TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21854, 3 November 1932, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Tprrestrial Magnetism. Attention is drawn by Mr Arthur Lovell to what he considers to be a point of great importance in the treatment of insomnia as well as the cultivation of Sound ana refreshing sleep. “The influence of terrestrial magnetism on the human body is not taken into account by the medical profession, though irrefutable evidence has been adduced that about 40 per cent, of the human race are directly affected by it, he writes. “Reichenbach, the Austrian scientist, made an exhaustive series of experiments showing that sensitive, persons, healthy and diseased, are affected beneficially when sleeping with head to the north, and adversely in other positions, particularly so when head is to the west, that is across instead of in line with the earth’s magnetism. Reichenbach’s treatise was translated into English by two medical men, Dr Ashburner, of London, and Dr Gregory, professor of chemistry in the University of Edinburgh. Both corroborated Reichenbach’s conclusions.”

Decay of Teeth. Sir Leonard Hill, supervisor of the London Light and Electrical Clinic, stated in a recent address that decay of teeth was a disease and a disgrace to civilized nations. It the theory that a deficiency of vitamin D was responsible for bad teeth was correct then we should be able to get rid of the dentists and the tooth brushes and the dentifrices, but he believed that the trouble was caused by badly-balanced diet. There were certain well established facts about the decay of teeth. It was a disease of cities and urban districts. It was particularly associated with the period of growth leading to adolescence, and it could be prevented in children who were well fed and under careful control in institutions. Sir Leonard said he believed it to be a matter of discipline. Many children living at home were not disciplined nowadays in how to live and how to feed. He sided with the dentists in blaming sugar and sweet foods. The sale of cheap sweets and sugary cakes and biscuits was a chief cause of tooth decay. An excess of these sweet foods should be avoided. There was something to be said for the discipline of the Victorian period which was now so ridiculed and laughed at and for the Spartan diet of the schools when the boy who had money to go to the Juck shop was envied by his fellows. “One doesn’t want too much hunger, but I do believe children should run to their food like chicks run to their corn,” he said. “They should come to their meals hungry and with clean tongues.” Intemperance of food, and especially in sophisticated foods, was as bad as intemperance in the use of alcohol. The Film in Education.

The production and distribution of educational films was the subject of a report by a committee presented to the Education Section of the British Association. The case for the use of films in school, they suggest, is established, and further experiment can be directed to the exploration of the purposes which the educational film will serve, but for such experiments a new type of film is required. There is in existence a large amount of film material of high artistic quality, though almost entirely of standard size, which has real educational value; and the production of such films is being aided and encouraged by more than one of the Government departments But these films are of the general interest class; they are addressed to the adult rather than the child, and their use in the classroom can be at best only illustrative and incidental. The immediate need is for films, and especially sub-standard films, made for finite educational purposes, taking fuf account of the methods by which, and conditions under which, the education of the child and the adolescent is carried on in Britain. Of such films there are as yet none which are publicly available. On the side of the industry itself there is no difficulty. Many firms have incurred considerable ex. pense in devising and constructing suitable projectors and apparatus genei ally, and are only waiting from a lead from the teaching profession before proceeding to the manufacture of educational films. Such a lead cannot however, be given by an individual teacher, or even by groups of teachers for the expense is large and the industry must be sure of its market. The lead will have to come from some body not less representative than the Films Commission, which can bring to a focus the views and experience of teachers and film experts, and can, as a preliminary, arrange for its conclusions to be tried out in a few representative films especially made for the purpose. In the committee’s opinion, the silent film will in the long run replace the optical lantern in the class room.

The Dominion Meteorologist last night issued the following information: Barometers remained fairly high over northern New Zealand and to the northwards, while a series of intense westerly depressions has been moving over the South Island. Winds moderate to strong north-westerly to westerly. Still of gale force in places south of New Plymouth and Napier, backing to south-westerly in the south after about 24 hours. Seas in New Zealand waters rough south of Cape Egmont and in the Cook and Foveaux Straits areas. In the Tasman Sea strong squally west winds, later backing to south-west. Seas rough. Weather cloudy and unsettled in western districts with rain at times. Some heavy falls in Westland. Still mainly fair and warm.

