FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By ‘THE LOOK-OUT MAN." GRIEVAXCES The creation of a “grievance day” once a month for the purpose of discussing questions of concern to tramway employees has been suggested to the Transport Board. “Grievance Day” for tramwaymen— Here’s a happy notion! All of us will second and support it as a motion If, with true fraternity. The tramwaymen agree To have a second grievance day reserved for you and me. Major fares for minor rides. Crowded city cars. Dearth of stops, long delays-, sudden jolts and jars, Strain for those who hang on straps. Cramp for those who sit. Inspector folk, timetables that alter quite a bit . . - Grievances of every sort (Those were just a sample Offered as a warning and a typical example). Yes, we’ll vote most gladly For a tramway Grievance Davit the man who shares, the grievance is the man who has to pay! —M.E. • * • CHURCH NOTICES Dear L.O.M. —Mention was made recently in your column of curious titles to sermons preached in Auckland on Sunday. Perhaps, ilie ecclesiastical mind is more unsophisticated than we give it credit, and this certainly seems to lie so from the wording of many church announcements. For instance, at the foot of one of the sermon titles you listed, “Purgatory,” the advertisement added, “Kyeryone welcome.” An American notice is said to have read as follows: “The sermon on ‘What is Hell Like’ will be illustrated with choral numbers.” Perhaps it was this that inspired those notices on two Auckland motor-cars recently: “Is There a Hell’ 7 ” “Hear Dr. French. E. Oliver and Be Sure of It.” * m * DAMNABLE!

It is to be noted that whenever politicians or public men world over are accused of nefarious practices, they face the impeachment with the word “damnable” on their lips. When Mr. E. G. Theodore defended himself at Canberra on Tuesday he described I.ho finding of a Royal Commission as “damnably false,” thus maintaining tho tradition. At various times, throughout the world, discredited men have squared their jaws, thumped their desks, and shouted “damnable!” And, to be sure> they have never failed to rouse a measure of public sympathy simply by the use of that expressive and aggressive word. If a thing is not ‘damnably false,” it is “a damnable lie.” Curiously enough it never seems to occur to the commissions of inquiry who place the facts before the public that there is a counter to this form of defence. They should learn to anticipate it and include in their reports a blunt assertion that their findings are “damnably true.”

* * * POLITICS AND SONG

Those who knew the late Sir Joseph Ward intimately are aware that he was one of the few Prime Ministers in the world who could pause in the midst of political activities and play a charming part in social affairs. Sir Joseph shared with every member of his family a love of music. He was the possessor of a very good tenor voice, and w v as always ready to sing a song, particularly when travelling at sea. He preferred a melody with a lilting refrain in which all could join. In this delightful respect probably his only rival was Mr. Lloyd George who, like all Welshmen, delights in part singing and folk songs, though he is not a soloist. In 1919 when the Italian delegates to the Peace Conference left for Rome in a huff, the representatives of 26 other nations showed deep perturbation. But Mr. Lloyd George consoled himself by learning, under the musical tuition of Sir Auckland Geddes. that plaintive Jacobite song. “Will Ye No Come Back Again ”

OBLIGING MATCHES Once upon a time, no Christmas number of any popular magazine was complete without an article devoted to “After Dinner Conjuring Tricks” or “Home Magic for the Christmas Party.” And no article of this type failed to include the lioary illusion of the safety match that struck without the aid of its box. Oue gummed a small piece of striking surface on the instep of one’s shoe, and struck matches thereon “to the wonderment of the children and the mystification of the grown-ups,” as the text of the article had it. This Christmas the trick no longer will excite admiration, for the simple reason that only the older and better brands of safety matches continue to justify their title. Today the market in Auckland is flooded with foreign-made wooden matches that styike anywhere and everywhere. The striking surface on the box is no longer necessary. Clearly the fact that one’s friends are able now to borrow a handful of matches without bothering about a box is a strong argument iu favour of British-made goods.