TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 22009, 8 May 1933, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Plants and Human Beings. “Plants bend toward the light for the same sort of reason that human beings are able to digest sugar or to grow up. It is because a chemical substance, a hormone like insulin or pyroid extract, is produced on the far side of the plant from the light which causes that side to grow faster than the other. This was revealed by Professor E. C. Dodds, Professor of Bio-Chemistry in the University of London and Director of the Samuel Augustine Courtauld Institute of Bio-Chemistry, before the London section of the Society of Chemical Industry. “This same, hor--mone that is found in plants is also found in human beings,” Professor Dodds slated, “but we have not the smallest idea of what it does in our case. That is one of the fascinating things which remain to be cleared up.” Tasks of the R.A.F.

Sir P. Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air, reminded the country in a recent speech in the House of Commons of the importance of the Royal Air Force to the Empire which was charged with the trusteeship of territories still in the early stages of development. Without the police work of the Royal Air Force and its power to maintain law and order humanely, effectively and cheaply there would before long be widespread rapine and bloodshed over large areas of the world’s surface, he said. The credit or constructive side of the work of the Royal Air Force should not be overlooked at a time when, for obvious reasons, there was a tendency to concentrate more on the debit or . destructive side of its potential activities. The 586 men, women and children of 11 different nationalities evacuated from Kabul amid the snows of winter did not look upon the Royal Air Force as a destroyer (cheers) but as a saviour in a desperate emergency in which the other services were, owing to the barriers of time and space, poweriess to assist. The pastoral tribes of Southern Iraq, threatened with massacre at the hands of wild bands of fanatical desert tribesmen, who regarded it as a passport to Paradise that they should have extirpated with every circumstance of brutality all those who < 1 not adhere to their particular advanced brand of religion, irrespective of age and sex, equally regarded the Royal Air Force as their one protector (cheers) under the shadow of those wings they could freely pursue their peaceful avocations. The same was true of the tribes of the Aden Protectorate.

“The New Prussianism.” Mr G. K. Chesterton makes the following contribution to a discussion on “Germany To-Day” that has been proceeding in The Times: “In certain Liberal papers, with which on many punts I agree, I notice that there is a vivid description of the violent destruction of all liberal ideas by the new school of Prussianism in Germany; accompanied by the curious comment that this only proves how unkind we have been to Prussia and to Germany. I had imagined that our policy had been persistently pro-German and Prussian ever since the war; but anyhow, that is the moral they draw. We have been so unkind to the Prussians that we have maddened them into* dreaming (for the first time) of militarism. We have upheld France and Poland with such passionate enthusiasm upon every point that at last even Potsdam and Berlin have begun to dream of such a dreadful thing as drilling soldiers. Goaded beyond endurance, even the age-long pacifism of the Junkers has given way. And the discovery that even Junkers are no longer Quakers may well shake us with remorse for the depth of our crime. If this theory bo true, it does seem to show how curiously history is taught. I was brought up to believe that Bismarck avowed his policy of Blood and Iron before the Great War; that Prussia was a proverb for militarism quite a long time before 1914; that a German Emperor (still alive, as some say) definitely advised his soldiers to imitate the Huns who wasted Europe in the Dark Ages; that there were jokes in the English press, even at that time, about the Prussian proclivity for using the mailed fist;

that the Prussian annexation of Alsace was too stupid and brutal even for Bismarck - that the Prussian destruction of Poland (which the Prussians would now repeat) was one of the acknowledged crimes of Christendom. In short, I had somehow learnt, long before the Great War, that the Prussians were dangerous because, given their present philosophy, they neither feared God nor regarded man; or (to translate it into modern language) because they did not pretend to .aye either the international ideal of Christendom or the humanitarianism ot modern democracy. In short, because they were prone to behave at any time exactly as they are behaving now. The mere fact that we all said this steadily for six years does not in itself prove it to be untrue. . . . The facts of the moment do prove it to be true.”

Following is the official weather report and forecast: General situation: The last of the recent long series of westerly depressions has been crossing the Dominion to-day. An extensive anti-cyclone is now centred over southeastern Australia. The forecast is for winds, moderate to strong, southwesterly to southerly, reaching gale force in places. • Seas, New Zealand waters, rather rough to rough; eastern Tasman Sea, strong south-west winds to gales with rough to heavy seas; weather cold, changeable and squally with showers in most districts, heavy in places; hail probably on parts of the coast and snow on the ranges.

