TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 22139, 6 October 1933, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Australia’s Defence. “There is every warrant for a public campaign to impress upon the Australian people the duty of this country to stand up to its responsibilities in national defence,” states the Sydney Morning Herald. “But there is no' warrant for reckless representation of our position as one of peril, imminent, certain and inescapable. Australians are not naturally subject to panic, and wild exaggerations of predatory intentions by the outside world generally can only militate against the effect supposedly desired. If it be true (as is in some quarters alleged) that an attack which we should be quite unable to meet is inevitable “within the next two years,” then presumably most people will reply that it is no use trying to avoid our doom. Moreover, such alarmist utterances must provoke the public to demand more particular indictment of the prospective enemy and the evidence supporting the charge. The propaganda would thus become pointed against a friendly nation, and so would create a real ill-feeling, an actual spirit of hostility, in place of an imaginary one. The propaganda against which we protest must upon any examination impress itself upon all sober-minded Australians as ignoble and stupid.”

Adult Education. In a review, published in The Times, of a report by the Adult Education Committee of the Board of Education, Lord Eustace Percy, M.P., writes:—The old insistence on “liberal” studies, which has rightly characterized the efforts of the Workers’ Educational Association, seems now to be expressing itself in a catch-word which tends to dominate educational thinking—the catch-word of “education in the use of leisure.” That catch-word assumes too easily that society will continue in the future to mechanize itself even more completely than in the past, and that labour will continue to become increasingly specialized. It may well be that what we shall need in the future will be less education in the use of leisure than education in the art of independent livelihood. Needing this, we shall have' to be specially on our guard against official grant regulations or unofficial syllabuses which draw an out-of-date and artificial distinction between “technical” and “liberal” education. The board’s Adult Education Regulations at present apply only to courses of instruction “designed for the liberal education of adults,” and the report notes that “too often courses are put forward under those regulations because it is the only way of earning a grant.” We should be on sounder ground if we recognized that one of the main functions of education in the future must be to change the direction and the character of man’s labour.

Traffic Noise and Danger. The problem of traffic noise, which is shared by all progressive countries, is discussed by a correspondent to The Times, as follows:—“None can question the fact that a great deal of the noise would not exist if (1) heavy lorries were compelled to travel within their legal limits of speed; (2) all lorries with mechanical defects were barred; and (3) the so-called 'sports’ cars and motor-bicycles were efficiently silenced. Lord Buckmaster recently brought in a bill which sought to enact that it should be made compulsory for every heavy vehicle to have an instrument fitted which would record all speeds travelled, but nothing came of this, to my mind, most practical suggestion on account of the expense to the vehicle owners. Instead, the check on speed is left to the police; in other words, to the ratepayer, who, while suffering, has to pay for this unsatisfactory method. I say unsatisfactory because the presence of a trap is obviously spotted at once and every driver on the road is warned by signal. As regards danger, much has lately been written in favour of the reimposition of the speed limit for cars. Danger only arises when high speed is attained at the wrong time and/or place, and surely the way to meet this is the rigorous prosecution of offenders and the infliction of heavy fines when conviction follows. The principal causes of accidents are (1) cutting in, (2) want of care at cross-roads, (3) such speed round bends that the offender is unable to keep to his near side and finds himself in the line of oncoming traffic. In such cases prosecution should follow whether there has been accident or not. A speed limit of 35 miles an hour, as suggested by one correspondent, would not, even if adhered to, abolish the risk of accident in many cases.”

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states: Believing that the application of the word “ferry” to the steamer service between Wellington to Lyttelton conveys a wrong impression to tourists thereby discouraging them from visiting the South Island, the executive of the Canterbury Progress League has decided to write to the Union Steam Ship Company suggesting that it find another name for the service which itself was highly praised, but the name, it was felt, should be improved.

The Dominion Meteorologist last night issued the following information: Barometers are still high over most of the Dominion, but a slight depression has been passing in the south and a rather intense one is now moving off south-eastern Australia on to the Tasman Sea. Winds moderate to strong northerly to north-westerly. Of gale force at places in and south of Cook Strait, backing to southerly in the south after from 16 to 24 hours. Seas in New Zealand waters rather rough to rough south of Cape Egmont and off shore south of Castlepoint. Elsewhere smooth to moderate. In the eastern Tasman Sea strong northerly winds backing later to southerlies in central and southern portions. Seas rough. Weather unsettled in western districts from Taranaki southwardsand the far south with scattered rain. Elsewhere still fair to fine, but cloud increasing generally and later showers extending up the east coast of the South Island. Mild temperatures.

