FROM MY VERANDAH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4008, 4 February 1938, Page 5

FROM MY VERANDAH

NOTES ON THE .PASSING SHOW. (By J.T.P.) The Man of Great Importance. Te Awamutu is confronted, with the rest of New Zealand, by a year of unprecedented moment. Party conferences are already being held and are being filled with innumenable minutes. The Labour Party last night and the Nationalist “go’ next Tuesday, with the Douglas Creditites no doubt lurking in the offing. Truly t Mr Elector, you will be a very important personage this year; you will be flattered and wooed to your heart’s content. And when the numbers finally go up, it will be the same old story. Remember what happens after every election! The Army Convoy. It seems the irony of Fate that, at a time when we have a Labour Government in office and in power, a military convoy should be sent touring the North Island, the one and only object of which can be to stir the martial ardour of the people, especially of the young men—those War Babies, who were born literally to the booming of the guns and who have since grown into manhood. Consecrated as it is to “Peace,” Labour throughout the British Empire now realises that not Right but Might prevails in the world’s councils —and so New Zealand, quite rightly too, has tc keep in step and do her little bit towards her own defence in particular and that of the Empire in general. When the convoy visited Otorohanga, Te Awamutu and Hamilton, it needed little perception to see that “soldiering.” in spite of their elders’ knowledge of the emptiness of war, has a greater appeal than ever to the youth of New Zealand now that the army is being mechanised. Wherever the motor convoy halted its vehicles were immediately surrounded by people, awed by visible evidence of fighting forces such as they had previously seen only on the films. And yet this convoy represented only a drop of water in an ocean when the magnitude of world armaments and rearmaments is considered. To thoughtful peop’e, a shudder comes at the dreadful potentialities for destruction possessed by these modern weapons, but, in a world where the people yearn for peace- and the dictators make the pace for war, there can be no holding back if our cherished democratic institutions are to withstand the challenge. New Zealand, along with the rest of the British Empire, must be prepared to defend Right with Might.

‘•lff are Ready." In the circumstances it is well to realise and remember that rarely in a democracy has a major national issue enjoyed a reception more closely to unanimity than the impressive rearmament of Britain. British Ministers, in face of this unity in a democracy, may well be pardoned if they refer to it in tones of Mussolini or Hitler—in the tones of a totalitarian dictator. For instance, when addressing the National Trade Union Club in London recently, the Minister of War (Mr Hore-Belisha) let himself go in this language:

It is now established in Britain, and for the whole world to know, (hat this cohesive action will proceed with a rhythmic tread to the attainment of impregnable defences. Let it be realised that on this issue our decisions are inflexible and are at one. We do not halt between two opinions. We shall resist aggression on ourselves, our kindred and our ideals. We shall make ourselves fit to do so both in materials and in men.

The language and its metaphors might well have been used in Berlin and in Rome, and Mr Hore-Belisha was no doubt addressing the totalitarian dictators in their own language. At the same time he struck a doughty blow for democracy, as if to say that, when once put on its mettle, a democracy yields nothing to an autocracy.

Then and Now. Speaking to J.T.P. the other day an estimable old lady resident of Te Awamutu declared that the young men of her day never dreamt of standing and gazing at girls in their bathing costumes. J.T.P. quite believed it. for he has seen pictures of those bathing costumes.

And Happier Dai/H But this nonagenarian was even more caustic, and here are some of her other pronouncements: The young people get more entertainment and more pleasure in these days, but 1 do not know that it is better for them. When the working man was getting only 10s a week . . . they could not get much amusement with that. Well, I don’t know that they are happier now. . . We were quite happy in those old days, and there was more harmony and fellowship in the home than there is now. The changes have not been all to the good. People have a lot of pleasure, but they are always wanting more.

