TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 22345, 9 June 1934, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Romance of Science. The greatest advances of science were made by the disciplined use of imagination, said Sir Richard Gregory in a lecture on the relation of literature to science, but in that field the picture conceived was always presented to Nature for approval or rejection’and her decision upon it was final. In contemporary art, literature and drama imagination might be dead, but not in science, which could provide hundreds of arresting ideas awaiting beautiful expression by pen and pencil. With one or two brilliant exceptions, popular writers of the present day were completely oblivious to the knowledge gained by scientific study and unmoved by the message which science alone was able to give. Unbounded riches had been placed before them, yet they continued to rake the muckheap of animal passions for themes of composition. He did not wish to suggest that men of letters should devote attention to description of scientific discovery and endeavour to make the intricate processes of Nature intelligible in the vocabulary of ordinary life. Their purpose was not to expound scientific fact, .but to express stimulating thoughts in a perfect setting of words and phrases. They were not concerned with the statement of logical development or scientific principle, but rather with the revelation of human emotion.

“Soul Sickness.” The importance of special provision for “soul sickness” in abnormal times, and the necessity of guarding against prolonging special treatment unduly into normal times, was urged by the Master of St. Peter’s Hall, the Rev. C. M,~ Chavasse, in his presidential ad-

dress at the Conference of Evangelical Churchmen at St. Peter’s Hall, Oxford. The war, he said, and its aftermath had strewn the country with spiritual wrecks, and there were in consequence far more who needed adjustment, and that of a difficult and drastic character, than had been the case 20 years ago. Obviously, their cases demanded more than the normal and general administration which the Church could offer them. It was specialized and individual treatment that was required. It was as great a folly to legislate for the normal in times which were abnormal as for a patient when suffering from jaundice to plan his diet for the rest of his life. He suggested that cathedrals and certain churches might be used as centres where picked clergy could take it in turns to be on duty throughout the year. To such experts difficult cases could be sent and any might have access to their counsel who wished to remain unknown or desired some other minister of God’s Word than their own clergyman. But the great matter was from first to last for the minister of reconciliation to consider himself a physician of souls and to view with sympathetic imagination the fears and hesitancies of those who longed to be healed. Education in India. In a paper read to the East India Association, Sir James Crerar, late Home Member of the Government of India, surveying “The Logic of the Reform Proposals,” gave a leading place to the effects of English education. The decision for the use of the English medium, promulgated by an Order in Council in 1835, settled the controversy between what were then called the “Orientalist” and “filtration” schools of thought, in favour of the latter. Western culture and science and not the wisdom of the East were to be the goal of policy. Sir James Crerar pointed out that when the vital decision was taken there was in England no traditional model of State education to follow. The decision was taken on three grounds, so slenderly related to each other that much of the confusion that was later apparent might have been predicted. There was the ground, firmly taken by Macaulay, of the intrinsic superiority of Western culture. There was a genuine conviction of the equity of giving the Indian opportunity to rise, and there was the purely utilitarian object of creating a cheaper and larger supply of functionaries for the vast and growing burden 'of administration. The importance of bearing in mind these three purposes is often overlooked in present-day discussions on the subject. Eighty years ago another vital decision was reached at the instance of Sir Charles Wood, grandfather of Lord Halifax, the President of the Board of Education. Departments of Public Instruction were formed, and the Presidency towns were endowed with examining universities, based on the new model of the London University. Sir James Crerar has no doubt that this establishment of State education was inevitable. It was in harmony with the preponderant trend of opinion and action in Indian affairs. In . spite of manifest defects, he holds with Lord Curzon that “the success of imparting English education to India has been immeasurably greater than the mis " takes and blunders.” The educational system “has been by far the most powerful contributing cause of political developments in every direction, and has provided both the motive power and the objective in the Indian case for constitutional reform.”

