PREMIER SCARED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 14

PREMIER SCARED

Trek from London Theatres and the Crisis especially written for "The Timaru Herald" by Charles Martin) LONDON, October 7. All the world knows that Mr Chamberlain’s first flight to Germany was also the first flight he had ever undertaken. The Premier’s attitude to flying is illustrated by a conversation he is reported to have had with the King at Balmoral. It was in the early days of the crisis. King George expressed regret that urgent Cabinet business should interfere with his guest’s favourite pastime. “Why not stay on for a morning’s fishing," said his Majesty, “and I will send you back to London in my aeroplane in time for the Cabinet meeting.” Mr Chamberlain, while appreciative of the offer, did not hesitate to decline. “The thought of flying terrifies me," he admitted, “I would sooner forego my fishing.” Five Neville Chamberlains If, as expected, the Prime Minister is awarded a knighthood, he will not be the first Sir Neville Chamberlain. There was the Field-Marshal Sir Neville who served in the Indian Mutiny and the first Afghan war. And there is still living the grandson of that distinguished soldier, the present Sir Neville, who is an ex-Army officer and a veteran of many campaigns. Lord Roberts appointed him to his staff during the second Afghan war and later made him his private secretary in South Africa. The old soldier, however, is hardly likely to be confused with the statesman. There are also three other Neville Chamberlains, and all have had military careers. War Scare Profits To some business men the war scare was an opportunity to make extra profits. In "crisis week,” when defensive measures were being pushed on at top speed, prices of materials needed for shelters tended to rise sharply, in many instances from 200 to 400 per cent. Sandbags, selling a few weeks earlier at 2ld each, were offered at 7Bd each. The jute trade experienced a boom. In more than one district there was a shortage of bags and I heard of firms offering substitutes made of paper. The danger of these, of course, was that the paper was likely to rot and let the sand run out. The price of sand increased threefold. “Keep Calm and Dig" was the poster message of one London newspaper. Londoners who were asked 10/- for a pickaxe which could have been bought before the crisis for 3/-, or 7/6 for a spade previously obtainable for 2/9, were not always disposed to keep calm about this profiteering. But they got on with the digging. Such instances as I have quoted, and I heard of many others, appeared to be due, not so much to the makers or to the retailers, as to dealers who formed a ring to corner supplies. The Trek from London The man who paid three times as much as he should have done for a garden tool, for trench-digging in his back garden, received more sympathy than the man who paid an exorbitant prices for a country house which now he doesn’t want. I hear of many such transactions rushed through at the last moment. September must have been a good month for house agents.

A revealing commentary on events was provided by the classified advertisement columns of the London newspapers. Hospitals, nursing homes and schools asked urgently for accommodation in districts not likely to be raided; but most of the advertisements were inserted by those with accommodation to offer. A spacious Georgian House in the West Country, described as the “best A.R.P. yet”, was going at £3,500; a Winchester cottage was to be let “for duratioh”; many properties, all “delightful”, were available in Ireland; and a "shallow draught Dutch yacht on the Thames" was offered with the inducement: “steel keeps out splinters.”

Successor to “Tipperary" If the tragedy had not been averted what song would have been on the lips of the British soldiers when they marched to war? When things looked blackest I joined a group who were discussing the probable successor to “Tipperary.” It was agreed that the "Lambeth Walk,” if harmonised and arranged, would be a likely choice. It was sufficiently remote from war to appeal to the British “Tommy” who in the matter of songs is unwarlike, if not defeatist. Did not one of the most popular ditties of the last war end with the words: “Oh my, I don't want to die, I want to go home?” The Germans, it was said, regarded this song as proof that their enemies were disheartened and ready to give up. Theatres and the Crisis The threat of war inevitably affected the London theatres. New productions were postponed and several had to be withdrawn. The chief casualty was Ivor Novello’s presentation of “Henry V” at Drury Lane. Tills lasted only a fortnight and was the shortest run at this theatre for more than 30 years. Shows held up for a few days included the rather significantly named musical comedy “Bobby Get Your Gun.” A satirical comedy entitled “Shall I Go To Prague?” by A. G. Macdonnell, was considered hardly suitable for the times, but the new crazy show at the London Palladium, “These Foolish Things” opened as usual and is scoring another success for Mr George Black. Covered in the King’s Presence A man who enjoys a unique privilege has just celebrated his 56th birthday. He is Lord Kingsdale, premier baron of Ireland, and the only man in the world who has the right to remain covered in the presence of the King. An ancestor of this Irish peer once performed a feat of strength and skill before King John. The monarch who was forced to sign Magna Carta did not lack appreciation of physical prowess." The feat was the cleaving in twain at one blow of a massive helmet and the reward was the right to keep his hat on before Royalty, a right that

was to be passed on to his successors for all time. Eyston and the Careful Drivers. London is preparing a tremendous welcome for George Eyston, the world’s fastest motorist, when he returns shortly from America. The celebrations include a dinner given in his honour by the world’s most careful drivers, the Guild of Master Motorists. The recordbreaker is to be made an honorary member —the first and only one. The Guild has 405 members, and all have driven for at least 20 years without being involved in an accident. Photographic prints of past licenses have to be produced when application is made for membership, one of the benefits of which is a 48J per cent reduction in insurance rates at Lloyds.