strong westerly backing shortly to southeriles Canterbury northwards. Elsewhere strong southerlies. Seas rather rough about Cook and Fovcaux Straits and rising south of Castlepoint. Elsewhere moderate. Tasman Sea moderate to fresh southerly winds and rather rough seas in the eastern Tasman Sea. Weather cloudy and unsettled with showers at times in most districts and hail and thunder at places. Temperatures becoming cold.

As a result of the Manufacturers’ Exhibition and Carnival at the Drill Hall the Cancer Research Fund will benefit by £3OOO, states a Dunedin Press Association telegram.

The sum of £68,229 18/5 has been paid out for October supply by dairy companies with offices in New Plymouth. The amount also includes a few bonuses from last year. Advances were from lOd to llld for cheese supply and 9d to 9«d for butter.

Hie hospitality of private car owners is one of the main reasons for the decline in tramway receipts in Christchurch, according to Mr Frank Thompson. In an address at New Brighton he said that private bus services did not make the same inroads into the board’s prospective revenue as did the private car owner who was too hospitable to leave his friends waiting for trams into town. This giving of '“lifts” was atrocious, from the board’s point of view, and was very noticeable on the Sumner and Papanui lines.

The total number of consumers in the Golden Bay Power Board’s area is 250, and the plant has been in operation a year. In the monthly report submitted to the board (says the Nelson Mail) it was stated that the generating equipment at the power station had operated satisfactorily and maintenance had been normal. The water supply had been fairly well maintained and although not up to normal for this time of the year there had been, sufficient surplus power available to be of assistance to the Cement Company. Conditions at present indicated a dry season, and it was proposed to gauge accurately the flow of the stream at frequent intervals during the' coming summer to determine the minimum flow.

Although the mild weather experienced early in the spring gave rise to hopes of an early supply of lambs for export (says the New Zealand Herald), colder conditions subsequently have proved such a setback that no lambs are coming to the freezing works at present. Frosts have been experienced in the Waikato during the last week on two occasions and the growth of new grass has been checked to such an extent that it is reported farmers are resorting to feeding hay and ensilage again. Some state there is less feed at the present time than a month ago, and as a result of these conditions the new season’s lambs are not so forward! It is expected some will be available next month, but the main supply will not come forward until December.

Since the end of March the Christchurch City Council has issued permits for 489 buildings valued at £262,899. For the same period last year 576 permits were issued for buildings valued at £384,694.

More harrows have been sold in Central Hawke’s Bay this season than at any other period in the district's history (says a correspondent to the Napier Telegraph), proving that farmers in that area are developing their properties on the right lines.

Ingenuity on the part of the engineer of the Auckland Hospital has resulted in a great saving of expenditure in the preparation of food, says a northern paper. Members of the house committee, on a visit recently, were interested in the operations of a neat little machine which peels apples, potatoes, and onions. It was manufactured chiefly from waste parts of old metal collected from a rubbish dump, and the motive power is supplied from an engine taken from a disused motor-car. The machine has cost the Auckland Hospital Board scarcely £2.

The unusual sight of nine bodies of motor cars being loaded on a scow at the Nelson street wharf (Auckland) the other evening aroused curiosity. The bodies, which were those of old model touring cars for which there is no sale, were taken by the scow Ngahau outside the harbour and dumped into the sea between Tiri Tiri Island and the Great Barrier. Discarded material has previously been sunk at sea, but this is stated to be the first time that motor, car bodies have been disposed of in that manner. As the water is about 30 fathoms deep in the area there is no danger of the material interfering with trawling operations.

A first offender for drunkenness, who had damaged his cell when he was locked up and who was consequently charged with wilful damage to Government, property, appeared in the Police Court before Messrs W. T. Gilbert, and M. Miller, Justices of the Peace, yesterday morning, and was fined 10/- and ordered to pay £1 6/2 damages. He asked for a week in which to pay and this was granted. Sergeant Abel, who prosecuted, said that the accused was only 19 years of age. He had been arrested at 6 p.m. on Saturday and placed in a cell. After he had been there for some time he had started beating the walls with the cell pan and had ruined the pan and broken a window. He had been bailed out on Sunday for £3.

