TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

Southland Times, Issue 22731, 6 November 1935, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

Rearmament Necessary. One thing is now clear, asserts the Financial News. Further consideration must be given to ffie . problem of national defence in Britain.. The rearmament of Germany, the imperialist aims of Italy and the advance of Japan into Asia have confronted us, whether we like it or not, with a situation inherently different from that which prevailed during the first dozen, postwar years. Whether this change could have been avoided by a wiser British statesmanship is immaterial. The new post-war era has arrived, heralded by the failure of the Disarmament Conference. Of all the Great Powers Britain has been the last to appreciate the change—partly because the threat to British security has only recently been realized, and partly because of the existence of a strong P ac mrt movement. But it is realized now, adds the Financial News, which goes on to discuss the rearmament measures considered essential for security.

European and African. “Aeroplanes over Africa may drop bombs on Abyssinian villages or may bring medicine and mails to hospitals in equatorial forests. The difference is between hell and heaven, although man in a machine does both those things. All the contrast lies in motive and in. the standard of values that rules motive,” writes Mr Basil . Mathews in his book, “Consider Africa. We see in that picture the alternatives that lie before industrial mechanistic civilization as it breaks in on the hundred million people upon that tilth of the earth’s surface which we call Africa. Baffling and even contradictory forces are cloaked under the apparently simple words, ‘African and ‘European.’ The end of the physical exploration of Africa was only the beginning of the still more entrancing exploration of the African. Whatever may be the goal in the mind of the European, the immediate effect of his coming is to begin to break in pieces the life that the African has hitherto lived.” Asia’s Teeming Millions.

In the great enigma of the future fortunes of the human race no factor is more important than the rate of increase of population in different parts of the world, says the Daily Telegraph. The calculations which were put before the British Association show a trend of deyelopment with potentialities demanding the most careful study. In Britain the population, now almost stationary, must be expected within the next 10 years, if present tendencies continue, to enter upon a steady decline. But a low birth-rate is not confined to Great Britain. In Western Europe, the United States, the Dominions, the old commandment to increase and multiply is no longer obeyed. Meanwhile the teeming millions of Asia are more fruitful than ever before. The British raj has stayed the ravages of plague, pestilence and famine in India, and the result is that her population has increased by a third in 60 years, by 34,000,000 in the last 10. Japan has for some time past recorded a yearly increase of from 800,000 to 1,000,000. We' have no such exact statistics for China, but in spite of the disorder by which she is beset it is reasonably certain that her 420,000,000 of people are fast adding to their numbers. What new measures in the coming years of this century will suffice to solve this Asian problem?

Last evening the Dominion Meteorologist issued the following information. —A depression has been crossing New Zealand to-day; an anti-cyclone covers eastern Australia and extends on to the Tasman Sea. Forecast: Winds moderate to strong south-westerly to southerly, rising to gale force in places. Seas in New Zealand waters rather rough to rough. Eastern Tasman Sea: Strong south-west winds and rough seas. Weather cloudy and unsettled, with scattered rain in most districts and becoming cold generally; later a gradual improvement setting in from the west.

A public telephone box is to be placed at the corner of Jackson street and East Road.

The members of the Blind Institute Band arrived by the 5.30 train from Gore last evening.

A donation of £1 1/- to the Royal Humane Society was made by the City Council last evening.

The last meeting for the year of the Sixpenny Clothing Club was held on Monday when there were 11 applications. The next meeting will be held prior to the schools reopening when applications will be dealt with as usual.

A telegram has been received by the Titiroa Dairy Factory Company from Mr W. M. Singleton, Director of the New Zealand Dairy Division, congratulating the manager, Mr L. McPhee, on winning distinction for an exhibit of cheese at the London Dairy Show.

“With very indifferent weather since the beginning of the month of October, the attendances have not 'shown the general increase expected at this time of the year, and parents are wary about allowing their children to start their bathing season until conditions improve. To date we are down slightly on last October’s figures,” stated the baths superintendent in his report to the City Council last evening.