The Dominion Meteorologist last night issued the following information: Pressure is low to the east but an anti cyclone lies to the west of New Zealand. Winds light to fresh southerly. Seas in New Zealand waters rather rough south of East Cape. Elsewhere moderate. In the eastern Tasman Sea moderate ' southerly winds and moderate seas. Weather mainly fine m western districts; elsewhere changeable with further passing showers, but a fairly general improvement probable to-morrow. Temperatures cold with many frosts.

At the request of the Railway Department, which is running an excursion from Dunedin, the Battalion, Band will give a programme of music in No. 2 Gardens at 2.30 to-morrow afternoon.

At the Police Court at Ashburton, Richard Harrison was fined £7 10/and costs £3 16/- for stroke-hauling trout at the mouth of the Rakaia river on March 2. He was convicted and ordered to pay 12/- costs for using a rod other than provided under the regulations and was acquitted of having resisted a ranger in the execution of his duty.—Press Association message.

The success of a secondary schools girls’ tour to Canada a year or two ago has led to arrangements for a much wider trip this year that is to extend over five or six months. It is to be under the auspices of the Society of Overseas Settlement for British Women, and is to be by way of Panama and Fiji Islands to New Zealand and Australia, and back by way of the Suez route. Owing to special travel concessions made because of the Melbourne centenary celebrations the cost is to be only £l5O. With the avowed object of enabling the school girls to see the most distant parts of the Empire it is difficult to understand the arrangement of the itinerary that allows two to three days in Fiji and five days in Wellington, the only New Zealand town they are to visit, and from which they are expected to see something of the country homes in the vicinity.

Last evening representatives of the Relief Workers’ Organization discussed with the members of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association the new scheme instituted by the association whereby returned soldiers at present on relief work could obtain gardening work, the householder paying 5/- and the R.S.A. the balance to bring the day’s wages to 10/- a day. After the relief workers’ representatives had stated the case for the organization, the president of the R.S.A. (Mr W. R. Mabson) replied that it had not been the intention of the association to reduce the standard wage for work to 10/- a day, but the scheme had been originated solely in an effort to assist unemployed returned soldiers during the stand-down week. He undertook to go into the matter with his executive and review the position and advise the Relief Workers’ Organization at a later date.

“Will there be no policemen under the Socialistic state, sir?” asked a debater at New Plymouth, challenging a questioner with socialistic leanings who had characterized the army and police force as instruments of the pernicious system of Capitalism. “Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, sir,” replied the questioner, in high excitement, There will always be offshoots of the Capitalistic state who require restraint, sir!”

So that a sailor, aged 66, could escape with a lighter penalty in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, a plea was made on his behalf that he was slightly simple-minded. The police representative, Chief Detective Carroll, obligingly subscribed to this view—and caused chuckles about the court—by murmuring: K< He is a married man and probably a bit simple. As a matter of fact, he has proved it. He got married at 65 years of age. ’

It is usually customary, says the Napier Telegraph, for the Maori people on the occasion of a death in their community to hold more or less protracted mourning ceremonials, but judging by the circumstances of a recent case near Napier, m which the least possible time was lost between the death and the interment, the stress of the economic situation must be effecting its pinch upon the Maori population. The death was barely reported when those concerned weie hastening the' funeral preparations, with the remark that “we want no tangi—or a lot of Maoris will come along and eat all our kai! The tangi expenses fall usually entirely upon the deceased’s relatives, who on this occasion were not disposed to be generous.

It is a coincidence that two men who were brought together by business interests over a quarter of a century ago and who have remained the closest friends ever since, although living the length of New Zealand apart, should have received the honour of knighthood on the same day (states th- New Zealand Herald). When Sir George Wilson, of Auckland, first came to New Zealand from Canada to inaugurate direct trade in wool and meat between the two countries, Sir Robert Anderson, of Invercargill, was one of the first to enter into the spirit of the enterprise and it was with the aid of his knowledge that the first branches of the Canadian firm of Wilson and Canham were established in New Zealand. Doth have taken a keen interest in the political destinies of the Dominion, but the fact that they have always been in opposing camps has not marred a friendship of nearly half a lifetime.

