FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By ‘'THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

REQUIEM The remaining Takapuna trams, some of which have heen sent to Dunedin, are to be converted into seaside “baches.” The trams that rolled ■ to Takapuna Have vanished from the Shore,: A more enlightened age would sooner Not own them any more. Across the lake no echoes trill, Nor grimy smuts the smarting optics fill. The tram that seemed, when time was scanty . Invariably late, Is now a handsome seashide shanty, With roses at the gate. And you’ll agree that, as a bach. It constitutes a most attractive catch. The typiste, clerk, and wealthy broker No longer ride within, Bound city-wards; instead, at poker, The lads exchange their tin. And no one seems to care a damn About the ancient glories of the tram. — T. TOHEROA. REVELATION Bibulous Christmas greeting received by a well-known Aucklander: “Bong swore cheerio same to you and many of ’em all swell.” The worst of it Is the telegram came from Masterton. PETROL FOR SMOKERU Although the long list of people who recently sought refunds of petrol tax did not Include thrifty owners of automatic lighters, the habit of using these devices is undoubtedly gaining favour. An Auckland retail firm, for instance, has established a match-lighter “bowser.” Best of all, it is free. This will save the proprietors of filling stations from the embarrassment of iiaving to meet small orders from .passing pedestrians. * * ★ WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST Hitherto unpublished details of the Vestris disaster are coming to hand in oversea files. While the rescue ships were racing to the stricken liner’s aid, New York reporters were interviewing Anthony J. Lewkowicz, designer of the lifeboat davits and skids carried by the Vestris. He said: “With my davits a boat with a full load can be launched safely by one man . . . and that, in spite of any list. The average time is 15 seconds.” But lifeboats did capsize and sink. Tackle fouled and broke, and some boats took two hours to launch. There were 13 children on board the ship. All were lost. There were 33 women, and only eight were saved. In the words of an American commentator: Women and children were first—to drown. BIG AND SLEEK \ That there are both well and illinformed journals in America is indicated by the following from the American weekly “Time” of November 26: “News that New Zealand had ‘gone wet’ by a big majority was hailed with hosannas last week by the wet U.S. news organs. The republican but wet New York ‘Herald-Tribune’ editorialed: ‘ln thus abandoning Prohibition after an extended trial, New Zealand follows the exampe of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Norway, Turkey, Russia. . . .

The world is going wetter, whatever the trend of Prohibition sentiment in the land of Uncle Sam.’ Aroused by this and scores of similar editorials, the U.S. Anti-Saloon: League, vigilant, called attention to the fact that most of the dispatches from New Zealand concerning the referendum were either poppycok in the first place, or were misinterpreted on arrival. The facts, are: New Zealand has never had National Prohibition; every three years there is a referendum. Nine years ago Prohibition was carried by a plurality. A majority would have been needed to put it into effect, and so it was not and never has been put into effect, despite erroneous dispatches. In the referendum of last week, free sale was carried by a majority, but since New Zealand has always had free sale, with certain common-sense restrictions, such as six o’clock closing of saloons, the vote merely signified that voters are more wet-minded than they were nine years ago. In the New Zealand Parliament ary election, held simultaneously with the referendum, the support of Prime Minister Joseph Gordon Coates was cut from 53 seats to 2S in a House of 80. No less sensational was the win scored by big, sleek, masterful Sir Joseph Ward. On the eve of the present election he united Liberals and Nationalists into his new Union party, and won a total of 26 seats. Outstanding are 20 Labourites and 6 Independents. The tendency of Labourites is more toward Mr. Coates than Sir Joseph. None the less, the Government’s majority has been destroyed, and the way lies open for dickering. Many who know Sir Joseph’s mastery of that art expect to see him again Prime Minister.”