“Tire last month has been remarkable fo’r the large number of marriages which have taken place in the district” (writes the Rev. J. Mears, of Pio Pio, in the Waikato Diocesan Magazine). “Whether it is the fine autumn we are having that is the cause of it, or whether people really have been persuaded by the newspapers that the depression is lifting, I cannot say, but it is a beneficial epidemic and we hope it will last.”

The hard times have brought many stored treasures to light, and the other day a Whangarei solicitor was presented with an unfamiliar coin by a grateful client (says the Northern Advocate). The piece of silver was a five shilling piece, dated 1673, and bearing the head of Charles 11. A distinction from modern currency is noticed in the edges, which are printed, not milled. The coin has not been put into circulation again.

Again the Railway Department is in readiness to help parents and their children to have cheap trips by rail before winter reduces the urge to travel. The late autumn school holidays—a season which is frequently notable for an “Indian Summer” character—provide the opportunity for a stimulating change from humdrum routine. Warm, cosy carriages add to the enjoyment of safe journeys by rail to a wide variety of pleasant places.

The motor ship Alynbank, which ar-, rived at Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon from Nauru Island, had on board 8300 tons of phosphates loaded at a rate of 1000 tons an hour by means of the recently-installed cantilever (says the Christchurch Times). The actual time taken to load the ship was 9hr 25min. By the old method of loading by baskets from barges it would have taken five working days of from 6 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. to load (he same amount. See Railway Advertisement this issue re train arrangements Invercargill Races.—Advt. John Murray, coal merchant, Esk Street, Tel. 207, sole agent for Wairaki Coal, advises that this favourite coal is again on the market and is still sold at the reduced price for cash.— Advt. A whisky of character and distinction. DEWARS. —Advt. Mr A. W. Martin, the well-known Rupture Specialist, from Dunedin, is now on his twenty-eighth annual visit to the centres of New Zealand. He will be at the Southland Club Hotel, Invercargill, from Tuesday, the 9th, at 10 a.m. to Friday, the 12lh, up to 5 p.m., when he will leave for the Southland Private Hotel, Gore. Consultations free. Hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. —Advt. Results speak for themselves. Tavener’s Arthritis Prescription has revolutionized the treatment of this dread complaint. Hear all about this wonderful treatment, full particulars Tavener Arthritis Specialist, High street, Christchurch. Five weeks’ treatment 17/6.— Advt. News for the man! The winter suitings are all showing at Thomson and Beattie Ltd. now. New tweeds, worsteds, and guaranteed navy serge are offered, tailored to your measure, from the extraordinarily low price of 5 guineas. The suits are made entirely by local craftsmen in our own workrooms, and a perfect fit is guaranteed. Call and see the materials.—Advt. ECONOMY IN. CLOTHES is not a question of price but of value. J. H. Geddes and Sons, Tailors, Dee Street, offer their (genuine) Tailored Suits and Overcoats made in their own workrooms at prices that must interest you. (Sac Suits and Overcoats from £6 6/-). As well as studying your own interests you are also circulating your money in Southland to keep Southlanders employed.—Advt. Ladies, have your new winter frock or coat made at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street and you will get satisfaction. Your own material made up. —Advt. Good value for your money is our aim. Raspberry toffee 8d per lb. Try our malt toffee, great flavour. Ayson’s 2 shops, 5 and 72 Dee street. —Advt. All wool knitted hose, black and gray 1/11. Coloured cashmere hose, all new shades 2/6 and 2/11. Full fashioned at 3/11. Best value for your money always at Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Ltd., Dee street.—Advt. SIGHT IS PRICELESS; it has no market value. Sight can be . neither bought nor sold. It is a precious gift from the Creator. It is man’s duty to try to conserve and preserve sight. Do not abuse, but try to appreciate what sight does for you, by giving the eyes the care they require. Do not overtax them. When they become tired, rest them. If they need glasses, procure and wear them. Glasses should only be worn after a scientific test such as 1 use at BROWN’S PHARMACY, or they may do more harm than good. My careful test and exact methods of measuring and fitting glasses leave no room for doubt. Eyesight tested daily. Charges strictly moderate. Enquiries cordially invited. GEO. H. BROWN, M.P.S., 1.0.N.Z., Chemist-Optician, 125 Dee street., Invercargill. (Over 21 years’ optical service.) —Advt. '

