LETTER FROM LONDON

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

LETTER FROM LONDON

NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND.

PLAYING FOR TIME,

(Special to News.) London, November 27. Jlr. Snowden’s blithe assurances of bevter times ahead, and a trade revival in the offing, may well be interpreted as voicing the last desperate hope of the Government. Political agents are agreed that Labour stock in the country even more depressed than industry, and that in any election this side of Christmas the safest Socialist seat would be more likely to return a “rebel” candidate than one who would oe of assistance to the present Ministry. In such circumstances it is to time only that the Government can look for possible salvation, and that it will play for time may confidently be expected. Between the Education Bill, on which it is prepared to compromise regarding the date of operation, and the Land Settlement Bill, which has the benediction of the Liberals, the Government hopes to keep Parliament in a state of quiescence until Christmas. It is possible also that the compromising spirit may be shown to postpone the working of the Coal Mines Act beyond December 1. Once Christmas is reached the Government will be provided with a ..“funk hole” in the prolongation of the •Parliamentary recess. ' Something may, of course, turn up by February, and that is about all the Government has to hope for. 'WHAT OF OTTAWA? One or two members of the Socialist Cabinet, Mr. J. H. Thomas being certainly one, would fain have gone further than their colleagues thought fit to meet the Dominion statesmen’s fiscal hopes at the recent Imperial Conference. Meanwhile there is great interest as to the possibilities of the adjourned meetings to be held next year in Ottawa. By that date many things may have happened to change entirely the Imperial attitude towards the preference plan. Either a change of Ministry here, or the absence of any material change in the economic position here, would place the problem in an entirely different light'. At Ottawa, moreover, no constitutional questions will hinder full discussion of the far more practical and urgent economic ones. WAS IT SIR JOHN? The mystery surrounding a correction officially made to Mr. Macdonald’s speech at the Lord Mayor s banquet has never been cleared up. The reporters present took down the Prime Minister as stating that Dominion self-gov-ernment was the goal of India’s selfrespect and contentment, but that phrase was afterwards changed by an official correction issued much later' to “freedom in self-government,” but not before the original version had caused some sensation in India. I learn that the correction followed an urgent inquiry by someone who was listening to ■ the Prime Minister’s speech on the wireless, and was somewhat startled 'by the allusion to “Dominion” self-government. It would be interesting to know who the inquirer was, and whether Sir John -Simon includes listening-in amongst his recreations. R.A.F. REMOUNT'S. -Even the most implacable- pacifists on the Government’s back benchers can hardly object to the decision to spend about £600,090 on R.A.F. remounts. The 250 new machines ordered are essential both for national security and the safe?' ty of R.A.F. pilots themselves. The normal risks of R.A.F. service are high enough, without adding to • them, its sometimes has been alleged, by retaining old and risky ’planes in active service. A large number of the new ones will be Hawker Furies, judged the fastest fighting ’planes in existence. These are single-seaters, capable of 200 m.p.h.. and with great acceleration in their climb. These qualities make them specially useful defensive purposes in beating down bombing raiders. ARMY COMMISSIONS. There is a pronounced shortage of candidates these days for commissions in the army, and it is evident that the army as a career will have to be seriously considered by the authorities. It is possible that this shortage is due to the usual decline of interest in military affairs after a war, as has been the cage previously, and now has been strongly reinforced by the pacifist propaganda of the last three years. Again, the class from which the greater number of officers is drawn is not a rich one, and now poorer than it has ever been i -fore, while the uncertainty of the strength of the British army, particularly if Indianisation is to be introduced on a large .scale in India, where half the British army is stationed, makes it difficult for parents to risk sending their sons to Sandhurst if they run the danger of being “axed” in the prime of life. Lastly, although the financial return from the army is sufficient, it is not by any means comparable with the returns of civilian employment. It seems that it will require a wave of patriotism .to bring 'back the army as a popular profession. UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES. In the present economic depression there is a natural tendency to clutch at straws, and the current week’s decrease of a mere 1350 iff a total of over two-and-a-quarter millions unemployed may be hailed with some relief. It is apparent, however, that the small improvement is confined to temporarily unemployed, and the total of wholly unemployed is still on the increase. Such relief work as the State has been able to effect would explain the slight improvement in the general figures, but, on the other hand, there is some , sign that trade conditions are faintly reviving. We must hope that this -s confirmation of the expert diagnosis that bottom has now been reached in the depression, and that, however slender the evidence, a reaction is really setting in. A big responsibility now rests on the railway interests. “BLIPPING OVER LONDON.” I should have thought this the wrong season of the year to start the latest Innovation by the Croydon air experts. This is no less a' venture than daily aeroplane “blips” over London. The Imperial'Airways will convey any party of 20 by char-a-banc from any part of London or the neighbourhood to the Croydon aerodrome, and arrange to tour them over London on a circular tour of the metropolis' in one of the crossChannel air liners. The main object of the experiment is to stimulate airmindedness amongst the general public, but I should think, given a favourable time of the year, such an opportunity might invite a lucrative patronage. At the same time such parties will, at an inclusive charge of 10s each, be shown over the aerodrome, and have its manifold marvels and novelties explained. The latter experience alone would well .wMt-h. His J&gneji ' '