And, on this phase of the matter, there was no need for J.T.P. to essay the discourteous task of contradicting a lady, for he well remembers that as a youth—’em were the days—a visit to the magic lantern show and a thrilling ride on a “bone-shaker,” dashing madly over potholes, were the heights of enjoyment. But now the dangerous curves are personified by Mae West on the cinema, and an eight cylinder motor car on the sealed road. Deplorable, but J.T.P. still prefers the talkies to the magic laptern and the V 8 to the push bicycle. The Grand Jury. At a time when a special committee has been appointed by the AttorneyGeneral to investigate certain questions of law reform, among them that relating to the utility of the Grand Jury, the remarks passed by Mr Justice Johnson at the opening of the Supreme Court sessions at Hamilton 2 on Tuesday last are interesting as

well as significant His Honour, in his remarks, made it plainly evident that the judiciary in New Zealand is not in favour of the abolition of these juries, because “we consider they constitute, in the first place, a safeguard to the public.” This definite pronouncent is somewhat surprising when it is remembered that the position is at present being investigated—is really sub judice, to use a legal phrase—and that the system has been abolished in Great Britain. The function of a grand jury is to decide whether or not there is a case against a prisoner or a defendant to go before a judge and a common jury. The procedure is for the grand jury, having been first addressed by the judge, to examine the various bills of indictment, and tcdeclare each a “true bill” or “no bill.” If a true bill is declared then the accused person must stand his trial be fore a judge and common jury. If no bill, then the case is not proceeded with further, and the accused person is discharged. The grand jury has the right to call for the evidence of (he prosecution, but does not call for the evidence of the defence. Grand jury men must be men of standing of the district in which the court sittings are being held. The institution of the grand jury is now generally attributed to the time of Henry 11, who, by the Assize of Clarendon, 1166, required that in each county 12 lawful men of each hundred, and four from each township, should answer on oath as to robberies, murders and thefts, committed within their respective hundreds. What's in a Name? Despite the oft-repeated assertion to the contrary there is a great deal in a name in these hard days of commercialism. Two farmers of the same surname and almost identical Christian name live in the- same locality not far from Te Awamutu. The usual postal complications have ensued, so to get over the difficulty one wrote to the Waipa County Council giving full details of his personal address. Quite all right and correct, you will say. Naturally so. But the writer had a deeper and more materialistic motive for his request. “I get all his (the other man) accounts but none of his cheques,” he quietly confided in his communication. Niagara Falls. The view bridge linking Canada with America has been swept away by the pressure of the frozen waters of Niagara. The bridge is but a manmade thing. It may be replaced for the cost of it. But man cannot replace Niagara Falls. Three years ago a huge crag crashed into the gorge. The shape of the falls was altered noticeably. Man has had Niagara Falls under more or less accurate observation for the last 100 years or longer. The result is that professors will not guarantee Niagara Falls for longer than the next 20,000 years. The falls, in fact, are moving back approximately a yard a year. It has taken 50,000 years for Niagara to get to its present position. It will not remain there. For 50,000 years 5,000,000 horse power has been busy altering the shape of Niagara. In 1906 it was known that the Horseshoe Fall!? were 400 feet further from Lake Ontario than they were in 1843. As a matter of fact, various curious things have been known to happen in Niagara Falls. The falls, in fact, were dry for a few days in 1903, 1905 and 1912. Heavy gales choked the mouth of the river with ice, reducing the fall to a few tiny streams.

I Public Nuisance." A petition presented by residents of Finch Street to the Mount Albert Borough Council at its meeting the other night complained of excessive noise allegedly made by a family living in the street. A gramophone placed upon a window sill, said the petitioners, blared forth yodelling melodies sometimes from 5.30 a.m. until 11 p.m. It was stated that a boy in the household contributed a bedlam on tin cans, jazz rattles and other instruments. The Mayor, Mr H. A. Anderson, ruled that this did not constitute a public nuisance and so did not fall within the jurisdiction of the council. Alas, those endearing ch am s ! The Catch. Mrs Bawkins and Mrs Hawkins were having their daily chat over the fence. Mrs Hawkins inquired after her neighbour’s married daughter. “Oh, she's doing fine,” said Mrs Bawkins. “She’s got the prettiest little house, and lovely furniture, a nice little car, and she's never had so many frocks. The only thing is, she can’t stand her husband. But there’s always something.”

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child. The following note, picked up in the streets of Te Awamutu, lias been handed to J.T.P.: “Dear Sir, — “I wish to protest against the use of that small but painful weapon, the cane. It gives one a terrible feeling to be touching one's toes waiting for the penalty of some mistake. I’m sure something could be done about the matter now that the Labour Government is in power. Hoping that something softer will be invented for dry-cleaning in future, “I remain, “Yours truly, ‘ Sufferer.”

