OUR LONDON LETTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19943, 30 October 1934, Page 12

OUR LONDON LETTER

THE KING BELIES A PROPHECY NEW CAREERS IN RADIO (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, September 20. Many years ago a fortune-teller told the King that he would have only a short reign. Since he is soon to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his succession, he can afford to smile at the prophecy now, but he is said to have half believed it at the time. The story is told by the late Lord Esher, an intimate friend of the Royal Family, whose "Journals” were published this week. The actual “prophecy,” he says, was made to Queen Victoria. She was told that she would have a long and glorious reign, but that she would be succeeded by two Kings who would have short reigns. The third sovereign after her would be named David and would have a reign as long and glorious as her own. King Edward's death after only ten years on the throne made people recall the prophecy, which was well known to the present King when he was Prince of Wales. Lord Esher says that he was “reconciled to a short reign.” As for the third part of the prophecy, it may be recalled that one of the Prince of Wale’s names is David —though it is as Edward VIII that he will come to the throne. Jubilee Stamps Britain —most conservative of all countries in the matter of new postage stamps—is making a striking departure to mark the Silver Jubilee next year. New sets of stamps will be issued bearing the heads of both the King and Queen. This will be the first time a Queen’s head has appeared on an English stamp since Queen Victoria died. Every Dominion, Colony and Protectorate in the Empire is also to have its Jubilee stamps. The Dominions will print their own special issues, but those for the smaller countries will be made in England. Radio—A New Career Leaders of the radio industry in Britain are planning to make wireless a real profession. Helped by the Board of Education, they are going to establish a training scheme for wireless technicians. Radio is such a young industry that it is safe to say that 90 per cent, of those who now earn their living in its various branches began their careers in some other way. But now the boy who is "keen on wireless” will be able to adopt it as a profession through a recognised system of training, just like any other branch of engineering. Even in the very depth of the industrial depression, while practically every other industry has been languishing, radio lias forged ahead. It is also one of the few occupations that are not overcrowded. In Britain alone there are some 10,000 wireless dealers, and each of these shop-keepers needs at least one expert “service man” to do repairs for his customers. Thus, in this one branch of the industry alone, there is room for many newcomers.. But the proposed training scheme does not stop at providing service men for the domestic receiving-set. Beginning at night-school classes, young men will be able to go right on to the University, if they show aptitude. No More Morse Meanwhile, in another department of telegraphy, one particular class of experts is disappearing. This week the Post Office sent its last telegram in the Morse code, and the last “tapper” retired. Henceforth there will be no more “dot-and-dash” in the Post Office, and all telegrams will be transmitted on the more modern teleprinter. The change means a considerable speed-up. By the Morse system about 35 short domestic telegrams could be transmitted in an hour. The teleprinter—worked like a typewriter—can send 100 wires an hour. The operator types in London, and the words are instantly reproduced on a tapemachine in a telegraph office hundreds of miles away. It has taken the Post Office five years to complete this big change. Not only have hundreds of the new machines had to be installed, but the telegraph staff has had to be completely re-trained.

An Arms Dealer On Arms While Washington has day by day been making fresh revelations of the international traffic in arms and munitions, it has occurred to an enterprising inquirer to find out what one of the English armament-dealers thinks about the trade. He sought out Captain John Ball, whose name has been mentioned at the Washington inquiry. Captain Ball is philosophic and unrepentant. He cannot understand why people are suddenly picking on armament merchants and abusing them. “We are no more responsible for wars than anyone else,” he says. “The bootmaker who makes boots for the troops is helping the war as much as the makers of guns. Arms do not necessarily decide the issue of wars. The Chinese only recently possessed the most moderii armaments in the world —yet three Japanese regiments and one armoured car were sufficient to capture Jehol.” Captain Ball declared that he feels no remorse in conducting his business. If people are looking for someone to blame for the horrors of war, he suggests they should address their abuse to the “top-hatted statesmen who hold conversations in the privacy of their own houses and weave nets of intrigue.” Photographed for a Job Men who seek jobs with Imperial Chemical Industries, the great combine founded by the late Sir Alfred Mond (Lord Melchett), are secretly photographed while they are being interviewed. Firms advertising a vacancy often ask applicants to send photographs, but Imperial Chemicals believe in getting the picture themselves. A camera is hidden near the staff chief’s desk, and when applicant sits down to be interviewed, he is snapped without his knowledge. “1.C.1.,” as the combine is familiarly called, have the reputation for employing the most modem equipment in Britain. Their headquarters on the bank of the Thames at Westminster is like a little self-contained city, with restaurants, club-rooms and gymnasia for the staff, and a terrace garden for the directors high above the street. The installation of this latest modern device .the secret camera, they describe as “just a matter of organisation.” The photograph thus obtained is filed away with the applicant’s letter and references. It helps the staff chief to remember faces.