FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 143, 7 September 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN."

“OXE FIXE BAY " “Madame Butterfly” should be pro- ; duced by the Auckland Operatic So-, ! ciety. There must be some one here, surely, who can sing' “One Fine Day” ; —after recovering from the astonish- j ment of last Monday. HAKE BREAKS DOG'# XECK We were going to say that even a hare can turn —but it wasn’t the hare that turned in this case, it was the dog, and the hare broke the dog’s neck when the dbg went to grab at it. The dog is finding the tin hare, electrically propelled at a mile a minute pace or thereabouts, a very different proposition to the exhausted creature of flesh and blood he finally (sometimes) nabs out in the fields. The tragedy referred to occurred at Sydney, where 40,000 people turn out o’ nights to see the dogs chasing the tin puss.. What with the hares killing the dogs, and the dogs stopping in their pursuit to rend each other, the sport grows exciting. The natural sequence is that those people who condemned the old-time coursing as being cruel to the hare will now demand the prosecution of the tin-hare coursing romoters for cruelty to dogs. But since they started the sport over the Tasman, all Sydney is “going to the dogs,” and the parsons 'are condemning it roundly for its malign influence in accentuating the gambling evil. There are indications that Auckland will shortly be “going to the dogs,” too. Then w§ shall see —what we shall see. “DANCING MAD" The killjoys are on the warpath again in Sydney. They have revived the spectre of Sin in the Dance Hall. According to those who think we should live in sackcloth and that we shock the angels with a laugh, dancing is the Shame of Slieol. They say Sydney is “dancing mad” and wring their holy hands in horror. It used to be “bathing mad,” when the lass who showed those disgraceful things called legs was deemed to be absolutely scarlet and doomed to swim in the bubbling pit the great idea, being that God gave people limns for the special purpose of keeping them completely covered. When people who wrongly and wickedly think they have a right, to enjoy life are not “bathing mad,” or “dancing mad, they are “picture mad,” or “outdoor mad.” It will be noticed that they are not “church mad” when they flock to hear some popular or sensational preacher. FERRY SERVICE WAX TED

From the Watch Tower, the L.O.M. surveys the glorious W aitemata (when he can see through the rainblankets) and gazes oil charming St. Heliers. He looks for the busy ferry-boats that one would imagine plying with crowds of passengers to that delectable spot—and never a boat sees he. It’s a short, straight run by water to St. Heliers and a long way round by road; but there is no boat service. If St. Heliers were as close to the city of Sydney as it is to the city of Auckland, it would have an excellent ferry service—fast boats and a frequent time-table —and land within easy walk of the wharf would be worth £2O a foot. It is a fact that the splendid Sydney suburbs, such as Mosman, Cremorne and Neutral Bajb were made by the ferry companies, which acquired the land and ran the people to it a,t cheap (ares. They got it both ways; the land soared in value and when it was all settled upon, they raised the fares. Even so, Sydney ferry fares are really very reasonable. One hopes the effort now being made to resuscitate the St. Heliers ferry service -will be successful.

THE MAORI MAGNA CHARTA Have those people who roundly abused the Maoris for refusing to pay rates on their lands been “rushing in” where angels refuse to trespass? Ministers of the Crown, mayors, chairmen of local bodies, and even distinguished clerics have from time to time abused the Maori for refusing to pay rates, and have even advocated th 5 confiscation of their lands. Now arises a white champion of the native race, an authority on Maori lore, rights and customs, who quotes the Maori Magna Charta —the Treaty of Waitangi. And that treaty, Mr. G. Graham points out, gave the solemn assurance that Maori tribal lands were not, unless leased or sold, to be proclaimed under the Rating Act. If this is the position, the chances of recovering rates from Maori land, either on legal or moral grounds, are nil. It is not to be supposed that any Government would treat the Treaty of Waitangi as “a scrap of paper.”