TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21577, 15 December 1931, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

A protest against tfye disclosures of private Cabinet discussions during the election campaign was made by the Economist. “Until recently a Cabinet Council was regarded as a secret and confidential occasion, and up to the time of the Great War no note of the proceedings was allowed to be taken by any member, except the Prime Minister, who occasionally jotted down notes as an aide-memoire for a subsequent report to the Soverign,” it remarked. “Thereafter, it is true, minutes began to be taken, but the documents containing them were, and still are, secret State papers. Now, if the precedent set by Mr Snowden and Mr Graham is to be followed, all the secrets of the Council Chamber may be shouted upon the housetops. It is, in our view, a most deplorable development, carrying with it a threat of grave restraint upon the free and unfettered discussion of national and international issues which should be the function of the Cabinet. ... If one Minister is free to repeat in public any chance remark of another upon wage cuts or tariffs, what is to prevent another from publishing any heedless word of a colleague on the subject of French, or German, or American policy? Cabinet secrecy and Cabinet loyalty, even after the break up of an Administration, are absolutely essential to the successful functioning of representative gnvßiymentj Ministers in breaking this

rule have taken a dangerous and unjusti liable course.”

The need for a clearly defined standard for education was the subject of an address by the Dean of St. Paul’s, Dr Inge, in Birmingham. He suggested that the best of the national character should be made the basis of plans of education. Should he be wrong, he asked, if he said the ideal of the national character centred around that grand old name of gentleman, which was far too good to be surrendered, even in democratic days, and far too good to be made ridiculous by associating it with heraldry and property and land? The ideal of an English gentleman had been for centuries the lay religion, the weekday religion, of a great part of the nation, and it embodied those qualities which were most distinctive of the national character. The herald’s gentleman was a picturesque and romantic object who must not be taken too seriously. Wealth would not find many defenders; fine manners were certainly an ingredient, though they should distinguish between mere fashionable tricks of behaviour and the real good breeding which was found in every class. Whatever else the true gentleman might or not be, he could not be deliberately a parasite, and he was bound to choose a career which would leave the world richer for his sojourn in it. As for the moral qualities, those which belonged to their English ideal were truthfulness, courage, justice and fair play, an abhorrence of meanness and crooked dealing, and the respect for the personality of all human beings as such.

The Dominion Meteorologist last night issued the following information: A cyclone is moving eastwards and an extensive and intense depression is advancing on to the Dominion. Winds strong north-easterly to northerly of gale force in places, changing to westerly in the far north and to southeasterly in the far south. Later general southerly change setting in. Seas in New Zealand waters becoming rough to heavy. In the eastern Tasman Sea strong northerly winds to gales backing to southerlies shortly. Seas rough to heavy. Weather warm and sultry at first, but cloud and mist soon overspreading the Dominion and rain developing and becoming fairly general with heavy falls in places.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands calls for nominations to fill an extraordinary vacancy on the Southland Land Board. See advertisement in this issue.

The Bluff fire alarm sounded yesterday morning for a blaze towards the west end of the town. It proved to be just a grass fire in a vacant section and it was speedily subdued.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., James Callaghan, Washdyke, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for disobedience of a maintenance order, defendant to be released on payment of arrears amounting to £6 10/-.

As the result of the "clean-up” by the police during the week-end four men appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., yesterday morning. The charges preferred were as follows: Wilfred Francis Metzger, receiving stolen property, to wit a quantity of gelignite, fuse and detonators valued at £1 19/-; Cornelius Francis Ryan and Fergus Clyma, theft of a quantity of gelignite, fuse and detonators valued at £1 19/-, the property of the Southland County Council; James Henry Fairweather, receiving stolen property, to wit a pair of gumboots valued at £1 5/-, the property of Abraham Wachner. On the application of Detective-Sergeant Hewitt all four were remanded until Friday, December 18, bail being allowed in their own surety of £lOO and one recognizance of £lOO.

A “Parents’ Day” was held at the Waikiwi School on Friday afternoon, and was an outstanding success, over 100 parents attending the function. Attractive displays of handwork, drawing and writing, were made in the different class-rooms and the parents were particularly enthusiastic. The headmaster, Mr L. J. Clapp, addressed the parents and asked for their co-operation in all matters affecting the school and stressed the need of regular attendance. The Rev. W. J. Robertson replied on behalf of parents. Owing to the inclement weather a display of folk-dancing by the senior pupils was held in the Waikiwi Hall, where the juniors also provided some excellent entertainment in the form of dancing and games. The grounds and flower beds came in for favourable comment from visitors.

Birth: At Brown Owl Roof Garden on Tuesday, December 15, Twin Brown Owls. Both are making good progress.—Advt.

