FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 10

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By the LOOK-OUT MAN. PROFESSIONAL SALARIES If anything was needed to emphasise the reason why New Zealand brains leave New Zealand, it is in the most recent illustration of the poor salaries paid professional men in this country. The Government of Western Australia could not find one qualified surveyor in all the Commonwealth to accept any one of six positions available, because the salaries offered were below the minimum paid in any of the other States, being, in some instances, “lower than those paid the surveyors’ motor-drivers.” Yet six surveyors from New Zealand were found to fill the positions, because the pay, though lower than that prevailing in the States other than Western Australia, was much higher than that obtainable in New Zealand. There are said to be 60,000 New Zealanders resident in Australia, and New Zealand is the poorer for their loss; but until brains are more adequately recompensed, brainy young New Zealanders will continue to leave their native land in search of recognition. MEN TO BE OUTVOTED Cabled news regarding women’s position in the political life in England recalls that the Government of Great Britain has promised to pass a measure before the next General Election that will give equal voting power to men and women at the age of 21. And a stern controversy is in progress, there being no lack of vigour on the part‘of either the “fors” or “againsts.” The change will make an immense difference in the respective strengths of men and women voters, for it is estimated that no fewer than 4 million women will be added to the electoral rolls by reducing the age at which they may vote from 25 to 21 years. A FEMININE MAJORITY To the contention that women are not entitled to the same franchise as men, because they do not perform services equal to those rendered by men—soldiering, for instance, the “Daily Herald” reminds those who hold this theory that “the bearers of children do a far greater service to humanity than the bearers of arms have ever done.” Seeing that women bring children into the world, while soldiers put people out of it, there appears a lot of truth in the “Daily Herald’s” rebuke. But when the voting power is equalised, something will have happened that has never happened before in any country or constitution. Women will be in a dedecided majority, the estimate of the franchise being: Men, 12,697,799; women 13,592,922. If they use their power for the achievement of complete feminine dominance, England will have “petticoat government” with a vengeance.

* * * SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT

A significant resolution was passed by a Main Trunk local authority at its last meeting. This was to inform the proprietors of the local picture shows that they could not hold further Sunday night “charity” entertainments unless the profits for charity were- at least £l. Auckland proprietors would gladly donate £1 to charity for the right to give Sunday night programmes. We could then demand some of that “moral idealism” in our films of which the Council of Christian Congregations spoke recently. But the Auckland City Council is against Sunday entertainments. In this it is in conflict with Continental and a lot of American opinion, but it is in line with Manchester —good old Manchester, where they "put the blutcher in” to make a brawl worth while! Iq. a ballot conducted by the “Evening News” recently only 37,609 people voted in favour of Sunday games in public parks, while 198,663 voted against. The vote for Sunday cinemas was 30,078, and that against was 235,721. Thus did the Manchesters “remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” It would be interesting to learn how Aucklanders would vote on these questions.

PENALTY OF FAME Some people are not as well or widely known as they consider them selves to be. This should have been proved to a gentleman who stood for Parliament at the last general elections —and polled a vote that wasn’t worth talking about. But the vanity of some people is incurable. “Come with me—everyone knows me; i’ll show you around,” said this gentleman to a new- arrival in Auckland the other day. The visitor, a discerning sort of person, noticed that though Mr. Blink pointed out a great number of people Mr. Blink knew-, no one seemed to know Mr. Blink. In this connection pretentious Aucklanders (or others) might be referred to the story of Irving, when he took Tennyson for a drive in Battersea Park. Irving stopped the hansom and the pair proceeded to walk. At that time it was probable that for one person who knew Tennyson by sight, at least a hundred knew Irving. A small crowd collected, and the pair returned to the cab. “I told you so,” growled Tennyson. “Immediately I show my face in public a crowd collects. It's a detestable nuisance!”