A poll in the Hawkes Bay County on the proposal to change from capital to unimproved value as a basis of rating was carried by 405 votes. —Press Association message.

Regular contributions to the Mayor’s Unemployment Relief Fund amounting to £4 14/9 have been received from the following:—Staff of the Bank of New Zealand, Briscoe and Co., Ltd., J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., staff of Government Buildings.

A clergyman at Te Awamutu spent the morning of Labour Day looking for a license in connection with a marriage he had arranged to perform at Pirongia in the afternoon. He got in touch with the registrar and everyone connected with the ceremony and although he learned that the license had been issued, he could not ascertain who had it. The clergyman arrived at the church realizing that, if the license was not handed to him, he could not perform the ceremony. Inquiry was made among those present, and the document was finally located in the bridegroom’s pocket. It had been placed in an unaddressed envelope, and the bridegroom had not known what the contents were. The marriage was then proceeded with.

Both passenger and stock traffic have been picking up a little on the railways in Canterbury during the last week or so (says the Sun). The start of the country show season has accounted for the improvement in stock traffic. Fair orders have been received for wagons from breeders in the south and in North Canterbury who are sending stock up to the Royal Show, which is to be held at Palmerston North this week.

“If we could get 10 per cent, of the young fellows of this country to pledge themselves not to go to war, the Government would not dare to make war, because of the psychological effect of their resistance both on the Government itself and the other 90 per cent, who might want to go to war,” said Mr J. McCullough, president of the Christchurch Socialist Party, at a roundtable conference convened by the No More War Movement.

At the monthly sitting of the Winton Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Messrs J. Walsh and F. Moore, Justices of the Peace, judgment was given in favour of plaintiff in the following undefended civil cases: Commissioner - of Taxes v. E. R. Baird (Tussock Creek) for 4/4, Court costs 10/-; A. B. McDougall v. E. S. King (Kauana) for £3l 11/9, Court costs £1 16/-, solicitor’s fee £2 11/6; A. B. Macdougall v. W. Butler (Winton) for £7 3/-, Court costs 17/-, solicitor's fee 15/6. —Winton correspondent.

Claims that faith healing had been successful in curing a cow of paralysis were made by Mr A. H. Dallimore, who has been conducting in Auckland a campaign for the removal by faith of all sorts of maladies. “Three Sundays ago I asked you if you would pray for a cow,” said Mr Dallimore, when reading testimonies during one of his meetings. “The following Thursday Dolly stood on her feet, and on the following morning was out in the paddock. It was the power of faith that healed her—all glory to the wonderful name of Jesus.” He also announced that a sick cockerel had been restored to health.

Within recent weeks an effort has been made to start a Girl Guide and Boy Scout movement at Ryal Bush. Last Friday night a grand concert was held in the Ryal Bush Public Hall to raise funds to further the work with the young people. The programme was arranged and given by Miss Jopp and party from Invercargill. During the evening a most interesting and instructive address was given by Dr. Moana Gow, of Winton, on the aims and objects of guiding. Following the concert the floor was cleared for dancing.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., J. R. Smith, of Gorge Road, general merchant (Mr S. M. Macalister) sought to recover from Vernon Freeman, of Gorge Road, bus driver, and from the separate estate of Gladys Freeman, his wife (Mr R. Stout) the sum of £lB3 11/9, being the balance owing for the erection by the plaintiff for the defendants of a house at Gorge Road. The male defendant confessed judgment for the amount, but Mrs Freeman disputed the claim as against herself. After hearing the evidence on both sides, the Court said it was unable to find that Mrs Freeman had personally contracted for the erection of the house. Judgment was accordingly given for the plaintiff against Vernon Freeman for £lB3 11/9 and costs £9 13/- and for Mrs Freeman in respect to the claim against her, Smith being ordered to pay costs £8 11/-.