The Way of tin Transgressor. It has been truly asserted that the way of the transgressor is hard. Italy, for example, is finding it out to her cost. A cablegram on Wednesday gave a lurid account of conditions as they obtain in Abyssinia. As suspect ed, native chiefs still hold sway in the greater part of the regions where there are no roads, the Abyssinians every now and again emerging from the hills and jungle to harass the Italians. In truth. Ethopia, unconquercd for 2000 years, is still far from subdued. Consequently it is not surprising that reports of domestic discontent and unrest in Italy are becoming more frequent and more authoritative. No wonder then that the poets of this dramatic land are unable to supply her with an Imperial Anthem, for the composition of which Mussolini

recently offered magnificent prizes. The efforts were feeble, despite II Duce’s picturesque language about “the grandeur of events,” “the warmth of Italian battles” and “the heroic march which sings in the heart of the people.” No wonder, also when “the daring” deeds in Abyssinia, in the words of Bruno Mussolini, describing his air exploits, amount to this:

I get only mediocre effects because I was expecting enormous explosions, whereas the little Abyssinian homes gave no satisfaction to anyone bombing them. The incendiary bombs gave satisfaction; at any rate one sees the fire. We set fire to the wooded hills and the little villages; it was almost diverting. I began throwing bombs by hand. It was most amusing. A big "zariba” was not easy to hit. I had to aim carefully. The wretches inside, seeing their roof burning, jumped out and ran like mad. The warmth of Italian battles and the grandeur of events! No wonder that the poets and songsters cannot rise to the occasion! If, however, Bruno Mussolini had been bombing a town defended by modern aeroplanes and anti-aircraft guns what a tale he would have been able to relate. Would it have been full of “The Yellow Streak?” Freedom's Charms. Freedom at last! Always we have dreamed of freedom in this slaveridden Dominion. We are rated, taxed, over-charged, underpaid, trammelled, trounced, pushed, pulled, badgered and all that sort of thing. We have to pay for our dwindling privileges, bizarre politics,—and even our faults. But, hurrah, the hour of emancipation has arrived. Auckland, which is, of course, New Zealand, has blossomed forth with THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL FREEDOM ASSOCIATION.

What courage! What enterprise! What imagination! You can’t keep a great people down, and it now only needs some Mussolini or Hitler to arise and all will be well.

To arms, to arms, ye braves! Th'a avenging sword unsheathed ! March on, march on! All hearts resolved on Victory or death! Bravo, Auckland! Excuses Exhausted These present-day politicians, knowing a thing or two, are cute; realise when, in certain matters, they have reached the end of their tether. There are no flies on Mr C. A. Barrell, M.P. for Hamilton—familiarly known to all and sundry of his constituents as “Charlie.” He attended a Labour meeting in Te Awamutu last night and as the hour was getting late, he announced his desire to get home “You see,” he announced, “I am a married man.” And then he naively added, “When a husband has used up all his excuses for getting home late, he simply has to get home early.” .4 Complication. Poor old Bob Semple! He seems to be all the time up against a tough proposition in keeping the highways clear of the drunken motorist and the speed hog. With all his pleadings, threatenings and penalties, he is faced with a new and entirely unexpected complication. At the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton on Wednesday, a motorist who was charged with being intoxicated white in charge of his vehicle, put up a novel plea in extenuation of his offence. He was ordinarily a very sober man—and the police corroborated this statement—but he had got into a political argument in a pub at Ngaruawahia. As in all such political arguments much hoi air was created, with the necessity to cool it by indulgence in alcoholic liquors which subsequently “affected his driving judgment,” and led him into grips with the minions of the law. Ye gods and little fishes, what is New Zealand to endure during the ensuing ten months? The incident opens up an amazing vista of tragic possibilities. Magistrates and Justices have frequently declared that “Beer and Petrol do not mix.” Now we have an added horror in a piquant cocktail in which the chief ingredients are “Booze. Petrol and Politics.” What will the Hon. Robert have to say about it?