A married labourer, aged 29, appeared in the City Police Court yesterday morning before Mr M. Miller, J.P., on a charge of wilfully doing an indecent act with intent to insult or offend a married woman. On the application of Detective T. Smith he was remanded till to-day, bail being allowed at £25 in his own reconnaissance and one surety of £25. A request by defendant’s counsel, Mr Gordon Reed, that his name be suppressed in the meantime was granted.

What might be termed a comedy of errors took place recently in a secondhand shop in the Auckland district. A visitor spied a small figure of Lord Nelson and went inside to buy it. The shopkeeper asked five shillings, at which the customer naively pointed out that the statuette had only one arm. “But that’s right,” said the vendor. “Not on your life,” replied the customer. “It should be only one eye.” “Oh, well, perhaps you’re right,” said the shopkeeper. “What about half-a-crown for it?” And so the deal was completed.

In Mr R. H. Dickie’s advertisement, in yesterday’s issue, for the sale of Friesian Bulls at the Invercargill Showgrounds on Friday next, the butterfat record of Lauderdale Sylvia Colantha was given at 2181 b, whereas it should have read 8121b.—Advt.

The sale of Jersey Cattle under the auspices of the Southland Jersey Breeders’ Cattle Club will be held in the Southland Showgrounds on Friday, November’ 22, not on Nov. 20 as advertised on Saturday.—Advt.

Samples—Samples. Here is an opportunity—Dainty Silk Locknit Nightdresses, beautiful English sample range. See window display. Prices cut fine at Wicks’ Ltd., Cash Drapers, Dee street. —Advt. Popular Australian Editions!

New stocks of Walsh’s Small Dark Man 2/9; Blackcock’s Feather 2/9; While Rivers Run 2/9; All the Anne Books 2/9 each: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley and others; Idriess’s Books 6/- each, Flynn of the Island, Drums of Mer, Lasseter’s Last Ride, Man Tracks, Desert Column and others; The Grey Battalion 6/-; Paterson’s Happy Despatches 6/-; England the Unknown Isle, Portheim 6/-; Wain’s The House of Exile 6/-; Rolling Down the Lachlan, Clune 6/-. All at Hyndman’s Ltd, Booksellers, Dee Street.— Advt.

Children’s sun hats, flops in boiling silk, fugi, floral cotton and black satin. Panamas, white and cream 4/11 and 5/6 at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street.—Advt.

Important news for young men. Carter’s Clothing Store have a large stock of the latest Suits in all sizes, also the Aeroplane High School Shirts have arrived; this Cloth is light, good Navy Dye and tough wearing. See Carter’s advert, front page.—Advt.

There’s never been a more timely sale than the present genuine Bargain Event now in progress at THOMSON BEATTIE’S. All Summer Drapery and holiday needs are being sacrificed during this firm’s Rebuilding Expansion Sale. The Showroom and Dress Departments are busy from 9 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. This is a sale you cannot afford to miss. It’s when you want bargains and the reductions are really genuine.—Advt. AFTER SHOPPING. What a pleasure after a busy day's shopping to sit down and sip a hot cup of Tiger Tea. How it soothes and refreshes. You can buy this full, rich, wholesome tea at any grocer’s for 2/10 per lb. Order it to-day.—Advt. Six only northern Musquash Coats, new goods, fresh skins, with a guarantee, an sizes, from 34 to 42 busts, at £3O. This is the finest value in the trade to-day. So nov’s your chance of procuring a genuine bargain that will give the wearer years of hard wear and service. We invite your inspection, and compare these values with any in the trade. Every coat carries our guarantee. THE MUTUAL FUR COY., Tay street.—Advt. STEWARTS ECZEMA TREATMENT for BABY ECZEMA And Teething Rashes. IT NEVER FAILS TO RELIEVE. Complete Treatment: 5/-. STEWARTS PHARMACY, Dee Street —Advt “THERE IS A TIME FOR ALL THINGS.” -Proverb And the time to attack a cough or cold is before it gets you down. Fortify yourself against attack. Always keep a bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver handy—quickly vanquishes chest and bronchial troubles. More than a wonderful remedy for colds. “Baxter’s” also has splendid tonic properties that build up the constitution. Chemists and stores, 1/6, 2/6 and 4/6.— Advt.