AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 94, 10 June 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

(Pvdac;, “Daily 'i’clfp;i-:ip!i.”) “MAIUMAUK SHOPS.” Tho proposed reform of tho mar- . in law, :is outlined h; the Actingrictniei, would go n long wn.v tou:;;ils abolishing the scandal <>i “the aia.iiagc shop, 1 ' which pci Imps can,iol, he i. ached I>>■ any otliei means.

,-',,)i!io of t.iesc places have been simply Ifor weaklings, who are drugged rtil.ii tin’nk, and in that state induced in go through tins form of the most ;’ol' am and irrevocable contract into which man or woman can possibly enter. This kind of “marriage shop’’ is also a feeder to the Divorce (Joint in auothei way. It is resorted to by scoundrels, who secretly many young gills, only with the view of alien uaicls doseiting them. Mr. Holman’s proposal is that' the responsibility for determining .whether marriages are permissible in the eye of tire law should rest on the District Registrar. I his will relievo the bona lido clergyman in the matrimonial agency, as well as elsewhere, from liability for mistakes that may bo made through the dishonesty dl those presenting themselves for marriage. It does not in any way interfere with the choice of people as to where they shall have the ceremony performed; it only gives some guarantee that fraudulent or illegal marriages shall not be celebrated anywhere. Possibly, in spite of any such guarantee, abuses will take office, but wore it only to minimise the evils associated with the latterday development of the “marriage shop” the reform would be a valuable one. Any proposal for doing this which gives a reasonable promise of success will be welcomed by the clergy, who are now often victimised by unscrupulous, persons, and whose interest arrv way is in preventing the marriage ceremony from being used for pur popes : of the cruellest fraud, ns it is liable to bo used under present arrangements. It will also command the sympathy of every citizen who, whatever Iris religious views may be, regards the institution of matrimony as fire basis of civilised society, and therefore necessary to be hedged round with all tire safeguards against abuse that can be devised. THE PROGRESS OF TEMPERANCE Tiro fact that within the past thirty years the proportion of public houses in Sydney has declined from one to 293 to one to 890, is a remarkable example of how public opinion in regard to, the drink traffic is tending. For every 293 persons, including men, women, and children, to have had to support a public house must have been an enormous tax on the people of a generation ago. It was impossible for such a number of publicans to make a legitimate living. These were the times when debauchees of both sexes kept up their revels all night long, and at any hour whoever had the price of a drink had a convenient bar inviting him to come and spend it. How could every 293 people, containing perhaps not more than 50 adult mates, keep up a public house without such assistance from the floating population of the city, who made night hideous in this way. There are now in Sydney a quarter of a million more people than there were then, while there are riearly two hundred loss public houses. Yet nobody finds it very difficult to get served with a drink during licensed hours. As far as that is concerned the accommodation seems sufficient for the demand. And there being a more legitimate trade I'oj the number of hotels in existence, the rule is that they coniine themselves to that sort of ‘business. Tfib suk iet bar,'”' in winch so many of the old style of public houses used to trade openly in vice, has now, according to the police reports, almost entirely disappeared. There are still a few places in which a stricter administration of the law might purify the moral atmosphere, but the Sydney hotels as a .whole are now conducted in a way that practically disarms critcism. AAith the weeding out of the redundant pothouses has also come a noticeable improvement in the quality ol the liquor dispensed, adulteration, if practised, being but rarely detected. AVliile not wishing in any way to undervalue the work done by ttie teetotallers in bringing this desirable state of things about* it has to bo recollected that they had the assistance of flic moderate section of the community, who want to see the liquor trade, like all other trades, carried on within the limits of decency, and under cifcumstances which afford a maximum of convenience with the minimum of what is objectionable. Much further contraction of the trade may possibly be brought about by working reasonably on these lines, but any •undue forcing of public opinion can only result in a re-action, of which the recent local option poll furnished a striking example. THE LAW AND THE DOCTOR. Tl lose people who believe—with or without reason, as may be—that their medical attendance comes grievously high will bo interested in the appeal judgment of the Full Court in ;i case where a doctor’s bill had been successfully contested. When the Full Court idled that the District Court judge was within his lights in awarding "'fifteen guineas whore more than that amount was claimed, it stated a truism, we suppose, seeing that there is no doctor’s “log'’ setting forth the fees he may charge for this or that operation or other service. Neither did the Full Court, by so deciding, determine what a surgeon should bo paid for pel foi ming tracheotomy, as was suggested in tne argument. One surgeon pro-eminent among many might rel'nce to perform any operation for a saiaik'i sum than (say) fifty guineas, arguing that the extent of his practice mads his time worth that sum;

and ht* could scarcely lie compelled to take less, oven if the Industrial Com I had made a physicians’ and 'surgeons’ aw aid—t here being no power cither to make a person work at his vocation who proleis not to do so, or to prevent him taking payment in excess of the scheduled remuneration. The' patient who has faith in a doctor will always he willing, if he can alford it, to give him the lugger fee if it is demanded. What the two Court;: most laipoi tanlly do is remind the public of its right to contest a doctor’s claim the same as that made for any otlioi sei vice, as well as of the plea rant possibility of success in I ho exercise of that right. Without expressing airy opinion oa this particular case, that can be emphasised as a jogging of the memory which seme oi the afflicted may find useful. Mcdica.' men are almost, if not quite, singula: among members of the learned p.lections in their readiness to rend:, novice to the poor. V/c see idi;r-. finely instanced in the freedom with which tucy give their time and a I Cvinmonts to the public hosi iials, i; tiie sphmdid willingness of leaders of the p; ofess ion io a I tend the indiger. t and in the in rah ul 1 1 »I ■ • I'umber o ; - cases in wide;: attenda-icc and treat mei t are obtained by thcc3 who pal paidv can never hop? to p.vv for then in lull, if I ) i'. '" anything at all. fhit h is unite i"( dngilde i- • ist. occasional! | i chaig'i.! are- madr, in ign iran;. ■I I' l ' p. d-i.'iif h: < ii cnnij, tiinccs or in ■- - p . '•' -.i-h-uod whenever ilia.'

\i< 1 i.ic Mil 1.1 Ihe hgnt oi Die j’.iricn!:;! comlil iour and without ciihcr urI>il > .ii i 1 • ii i:iteen or sweatmg the doctor. Sweet Econc;;.—T? <;!) two tahlespsouiids 'of bintcr liivdy into one pound ol' silted Hoar, add one tablespoon fn I of sugar, a quaicer oi a teaspoonin! ol salt, one teaspooni id of carbonate oi soda. aml two teaspoonfuls of (/cam oi Taitar. I; at up one egg, put halt of ii into a cup, with some sweat. milk, then add to the other ingredients, making a salt cl(>llj.r, h. Knead it a little on a (loured baking-board, divide it. into fi.o pieces; make them smooth and roll out, not too thinly: cut them into four small cakes. Pay them on a proa nod baking-( in, brush them over with egg; and lia.kc tlmm in a hot oven for ton minuter. Tv.o mine or. of Rid tanas, raisins, or cu rrants may he added. Tin:- dough should always? be handled ligidlv. These scones will be appreciated by afternoon calkin. Serve “Elephant’ blend tea. and your visitors will be delight'd. The tea has a ilavour all its own, and is distinct from every other u.i you have over tasted. “Eleoiiaui” hi":id brews a rich strong liquor and the texture being fine it maxes well with the milk. “Elephant” hleud us s.ld at 2s ‘2d liar 1 i>., and your grocer is sura to have it/*