Silk hose for Christmas gifts. The newest shades from 1/I'l, 2/6, 3/6 to 4/11. Full-fashioned 6/11, 7/11 to 9/11 at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street.—Advt.

Shop and Save at Wicks’ Drapers. Big alteration of premises Sale. Every article reduced. —Advt.

I’ve Hitchon’s Ham and Bacon, too, A good deal I have bought of it, And now my home I’ll hasten to, Mother’ll be glad I thought of it.

Gift Suggestions: Initial Handkerchiefs 1/-; Parisian Ties 2/6; Mazon Shirts 9/6; Fancy Socks 2/6; Boys’ Shirts 1/11; Boys’ Hosej all sizes 2/6. Also Big Reductions off all Men’s and Boys’ Suits at Carter’s 'Xmas Suit Sale. (Advt.)

“Old Bleach” guaranteed fadeless coloured linens as gay as spring flowers. By a new process invented by the “Old Bleach” research chemists perfect penetration of the fabric by the super-fast dyes of the vat series has for the first time been obtained. This new process removes all the faults of imperfect penetration and in addition imparts an additional bloom, softness and beauty to the linen. You can buy coloured Old Bleach linen at Thomson and Beattie Ltd. in 36 inch width at 5/11 per yard. Cream and Oyster 4/6 yard.—Advt.

If you ask for and get Dewar’s Whisky, you will know you are being supplied with the best procurable. It is now pre-war strength, and consequently greater value on account of the greater spirit content. The quality is unequalled. The sales prove it to be the most popular of popular brands. —Advt.

The best gift of all A CAMERA FOR XMAS. GIVES LASTING PLEASURE; MAKES A HOLIDAY WORTH WHILE. Stewart’s have cameras from 7/6 upwards and every camera stocked is guaranteed reliable. Select your model now from STEWARTS PHARMACY, Dee street. — Advt.

Between now and Christmas the Ladies of Southland are to have the opportunity to buy Hosiery at half the price of what it would cost direct from the manufacturer to-day, the reason for this being that we are giving up stocking Hosiery and have decided to make a clearance quickly. Today’s price for this Hose throughout New Zealand is 5/11 and 6/11 pair, and our Quick Clearance Price is 2/9 pair. Only at The Mutual Fui Co« Tay street. (Advt.),

About 300 people assembled at the home of Mr James Hargest, M.P., at Rakauhauka on Saturday afternoon and a very enjoyable picnic was organised. The weather was perfect and the green fields and shady trees made an dieal picnicking ground. Races were provided for the children present and one adult race, the Coalition Handicap, was run, and was responsible for a great deal of merriment. The picnic was continued into the early evening and those who were present expressed the hope that similar outings might be arranged in the future. UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. A SOLUTION. The problem of unemployment during the winter months is engaging the attention of most of the civilized countries of the world. N.Z. Perpetual Forests Ltd. are assisting in its solution in New Zealand with their 200 square miles of softwood plantations. The maintenance of these areas, and the planting of further areas, requires the services of approximately 1,000 men during the winter season and necessitates the paying of nearly £lOO,OOO per annum in wages. When pulp and paper-making mills are established the number of men and women employed will naturally be increased by several thousand.— Advt. Here are Gift Books At Attractive Prices: Dr. Waddell’s charming volumes of essays, ‘The Fiddles of God,” and ‘‘Memories And Hopes” 3/6 for 2/9; popular 2/6 Novels for 2/-, 6 for 10/6; HUNDREDS of 6/- NOVELS for 3/6; Anatole France’s Novels 3/6 for 2/9; Everyday Essays (Crawley) 4/6 for 3/-; Oscar Wilde’s Plays 3/6 for 2/9; Solve the present problem by giving books purchased at the N.Z. BOOK. DEPOT’S GREAT RECONSTRUCTION SALE.—Advt. Where variety and value go hand in hand—is at BROWN’S, The Chemist. We have the finest selection of Cameras for presentation purposes. We are always the earliest with the latest models and our prices are the lowest for the best quality goods. We have not the right to succeed unless we are of real service to our customers, and in purchasing a camera from BROWN’S The Chemist, you get the service of a real camera expert who shows you how to use it, giving you a practical demonstration if requested. Call, and see our selection before purchasing elsewhere. Our stock is so great that we are sure we can please you. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist-Optician, 125 Dee St., where the good Camera Gifts are. —Advt. MISSING A GOOD JOKE. Many a good joke has failed to “go over” at the Talkies—because of someone coughing. Coughing at the theatre is like static on a radio, except that it can be cured. A dose or two of “Baxter’s” will end a cough by removing the cause of irritation in throat or chest. “Baxter’s” has fixed millions of coughs and cold over sixty years. It will fa yours. Get a bottle today. 1/6., 2/6. and 4/6. at all chemists and stores. —Advt.