Warning tags attached to cars left unattended is a system in use in Auckland to deal with parking offences. The driver of the offending car, under the svstem in use, returns the tag to the traffto department, where it is filed. Unless the offence is a serious one, such as causing obstruction, motorists receive two warnings before legal action is taken. The new system has had the desired effect of keeping Auckland streets comparatively clear without recourse to indiscriminate prosecution, according to Mr G. R. Hogan, chief traffic inspector, in his annual report to the Auckland City Council. The report showed that 2172 persons received one tag, 298 two tags, 77 three tags, 21 four tags, three five tags, three six tags, and one person seven tags. The total number of prosecutions for the year was 790, as against 896 in the previous year. Fines totalling £606 were imposed, compared with £6OB in the year before.

Let us emphasize the fact that a (( n jP„ of Dewar’s costs no more than a nip of inferior quality whisky.—Advt.

Infants’ garments. Everything for baby. Come in and see the quality and our lower prices. Wicks’ Ltd., Cash Drapers, Dee street.—Advt.

Ring 1446 for first grade Coal and dry Firewood at moderate prices. H. T. Fairbairn, 101 Nith Street. Yard, 142 Earn Street.—Advt.

For an infant’s good quality outfit you cannot do better than shop at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street.— Advt.

Northern Musquash Coats are going up in price very much but we can still supply all sizes at the lowest prices in the trade. We do not sacrifice quality for price. Buy only the best, where you get a written guarantee (not promises) and be satisfied.—The Mutual Fur Coy., Tay Street—Advt.

2000 Pairs of super quality School Hose, 2/6. all sizes including High and Tech. Also big reductions of Suits and Overcoats at CARTER’S Winter Sale.— Advt. Stubborn colds and influenza quickly yield to the warming, soothing and germicidal properties of Mixture 98. The first dose relieves, 2/6 bottle, from all first-class stores.-r Advt. MRS JONES’ CHOICE. “I suppose every woman has her favourite tea,” said Mrs Jones to the grocer. “Mine’s Tiger Tea. I’ve used it for 40 years and it’s never disappointed me. It’s always good and refreshing and is the most economical tea I know of.” Mrs Jones is like hundreds of other Southland housewives who regularly order this famous tea. All grocers stock it at 2/10 per lb. (Advt.) Lace is Fashion’s Newest Decree for Evening Wear! At Thomson & Beattie’s Fancy Department, beautiful Tosca Silk Net, in neat pin-spotted designs, is offered for only 2/- per yard. This net being 54in. wide, only four yards is necessary to create an evening frock in the most elaborate style. See it today at Thomson & Beattie’s Fancy Department.—Advt. THE DANGEROUS STOWAWAY. This particular chap is on deck all the time, although you cannot see him. He is the cold germ, one of the many that is frequently hiding in the system waiting to make his presence felt when your vitality is low or when chills give him a chance. Be prepared with Baxter’s Lung Preserver to suppress an outbreak before it develops dangerously. All the family like “Baxter’s” and have learned to have confidence in this remedy, famous for over 70 years, and more popular to-day than ever. Noted for its tonic properties. Pin your faith to “Baxter’s.” 1/6, 2/6, and 4/6, at all chemists and stores.— Advt. CATARACT—The Veiling of Vision —Read what the late Dr James Moore Ball said when referring to “The Care of the Eyes in Old Age”: “Cataract is rare among those who in youth have exercised proper care of the eyes, and who, when necessity arose, were fitted with suitable lenses.” The best is none too good for your eyes. Have your eyesight tested by a trained optician. CONSULT—GEO. H. BROWN, M.P.S., F. 1.0.. Chemist-Optician, Brown’s Pharmacy, 125 Dee street. (Over twenty-five years’ practical optic service). —Advt. ASMA-TEA.” A proved and dependable remedy for suffers of ASTHMA and HAY FEVER.. Wonderful results are being obtained from the use of this tea —we can thoroughly recommend it. Price, fourteen days’ supply, 14/-. WILLIAM STEWART, Chemist, Dee street.—Advt,