There was an appreciative audience in All Saints Hall, Gladstone, last evening on the occasion of a repetition of the musical pageant presented the previous night in the North Invercargill Hall. The entertainment, which was in aid of the funds of Holy Trinity and All Saints Church, proved most popular and it was evident that a considerable amount of painstaking care had been devoted to its preparation. That the audience was not slow to realize this was evident from the generous applause with which it greeted each item. Very effective costuming was employed and outstanding features of the programme were the Quaker, Hawaiian, Daisy Bell, Negro, Dinah and Poor Old Joe numbers. The dancing section was provided by pupils of Mr Alex Sutherland and special dances were contributed by Miss I. Mclvor and Mr J. Green. Miss Joyce Morgan, a pupil of Miss Rene Ward, also gave cleverly-executed solo dances, and the Scottish dances given by Miss Mavis Gregory in the course _ of the patriotic finale won her considerable applause. Items by an orchestra under the direction of Winifred Sanderson added to the success of the entertainment as did also a vocal trio by Messrs A. E. Bruce, G. Gunn and R. Roberts. At the close of the pageant the vicar (the Rev. K. D. Andrews-Baxter) and Mr D. Cuthbertson voiced appreciation of the work of the performers. Don’t fool with a gun that is loaded Though it be only in jest Don’t take any Ham that they give you Get HITCHON’S —the primest and best. —Advt. Three special numbers in silk hose “Wick’s Popular Wearer” 2/6 pair; Bonds Nit to Fit, 3/11; Thorpes pure silk Full Fashioned, 7/11. All to be had in latest shades. Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Dee street.—Advt. Quality and quantity. We give you a superior variety of sweets at 9d per lb at Ayson’s two shops, Dee street. — Advt. We do all classes of ladies’ and children’s dressmaking to order. Renovations, alterations and cutting out at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee Street.—Advt. Here are a few specials in the “Man’s Shop,” during THOMSON AND BEATTIES’ 50 YEAR CELEBRATION SALE. Railway saddle trousers, cuff bottoms, side and hip pockets, 10/11 pair. Twist shirts, all sizes, 2/11 each. “Suntex” interlock singlets and knee drawers, 2/11 garment. Flannel sports trousers, all Sizes, 11/6 pair. These are only a few of the bargains. Come in and see them.—Advt.

“Haere Mai” (Greetings)—the delightful cover design of the Free Lance Christmas Annual indicates the excellence of the contents. The free plate and 1933 Calendar is worth the 2/cost of the Annual alone. On Page 39 there is a striking view of Ben Lomond with the Earnslaw at the wharf. The aerial photograph of Mt. Cook on page 31 is impressive. The Otago Witness Annual features pictures of Wanaka and the Te AnauEglinton district, etc. Secure a Christmas number now at Hyndman’s, Dee Street, Invercargill.—Advt. BARGAINS IN CAMERAS. We have a few cameras which are slightly shop-soiled, but which are in perfect working order, and we are offering these at greatly reduced prices to clear. A glance at our window will convince you of the splendid values we are offering. This is a great opportunity to secure a NEW CAMERA at a BARGAIN PRICE. STEWART’S PHARMACY, Dee street, Invercargill.—Advt. Now is the time to mail your Christmas Greetings overseas. With such a variety of attractive books of Invercargill Views at 9d, 1/6 and 2/-. Suede Bookmarks and Calendars at 9d, 1/6 and 2/-, and the beautiful Auckland Weekly, Otago Witness or Star Annuals at 2/- each, no one need hesitate. The Christmas Mail closes next week. -N.Z. BOOK DEPOT LTD., Esk Street, Invercargill.—Advt.-