The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department advises that mails which left Wellington on September 5 per s.s. Maunganui, via San Francisco, arrived at London on October 2.

The following classes were inadvertently omitted from the prize list of the Kennington Flower Show: Girls under 15, Baking—Oven scones, Phyllis Findlay 1; shortbread, Margaret Robertson 1, Phyllis Findlay 2; sponge sandwich, Margaret Robertson 1.

The young woman, Dulcie Cameron, who was injured with Ray Hazelhurst, the well known footballer in a motor accident three weeks ago, still lies in a semi-conscious condition in hospital and is critically ill, states a Christchurch Press Association message. Hazelhurst is improving.

An old gardener of Christchurch said recently: “It’s going to be a very dry and windy summer.” "How do you know?” he was asked. The old gardener: “From observation. The magpies are building their nests closer to the ground this year, and I’ve always found this is a sure sign of a dry and very windy summer.”

Following is the return of business done at the Gore Magistrate’s Court for the quarter ended September 30: Number of sittings 13 civil, 13 criminal; total amount sued for £1460 6/3; number of plaints entered 152; number of distress warrants issued 6; number of judgment summons issued 29; criminal cases, male 72, female 2; fees and fines £2OB 0/6.

In reserved decision delivered at Wellington yesterday, Mr Page, S.M., awarded £62 4/5 to plaintiffs, Chapman, Tripp, Cooke and Watson, barristers and solicitors, against A. J. Richards, retired University professor, for legal expenses incurred by his wife in separation and maintenance proceedings.—Press Association message.

The membership of a bowling club can be divided into thirds, according to a speaker at a meeting of the Christchurch Bowling Centre the other evening. One-third, he said, consisted of players who were either good bowlers or could become good bowlers, and two-thirds of medium players, some of whom would never be bowlers. The medium players always ruled the club' because they were in the majority.

The weekly euchre tournament run in aid of the funds of the Dominican Convent, Bluff, was held on Wednesday evening. Mrs T. Whealler and Mr L. Mortimer supervised the play. The winners for the evening were: Ladies, Mrs Plank'l, Mrs R. Kirkwood 2; men, Mr M. McTigue 1, Mr T. Cross 2. The consolation prize was won by Mr E. Murphy, while the aggregate prizes went to Mr T. Finnerty (first half) and Mr A. Lee (second half).

“Naturally the American is supposed to be a worshipper of the ‘almighty dollar’,” said the Rev. E. L. Williams, of New York, at a recent luncheon of the Timaru Rotary Club, “but he is not so worldly minded as you are led to suppose. He is always out to get the dollar, but of the people of all nations, he gives it away most once he has secured it. It is not the possession of the dollar but the getting of it that interests him.”

“Too many supporters of Rugby attend the matches throughout the season only to see their team win. That is not the spirit of the game.” These remarks were made by Mr W. Copsey, one of the managers of the King Country team, speaking at a Rugby Union dinner at Christchurch recently (reports the Times). He said that the King Country team had instructions not to worry about the score but to take every opportunity of opening up the play and providing a bright game. The King Country Union was under no obligation to Canterbury for making the visit possible.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., William Francis James, of Dunedin, totalisator proprietor (Mr John Tait) claimed from Frances Theodora Horton, of the City Hotel, Invercargill, (Mr B. W. Hewat) possession of the hotel. The statement of claim set out that the plaintiff as the nominee of the debenture holders of the Popular Palace Ltd. was the registered proprietor of the leasehold estate; that defendant held as a sub-tenant the premises known as the City Hotel; that plaintiff terminated the sub-tenancy by a valid notice to quit on July 27, 1933; that plaintiff claimed an order of possession, rents and mesne profits from August 1 to the date of judgment and the costs of the action. The defence raised the question of jurisdiction on the ground that any decision involved the matter of defendant’s title. After hearing formal evidence and legal argument the Magistrate struck out the case, with costs to the defendant.

Daintiest and neatest goods in Babys Hoods, Hats, Dresses, Coatees and Underclothing. Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Dee St.—Advt.

