In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23408, 15 January 1938, Page 6

In Town And Out

Southland Scenery Praised “I have never seen scenery that would surpass it,” said the AttorneyGeneral (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) on returning to Invercargill yesterday after a trip through the Eglinton Valley to the Homer tunnel.

Temperatures High The extremely hot weather that has prevailed in Invercargill for the past few days continued yesterday when a temperature of 74 degrees in the shade was registered. This was the reading at midday and the temperature did not rise during the afternoon. On Thursday the temperature almost reached the maximum recorded this summer, 81 degrees being registered. The readings on Wednesday and Tuesday this week were 75 and 76 respectively. Light clothes have everywhere been worn and all those who could possibly do so have sought refuge from the heat at the beach.

Parliament on the Air The effects of the broadcasting of parliamentary debates might be “partly adverse,” according to the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), who briefly discussed this question yesterday at the jubilee celebrations of the Drummond School. “At present,” he said, “the whole parliamentary procedure from 2.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. is broadcast—and perhaps we don’t talk so much after that time. There are parts, more of a conversational stage, which can hold little interest for listeners-in and might well not be broadcast. Other stages of debates are instructive and of real interest and these should give people a good understanding of the work we are doing.” Father’s New Role The worldly wisdom of the children of today and, incidentally, the varied attributes they give their fathers was mentioned by Mr W. J. Mackintosh in replying to a toast at the jubilee banquet of the Drummond School yesterday. A discussion his young son had had with a playmate formed the basis of the story. “Of course there is no devil,” said the child. “It’s just like Santa Claus—he’s your father.” A Man of Two,Parts It infrequently happens in a doublefeature picture programme that one actor has a part in both films. This was the case however at an Invercargill theatre this week. In the first picture, a shipboard comedy-drama, an inebriated young man supplied a good deal of the humour, and, when the main feature was being screened, the audience was surprised to see the same young man acting a small part—still inebriated. Labour Party Caucus A caucus of the Labour Party will be held at Wellington on February 10, when* it is expected that the Government’s national health and superannuation scheme will be the main subject for discussion. Innocence or Wit? How the dullest girl in his class for a moment gave him cause to suspect that she possessed rather a pretty wit was explained by Mr A. L. McCaw, a former teacher at the Drummond School, at the jubilee celebrations of the school yesterday. “At the end of the year,” he said, “she gave me a present of a handkerchief—a very nice one, too—a comb, and a bottle of hair oil.” The point of the story came when Mr McCaw ran a reflective hand over a head for the most part innocent of hair. It was his opinion, however, that the girl had had only the best motives at heart.

Cheaper Fares Advocated The opinion that more tourists would visit New Zealand if the fares from Australia were cheaper was expressed by Miss Dorothy Tangney, of Claremont, West Australia, who is visiting Invercargill. Miss Tangney said last evening that one could travel from Perth to Sydney and back—a journey of 14 days—for £l7, whereas the fare from Sydney to Wellington by the Awatea was £l9 and one travelled only for five days. It seemed strange that the much shorter journey should be so expensive, she remarked.

Y.M.C.A. At Hollyford Public works employees at the Hollyford are to be well catered for in every way in the near future. The National Council of the Young Men’s Christian Association is sending a representative, Mr E. C. Kingston-Smith, to the Hollyford to provide facilities for the men and their various interests will be adequately protected. Among Mr Kings-ton-Smith’s duties will be that of fulltime non-permanent postmaster as he will replace the present postmaster (Mr J. S. Wares), who will be transferred to Brunnerton (West Coast) in the same capacity. The change is to take place on Monday.

Prospects of State Coal Mines Increased production in the State coal mines during last year has more than justified the employment of 100 additional men in the mines since the Labour Government assumed office, in the opinion of the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb). Mr Webb said in Christchurch that the production of the State mines had greatly increased with the engagement of 100 additional miners, and as far as could be judged from the present indications the mines would have another prosperous year. Farmer’s Unusual Pet For two years a Springburn farmer, Mr T. H. Stevenson has had as a pet on his farm a hind which he captured when a fawn at Cloudy Range, Mesopotamia, and which, during the holiday period, has attracted much interest among campers and visitors from Ashburton. The deer is now so tame that it will follow its owner about, and to prevent it from being a trouble, Mr Stevenson has often to keep it on a chain. In spite of its rather unnatural conditions of life, the hind keeps in excellent condition. Use of Leisure How has the new leisure been used, asked the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.L.C., in his address at the opening of the Senate in Dunedin. So far, he said, the use to which leisure had been put, taking it by and large, did not tend to the uplift of the race by enriching life and pointing the way toward a great future. A glance at the leisure pursuits of the day was rather discouraging. The greater part of the reading matter which was in plentiful demand at book shops or libraries depended for its interest not on its valuable knowledge and information, but on sensation or mystery. That was in keeping with the widespread craving for the concocted emotions and the inanities of Hollywood. Escape from the boredom of vacant hours by these resorts was a mental opiate.