“When Mr Gandhi went to London wearing his loin cloth people asked what sort of a fool this was,” the Rev. B. N. Eade, a Baptist missionary from India, said in an address in Christchurch recently. “But Gandhi said ‘this is our way of dressing, and if you do not like it you will have to put up with it.’ Some persons said Gandhi should have worn English dress when he went before the King, in due respect, but according to that method of reasoning, if the King went to India, Indians could expect the same of him.

At a meeting of the Society for Imperial Culture in Christchurch on Saturday evening Professor J. Sheliey recalled an experience in the United States when he met an educationist who had been round the world investigating educational systems. One of the questions asked by the latter was “Should the State, in your opinion, enforce on a school child the current viewpoint of art as being the only correct one?” In every case except England’s the answer had been ‘ Yes.

“No wheeled thing is allowed on the road—if you can call it a road—from Srinagar to Loh,” said Professor 'Wall in Christchurch on Saturday evening. “Either you walk or ride a horse, and I preferred to walk.” The distance was 240 miles, and altogether the professor walked over 500 miles. The roads in India are lined with trees, continued the speaker; in one place there were poplars close together on each side for a distance of 35 miles and each tree was numbered. “Perhaps this was a precaution taken to make theft more difficult,” he concluded. A Greymouth radio salesman is at present keenly interested in the Chinese, having a prospective customer of that nationality (says the Grey Star). He is also deriving considerable amusement during his demonstrations of the receiving set, and is acquiring a Chinese vocabulary. One evening recently a foreign station was heard on the ail, and the announcement caused much excitement among the Chinese who were listening to it. One of them explained that there was good news, and that a Jaapnese airship had been brought down, over 100 Japanese being killed! The antipathy towaids the Japanese had reached even to the Chinese in Greymouth. In the words of the radio man, “to tune in on a Japanese station is like stabbing them in the back. They all leave the room!” JOBS FOR WINTER EVENINGS— Buy one of our knitting books and be busy and happy. “Fay’s Book of Knitting and Crochet” 1/9; Leach s Knitted House Coats” lOd; “Leach’s Wonder Value Book”— containing very smart designs in pullovers, scarves and caps; “The Australian Home Journal Knitting book,” 1/3— very newest designs; “Weldon’s Sports Wear,” lOd; “Leach s Babies’ Suits and Frocks” lOd. Postage extra.—Hyndman’s, Dee Street, Booksellers.—Advt. Just opened up newest goods for Easter. These goods go in at sale prices with the stock we bought at huge discounts. Best quality worsted socks usually 2/11 reduced to 1/9. See Carter’s advertisement front page.—Advt. Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer, unable to use hands and fingers before, now after 3 bottles of Tavener’s Arthritis Prescription, fingers and hands quite supple and able to play piano. Write Tavener Arthritis Specialist, High street, Christchurch. Five weeks’ treatment, 17/6. —Advt. A NEW WAY TO BETTER GOLF. By Alex J. Morrison. This famous American teacher has improved the game of tens of thousands with this book. WHY NOT YOURS, TOO? Price 9/-, posted 9/6. N.Z. BOOK DEPOT, 49-51 ESK 'STREET, INVERCARGILL. —Advt. STUNNING! That is the word that describes the MURIEL ASTOR BEAUTY PREPARATIONS, the complete series of which are to be seen at STEWART’S PHARMACY. If you are interested in seeing the most reasonably priced and attractive Home Beauty Treatment on the market just look in at Stewart’s and see “MURIEL ASTOR.” Ask for the Muriel Astor free booklet “The Women Of To-day.” STEWART’S PHARMACY, Dee street. (Advt.) CATCH AS CATCH CAN. Now is the time when coughs and colds are chasing you. In and out your home. Up and down the street. But never let a cold get you down. Ward it off with Baxter’s Lung Preserver. “Baxter’s” is the best protector. Over 70 winters have proved it. Buy “Baxter’s” to-day and be prepared. At your chemist ox- store, 1/6, 2/6, 4/6.—Advt.