HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18585, 10 October 1928, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING.

Finger-prints. A review of the results obtaintd by the use of the finger-print system of identification of criminals has been prepared at the Registry of Criminals at New Scotland Yard, states “Public Opinion.” A comparative tabic shows that out of 6826 searches made in 1902, 1722 identifications were effected. In 1927, 35,917 searches were made and 17,427 identifications resulted, which bears out the general belief that the term “habitual criminal” is justified if such proof is necessary. “After the Anthropometric system,” states the review, “had been in working order for five years, the entire number of recognitions effected by it in 1900 was 462, and in 1901 was 503. During the latter part of 1901 the result of the finger-print method was beginning to be felt, although the new system had been iu force for only half the year, and the number of records among which search had to be made was consequently small. The number of recognitions effected is not the only test by which the. advantages of the system can be estimated. It has brought about a marked saving of time of police officers. On a moderate computation the money value of the saving thus effected nearly covers the cost of the establishment for working the method and all incidental expenses. The total number of finger-print slips on record is about 420,000. A gradual increase in the number of slips will continue to take place until all habitual criminals have been registered, and then only habitual criminals will require registration. Simultaneously the records of men known to # have died and of men apparently too old to commit further crime are being removed from the collection. By this means in a few years’ time the'maximum average number of slips will be reached. j; •„* ♦,* The Tile Trot Dance. A new dance called the “Tile Trot.” inspired by a cat walking on the tiles, was demonstrated in London to 500 members of the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, by Major Cecil 11. Tavlor, president, who introduced the Yale Blues. It is danced to the rhythm of the tango, and in the opinion of some of the teachers is likely to become the dance of the coming season. Another body of experts maintain that it is ugly and ridiculous. “It can only be jximpared to the cat walking on hot bricks, Mr Santos Sasini, the famous ballroom dancer told a “Daily Chronicle representative. “The dancing pub*lslarc tire d of paying high fees to learn sdly crazes like this. They are satisfied with the waltz, in which thev have a really beautiful dance. :< “Does Rot Know Danger.” ttMi ap TL in G * Garratt, of Colman Hill House, Cradlej-. Worcestershire, formerly of the 9th Gurkha Rifles, has been awarded th.e Albert Medal, for conspicuous bravery on three occasions during the last two years. At great personal risk he stopped a runaway horse and dray* at Kidderminster, and subsequently he saved the life of a woman in a Birmingham street by dragging her from the path pf a runaway horse attached to a van. Then, while motoring home, he saw a man fall into the river’Severn at Bewdlev. He immediately pulled up, ran to the edge of the bank and plunged into the river, which was in dangerous state at. the time, and with considerable difficultv stn'ceeded in rescuing the man. Captain Garratt possesses the D. 5.0., M.C, 0.8. E.. the Order of the Crown of Rumania, the Star of Nepal, the Indian Service Medal with five clasps, the Royal Hujnane Society’s Military Medal and the General Service and Victory Medals. He is 28 years of age, and is described as one who does not lmnu. what danger is. M 3 3 Boys os “Maids.” A proposal that unempioycn wy 9 should b trained as “male maids” was recently discussed by* Dundee Education Authority, who agreed that their Domestic Economy Committee should consider whether it would be possible to give older boys in the schools a working knowledge of “mending, darning, knitting and useful cookery.” The Continuation Classes Committee was also instructed to consider the possibility of holding evening school classes for training young men in housework and cookery, with a view to their becoming domestic servants. Canon Jobberns, who made the proposals, said he understood that there would be quite a good demand for boy*s, so trained, in all parts of the country. It would provide unemployed boys with some sort of a future. Some criticism of the scheme was made by Mr T. Quinn who said:—“l should not like to go to a door and have it answered by a young man with a maid's cap on. A mistress might have to go downstairs and ask the “maid’’ if he was going out with his wife." Mr Garnet Wilson: "He might smoke your cigarettes, too.**