FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAH” HARASSING, VERY One would never have suspected it of Mr. Harris, but since it is probably the first time he has ever been guilty of cracking a joke, his constituency might let him off with a caution—particularly as it is not a public offence, but merely inflicted on Parliament. Mr. Potter had referred to the proposed baths at Point Chevalier, apparently somewhat shocked at their being intended for mixed 'bathing by night. “A spot,” said the gallant Vivian, “which Aucklanders intended to make the Manly of the North.” Then up spake Mr. Harris. /‘This is wo-Manly, too,” he said. It 'was a Harrising experience for the House, which, dazed by the blow, adjourned to Bellamy’s at an unusually early hour. THE WORST IS OVER It may be taken for granted that the last of the clouds are being chased off the financial horizon by the winds of prosperity. When the farmers are optimistic all is well with the world. At the annual conference of dairy farmers, in Palmerston North, the chairman rejoiced at the increased yield of butter-fat and declared that the worst times were behind us. It is to be hoped they will not take a mean advantage of our position by giving us a farewell kick. This bucolic gladness is reminiscent of the gloomy farmer ' of Pukekohe. He had the finest crop of potatoes ever dug anywhere, and he was warmly congratulated by a local minister, whose church badly needed painting. “I won’t be gettin’ much out of it,” moaned the farmer. "Think of the terrible hextry expense in ’avin’ ter buy so many'bags fer sich a big *trop.” The Look-out Man told this one to a friend the other day. “The way I heard it,” remarked the friend, “was that the cockie said, ‘But look at all the good it takes out of the ground. ’ ” * * St “NGT FOR PUBLICATION ” The excuse offered by the Minister of Justice for Commissioner McIlveney’s intemperate remarks concerning crime in Auckland and the inefficiency of the Auckland police, is I that they were not intended for publication. Seeing that there was a reporter present when the commissioner made his famous oration to two of the detectives he was sending to help “clean up” Grey Street and other resorts ~of “thugs, thieves and rogues,” it must be presumed that Mr. McIlveney was not blind to the possibility of being reported. Mr. Mcllveney has been getting “the rounds of the kitchen” from the Auckland representatives in Parliament. They left no doubt as to their desire for publicity, and no doubt the commissioner, having read their remarks, will resolve to see that there are no reporters present next time he wants to let off steam. But Mr. Mcllveney is to be commended for his honesty, at all events. He faced the storm of criticism evoked by his remarks like a man, and did not, like some politicians when up against the consequences of injudicious remarks, unworthily seek shelter by declaring that he had been “misreported.” For that he has the goodwill of all journalists.

TMPORTIXG POTATOES The new regulations dealing with the importation of potatoes from Australia are not so very dreadful, despite the dire prognostications of some unduly pessimistic folk. It is merely provided that every consignment must be accompanied by a certificate from a responsible officer of the Department of Agriculture of the country of origin to the effect that the potatoes are free from disease, dug from clean land, and packed in clean new sacks. But the man who desires to sow a few acres with Australian seed potatoes will be faced with a stiff problem, for *such potatoes may only be imported by post, and in packages weighing more than 121bs. Also, they must be planted in ground approved of by the Director of the Horticultural Division of the Agricultural Department, and must not be dug without his consent. If someone with an experimental mind, a little spare time, and a few pounds to spare, desired a little amusement, he could manage to keep the Departmental officers fairly busy. Generally speaking, however, it is good to see that the regulations are merely common sense precautions against the importation of disease, and not “retaliatory” provisions against Australian growers, because Australia some time ago refused admittance to New Zealand potatoes on the ground that •they were diseased.