Knitted Silk Suits for the Wee Boy 12/6 and 15/9. Don’t miss these beautiful little sets. See window display at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street, (Advt.)

Special purchase of 480 Mazon Shirts. These Shirts have Collar to match. Usual prices 10/6 to 11/6. Now selling at 6/6, all sizes. Also big range of Boys’ and Men’s Shirts selling cheap at CARTER’S Surplus Stock Sale. Sec Carter’s advt., front page.— Advt.

Bargains in confectionery for weekend: 1/- tablets 9d; 6d tablets 2 for 9d; 3d tablets 4 for 9d. Call early at Ayson’s two shops, 5 and 72 Dee street. —Advt.

1500 Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers cannot be wrong; creaky, swollen inflamed, stiff and painful joints restored to normal. Write for Free Book which describes how you, too, may be relieved of your aches and pains. Tavener, Arthritis Specialist, 183 High St. Ch. Ch. 5 weeks treatment 17/6 posted.—Advt. Whisky and lemons are all very well, but they lack the powerful germicidal properties of Mixture 98, when it comes to curing a cold or influenza. 2/6 bottle, from first class stores. (Advt.) HURRAH! A NEW BOOK BY JOSEPH HOCKING “NOT ONE IN TEN.” 4/-, postage 4d. At the N.Z. BOOK DEPOT, Esk street, Invercargill. (AdvQ

At the Court of Appeal at Wellington yesterday afternoon in the case Williams v. Williams, Mr McCarthy for respondent submitted that at most the breaches of deed, if there were any committed my Mrs Williams, rendered the deed voidable, not void, and that as Williams had not taken steps to cancel the deed it remained in operation for the benefit of both parties. Decision was reserved.—Press Association message.

Shortly after the Rangitata left Panama on its last visit to New Zealand it was found that a Chilean stowaway was on board the ship. The authorities were able to send him back to port immediately, however, but it was not discovered until later that the stowaway had secreted on the ship a large leather bag containing personal effects, apparently with the intention of making the trip in comfort. The bag is being returned to Panama on the ship’s present voyage.

The total export of scrap metal from New Zealand to Japan this year was 21,577 tons, of a value of £25,091. The Asama Maru recently took 5500 tons, including 2000 tons from Wellington. The Nankura Maru will take 500 tons next month. It is stated that practically all the scrap purchased will be used for reinforcing concrete. A Japanese private company is buying the metal and selling it to strengthen concrete structures, as the Japanese law now requires some metal to be used in building new shops.

Tarantulle has been famous for years as an Underwear Fabric. Orginally it was available in white only. Today at Thomson and Beattie Ltd. you can buy this excellent, proved cloth in pale colours, daintly relieved with tiny knots of flowers 36 inch wide in peach, pale green, sky blue and lemon at 1/11 per yard. Tarantulle is a Tootal cloth and fully guaranteed. Manchester Department.—Advt.

NOVELTY APPEARS HANDSOME. Something new and different generally has an attraction—for a while. It takes genuine merit to win lasting success and to retain public favour. Baxter’s Lung Preserver is to-day and has been now for many many years by far the best seller, simply because “Baxter’s” “deliver the goods.” “Baxter’s” is unique in its effectiveness, its payability and its unique tonic properties. All chemists and stores- sell “Baxter’s” in 4/6, 2/6 and 1/6 sizes.— Advt.

Rheumatism of the Joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis) is curable. If your joints have a tendancy to become creaky or stiff, don’t neglect Nature’s warning. 1500 sufferers claim that Tavener’s Arthritis Prescription has given them free use of joints again. Write Tavener, Arthritis Specialist, 183 High St. Ch. Ch. —Advt.

CAMERA CLUB’S COMPETITION Let STEWART’S PHARMACY make your QUALITY ENLARGEMENTS for this competition. Full particulars of competition obtainable at Stewart’s Pharmacy, Dee St.—Advt.

Why worry? Send your films to GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, and you know they’ll be safe. Expert developing brings out the best in each negative. The famous Kodak-made VELOX PAPER picks up the detail, softens too harsh contrasts and in all ways meets the amateur’s needs. Velox is made in three grades, and three surfaces. We use the grade and the surface best suited to your snaps. Careful return of all negatives. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee street. Make no • -’stake—BßOWN, The Chemist. We have no agents, post direct to us. Our prices have been considerably reduced.—Advt, -