Though the weather has been boisterous, the rivers in the Wellington district have been in fairly good fishing order lately, and fish are certainly plentiful and in good condition. Both the Akatarawas have returned good baskets, and though the Hutt has sustained its reputation as a river of moods, some excellent results have been obtained in the daytime, while the evening rise has proved more fruitful than for some years. Wairarapa streams have been rather swollen. The latest report from the Taupo district was received in a telegram from Mr K. L. Gibbons at Wairakei: “Eight six-pounders, trolling. One of party got thirteen pounder. Great sport.”

The sign of the Kiwi and the Sign of the Takehe, on the Cashmere Hills Summit road, are well known to many besides residents of Christchurch (says an exchange). Mr H. G. Ell, who has done a lot of philanthropic work in forming and metalling the roads over the hills, maintains these two rest-houses and tea rooms, where on Sundays and holidays he sometimes has the voluntary assistance of waitresses. The Secretary of the Tea Rooms Assistants’ Union at Christchurch, Mr F. Niall, has, however, applied to have these two tea rooms brought under the Arbitration Court award because there are unemployed waitresses in Christchurch. Mr Ell, however, claims that all the profits made are spent on improving the road over the hills for the public benefit, and he could not carry on the work if he did not receive voluntary help in the tea rooms.

All the world's a testing ground for the Austin Seven you buy. Not that, you would ask your car to do work of this kind. But these performances let you sec (he car’s true worth. It is well to remember at all times that the patented features that made the Austin Seven the pioneer light car are found only in the Austin. That America, France and Germany pay for the rights to use these features shows (heir essential nature in light car construction. Prices for Baby Austin cars from £196 at P. H. Vickery, Ltd., Dee street, Invercargill. (Advt.)

Christmas Gifts. Wc invite you to inspect our special display of Christmas novelties. See our range before purchasing elsewhere. Note address, Charles Lewis’s, Grand Corner, Dee street. —Advt.

Mistress Mary usually contrary, On this point will agree. That Hitchon’s ham delicious and savoury Is the favourite dish for tea.—Advt.

Silk Hose make ideal ’Xmas Gifts. We sell only first grade, fully guaranteed. Prices 2/11 to 9/6. Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Dee street. (Advt.)

“Consumers of Dewar’s Whisky are never disappointed with the quality.”—Advt.

A useful gift for the Children—Rubber Aprons 2/- to 3/6. Children's Cotton Pinafores 2/3 to 3/11, at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street. (Advt.)

Now ready Bradbury’s Illustrated Guide to Otago and Southland, complete with an up-to-date Road Map and Road distances. The information contained in this admirable guide includes early settlement, industries and resources, scenic attractions and is profusely illustrated with recent photographs including Oreti Bridge, Invercargill, Otago Central, Riverton, Colac, Winton, Stewart Island, Motumote Road. The Lakes and many others. Price 2/6 from Hyndman’s Booksellers, Invercargill. —Advt.

Says Lord Grey: “Independence was developed through the habit of reading good literature.” Give then good literature for your Christmas gifts and here arc tome such books: Lowell Thomas’ account of the German submarines in war-time, "Raiders of the Deep” (5/-) ; Maw'son’s wonderful story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (12/6, revised edition), Younghusband’s “Epic of Everest” (10/-), and Scotts Last Expedition (one volume edition 7/6), N.Z. BOOK DEPOT LTD., ESK STREET, INVERCARGILL, for book gifts supreme. —Advt.

Rebuilding sale yes, and a genuine sale in every sense of the word. 20% off our already low prices makes a tremendous difference. Fancy a superior quality southern musquash coat for £3O 10/-. Super Russian Foxes at £5 15/-, £6 15/-, £7 15/-. Never have such values been offered to the ladies of this city and remember all new seasons good in up to the minute styles.—THE MUTUAL FUR CO., TAY STREET.— Advt.

KODAKS and BROWNIES. LATEST MODELS just to hand CAMERAS greatly IMPROVED PRICES considerably REDUCED See our window display. STEWART’S PHARMACY Corner Dee and Don streets.—Advt.

USEFUL HINTS ON PICTURE MAKING, NO. 1. —In taking SEA AND BEACH SCENES, be careful to use the correct stop, and to have the sun either to the right, or to the left. If you have it in front, you will get no picture at all, and if you have it behind, tjie result will be flat and uninteresting. ‘After taking the film from the camera, seal it carefully, and take it to GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist and Optician, 125 Dee street, who guarantees to give the best results. Don’t forget, BROWN, The Chemist.—Advt.