ANOTHER SWEEP. ' The Irish Free State - Hospitals Trust Limited,' encouraged no doubt by the great success of the Manchester November Handicap “sweep,” has definitely decided to run another, in aid of the. hospitals,'of course, on - the Grand National. As tl i Grand National is so essentially an Irishman’s race, for Irish-bred horses and jockeys have played a big share in its history, the “sweep” should appeal to Irishmen the world over. It will make an irresistible appeal to .Americans, too, wlio ar© mor© interested in the National than they are in the Derby. I. hear that £100,009 is guaranteed, which is £75,000 more than was originally guaranteed f r the Manchester race, which in the end realised nearly £660,000. It is quite anticipated that the National sweep will top £1,000,090. Many hope that there Will be more prizes than in the last “sweep” and duplicate first, second and third prizes. It would make undoubtedly for the increased popularity of the “sweep.” ' " THE LUSITANIA MEMORIAL. Trouble has arisen in Queenstown oyer the erection of the memorial to the victims of the ill-fated Lusitania, 800 of whom lie buried in the local cemetery. Mr. Vanderbilt, in conjunction with other American citizens, commissioned an Irish sculptor over a year ago to prepare designs. These were approved, and Queenstown’s local authority offered a site in the principal square of the town. The site faces the landing stage for the tenders that meet the Atlantic liners. Thus the memorial would immediately confront disembarking Americans., But the shopkeepers in the square protest that its erection there would mean loss of trade owing to its.obstructing the view of business houses situated immediately behind the structure. In consequence: of the local wrangle that has arisen, Mr. Vanderbilt and liis friends have dropped a broad hint that it would perhaps be, better if the memorial were transported across the . Atlantic, and erected either in New York or Washington as originally intended. SANTA CLAUS STRAIN. Most people who have thought' about it at all have probably surmised that the man who is Fath r Christmas in th© bazaa. of a. West "End shop hag a. nice easy job. I learn to-day that this is not so. It is so exhausting, and places such a strain on the performer, that breakdowns often result. One large shop, because of this, employs three men to act as Father Christmas, working two-hour shifts in turn. In a,two-hour shift the West End Father Christmas will probably have to shake hands with at least 350 children, and answer innumerable questions. He has to have his wits about ? iin all the time, and be a person of imagintaion, because. the modern child is exceedingly suspicious, and asks searching queries that have to be answered satisfactorily. Only a very quick answer turneth away childish wrath. MODEL COACHES. The models of the Spanish galleon, which everyone was buying five years ago, are not as fashionable as decorative objects as they were, and their place is now being taken by models of coaches.

