In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 8

In Town And Out

Civil Servants Divided “One of the chief points of contention in all Civil Service organizations m Britain is the tremendous difficulty of moving from the lower division to the higher division,” said Mr W a Lyon. M.P., in an address to Auckland public servants this week. “I have been told,’ he added, “that the same distinction is becoming more and more evident in New Zealand. I hope that is not true.’

Value of Good Films “There is nothing more important than good films and, if the producers put out bad ones, it is our own fault for not insisting on something better.’ said Mr G. T Hankin, staff inspector and representative of the English Board of Education, in an address at the New Education Fellowship conference in Auckland. “I look for a film in which there is a reasonable story in which reasonably human characters act in a reasonable way. and in which sentimentality does not drip, drip, drip like water on a stone.”

Farmers’ Psychology “Farmers will take things from a man in the city almost as if he were God,’ said Mr W. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at its annual conference in Wellington. The wisdom of consolidating country schools was being discussed and Mr Mulholland was urging the advantages of consolidation. Country children needed a better education than they could get at sole-teacher capable as were the teachers, he .aid. ' The poorer facilities for education in the country were the cause of so many people brought up in the country suffering from a feeling of inferiority when they came into contact with others more fortunate.

Coroner’s Badge Found ,* “I have a presentation to make you, Mr Coroner,” said Constable T. Holland to Mr F. T. Snell, the District Coroner at Papakura, after the latter had concluded an inquest recently. The constable then handed to the Coroner Mr Snell’s own Justice of the Peace badge that had been lost for nine years. Mr Snell was shooting at Tokoroa, about 10 miles from Putaruru, in 1928, when his Justice of the Peace badge caught in a bush and was lost. A few days ago a settler was clearing this piece of ground when he discovered the missing medallion. He sent it to the police, hence che unusual presentation. The badge is in a good state of preservation

English and American Actors

“If Miss Katherine Cornell tours this country with a company producing such plays as ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘St. Joan,’ and ‘The Barretts of Wimpole Street,’ it would necessarily be a mixed English and American company In America we have no actors of the first rank to take leading parts in such plays—they are all English The American actors are good in character parts, but they cannot play the leading parts with the excellence of the English.” These statements were made by Mr Ray Henderson, of New York, who is in Christchurch to find out the possibilities of a tour by Miss Cornel: She is the outstanding' dramatic actress of the American stage at present.

The Unemployed “We have been inclined to look on the unemployed as a distinct species in society,” said the acting Minister ?f Employment (the Hon. P. C. Webb), at a conference of Auckland local body representatives in the City Council chambers. “They have been regarded as men who do not want work,” added the Minister. “That description may be justified in a few cases, but not in the majority. Indeed, the way in which the unemployed as a class have stood up to the difficulties of the last few years should be an inspiration to all of us. If we can get these men back to work we shall gain not only national assets from their labours, but also human assets in the regeneration of the men themselves.” Youthful Car Borrowers Three boys climbed into a motor-car in Esk Street a few nights ago, just after the owner had left for a brief shopping excursion in Dee Street, and drove off. The owner returned shortly afterwards and reported his loss to the police, who suggested that he should borrow a car and search the district. Acting on this advice he toured the streets and then went in the direction of Oreti beach, where he recognized his car travelling in the opposite direction. Pulling up quickly, he turned and the boys, evidently ' losing their nerve in such a crisis, stopped and were captured. Two managed to elude the grasp of the indignant owner, but the third was haled triumphantly towards the police station. The result of the escapade will be an appearance in the children’s court next week.

Melbourne Shipping Service All those who pay some regard to the interests and progress of Southland and its port of Bluff, will agree with the I league’s contention that this passenger! shipping service is an essential and I vital necessity for thL district (says the annual report of the Southland Progress League). It is now gratifying to note that the Maunganui (7527 tons) will replace the Marama (6497 tons) in the forthcoming summer. An announcement was recently made by the Union Steam Ship Company that the Maunganui will leave Wellington on its first voyage on October 26 next, and will maintain the service until it arrives at Wellington on April 7, 1938. This service between the South Island and Melbourne has been well patronized in recent years, and it is to be expected that with the entry into the service of a larger and more up-to-date vessel, the passenger and cargo traffic will be furthe. stimulated. The league trusts that the people of Southland will make the fullest possible use i of the service both for passengers and'i cargo. In this wa.. the development of I the service w’ll be expedited and so I bring nearer the day when Southland will have a regular passenger shipping ' connection with Australia throughout the year, instead of for the summer months only