Theise are reproductions of famous coaches, mad© with exactitude to scale, " and measure aboiit 14 inches iff length,' One of the most successful is a model of the State coach, used when the King opens Parliament, which is one of the finest examples of the coachmaker’s art. It was built in the 'lBth century, the golden age of coachbuilding, and hqs panels painted by Cipriani. There ip also a model of the original London-Edin-burgh mail coach, which made its first journey in 1785. MAN WHO “BROKE THE BANK.” A copy of Mr. Charles Coborn’s book, “The Man Who Broke the Bank, ’’ has been accepted by the Prince of AVales. Mr Coborn describes London life from 1852 to 19£5, and the volume contains some entertaining pictures of the Ifcst End in the author’s youth. The last time I met “Charlie” Ooborn was at a certain high-brow club, where poets had been reading their own works with intellefctual unction. Equally esoteric i musical items were included in the evening’s programme. Then Frances McAllum introduced her father, Charles Coborn. The metamorphosis of that audience s psychology remains a delicious memory. They mad® him sing four times the song that gives the title to his book, and by the time he had given them “Four Little Fingers and a Thumb” and “Two lively Black Eyes” they were completely humanised. , , - COTTON ROADS. A Burnley man tells me Lancashire is examining every avenue which seems to show a way to a greater use of cotton, and that no Scheme is too iffiprobgble to receive consideration. One of the newest experiments is the cotton road, on which a cotton fabric is used in conjunction with a binding and, surfacing mixture. An experimental section of roadway has been laid at Burnley, and is now under observation. Tfie idea is that the cotton road will have greater resilience than a road surfaced straight on to the concrete bed, afid will therefore have a very much longer life. I ani tojd that 20,000 square yards of the cotton fabric are required for a mile of cotton roadway. - ' LAYING DOWN MANUSCRIPTS. The young author iyho makes a success with one of his novels is often, pleasantly flattered by a cash offer for the' original manuscript. Dealers in books, especially in America, have been so much impressed by the high, prices realised by manuscripts that they are ‘laying down” manuscripts, like vintage port, in the hope .that they- will appreciate in value. There ate man„ factors that ; decide the value of a manuscript. The fame of the aiithor and the literary merit of the particular work are important, but the actual appearance of the manuscript is alio most material. A holograph manuscript is more valuable than one that is typewritten, while both are “improved” if the author has made irrelevant notes in the margin. One “gem” consisted or a novel by a popular author with irritated notes of tfelephohe conversations in the margin. '. WARSHIPS’. CHRISTENINGS. . The little hitch which occurred at the recent launching of one of our warships,

•when''the ' bottle of wiSe used at tM christening ceremony, -was not brqkes on the stem of the vessel until the third attempt, recalls an incident in one of the Royal, dockyards in the early days of the Georges. That incident resulted m a peremptory Admiralty order that •hereinafter the bottles were to be securely attached to the nows pyiu lanyard/ n-i*d the orddr has pe®n faithfully observed ever staco ta sponsoring vessels of the Royg.l Navy; in fact, it has become the practice at ajl launchings. On the occasion in question * Royal lady, who had /been invited to name one of the King’s ships, hove the ■bottle with more strength than accuracy. It missed its object altogether, and caused considerable injury to one of the spectators. The accident resulted ip an action at law against the Admir - * alty, and particulars of the casein still be sSen it the Public Record Office.

LAND OF THE FREE AND EASY, Al Capone’s arrest has caused as much stir in Aril erica as thi death of a dent. Since U.S.A? went “dry” officially the drink traffic his developed into a big business, attracting all thfe criffiiial activities in the. coiilltry, arid ilnibst rivalling in importance the film industry. Racketeering flourishes behind . * maze of political corruption and official graft, and Al Capone, uncrowned King of Chicago gangster gunmen, ranks with America’s millionaire r magnate- The disturbing symptom is', the public myopia to all this scandal. Even now action has been forced on the Govern-ment-by a fevv bqsihfess men, and the odds in favour of Al Capone getting off scot free are heavy. Charles Dickens seems to have been a fairly good jiida® of America. TOO MUCH PEFPEK? Pepper is essentially a speculatlye commodity. In Mincing Lane fpr eyety buyer who seriously wants delivery of thb commodity there are 20 who deal } in it speculatively. Just at the rribmfent all theta speciilatota are in a fine flutifer, owirig to the fact that a record shipment is expected from tH6 Eakt,. which exceeds 2000 tons. The result i< every speculator who is “holding” pepper has to find a real buyer within 10 days, or be forced to take delivery of a commodity for which, of.courta,,--e his no conceivable personal use. There ate not’enough r ®al users to go roujld. The reason for this situation is that tho export duty in ' the exporting country was reduced in October, and th® Ship- 1 pers, holding up shipments usually mode during August and September, in effect have shipped six months pepper in'one cargo. . • •' " e