The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1931, CRICKET AND WASSAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1931, Page 6

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1931, CRICKET AND WASSAIL.

Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND.

Lady astor’s reference in Parliament to test cricketers and liquor, and Percy Chapman’s reply, are sequels to a discussion that raged hotly in England during the visit of the last Australian team. Mostly it centred round Woodfull and Bradman. Two anti-liquor societies rushed into print with letters received from Woodfull and Bradman, who stated that they had never touched alcoholic liquor, and did not require any such aid to their cricket. In his book, “With The 1930 Australians,” Mr Geoffrey Tebbutt refers to the matter as follows: Some people might infer, then, that the tests were a contest between tea and beer, with tea finishing in the ascendancy. ... I do not think it mattered a jot. As far as its bearing upon cricket results is concerned, let us dismiss this question of tea v. beer as nothing more than the coincidence that twelve of the fifteen Australians were practically teetotallers. It was a useful newspaper topic, and scientists could perhaps demonstrate that Blank would never have been caught at the wicket had he taken tea instead of beer at his dinner the night before, but its importance in the reconstruction of the fight for the Ashes is negligible. It should not be imagined from this that the 1930 Australians were a dull crowd and averse to sociability, for later on in the same book the author, referring to the match against Gloucestershire, says:— “Not too much importance need be attached to the result, a tie. Richardson put the county in as much because the Australians had fagged themselves out singing and celebrating after the great final test, as because the wicket was rather nasty. They were all glad they did not have to bat that day!” Evidently, therefore, some of the Australians sat late round the festive board when occasion demanded it and pledged each other’s healths, but whether in tea or beer we know not. Chapman urges Lady Astor to seek information from Richardson, Kippax, Ponsford, Grimmett, Oldfield and Hornibrook, and, if these well-known cricketers could be persuaded to mount into the wit-ness-box and give their testimony, some finality might be reached on this important topic, particularly if the cross-examination were in skilful hands.

TALK AND DOLLARS. English politicians are learning to esteem their American cousins, the rich relations. They pay periodic visits to tell them so, and now it is Mr Winstoii Churchill’s turn again. A cablegram to-day states that he has undertaken a lecture tour of the United States during October and November and one of his subjects will be the future of the Englishspeaking peoples. It is merely incidental, of course, that the first £IO,OOO which Mr Churchill ever earned was made lecturing in America. When he came back he handed the money over to a financial friend saying: “Please take care of these birds for me,” and ever since, to use his own words, “ they have been breeding a flock of chickens every year.” This is something to appreciate. The idealists of England and America dream of a stronger union between the two nations, and there is no reason why the silver-tongued orators of Britain should not combine business with their wooing. Marriages of convenience are not so unpopular in America, and men and nations may forgive the mercenary motives of peripatetic politicians.

FLYING FOR BEAUTY. /"\NK WONDERS if the secret of '“ the increasing fascination in flying for women has at last been revealed in Miss Pauline Gower’s naive remark that “it is the most marvellous thing ever known for the complexion.” The enigma of tender femininity enduring the rigours of long flights has not been explained satisfactorily hitherto, but when one considers that the fair sex, all devotees of beauty, have now the choice between a flight or a face massage, it must be conceded that a flight has undoubtedly the greater appeal, and, one is convinced, the greater efficacy. The interest in the culture of the complexion never wanes. Two American girls on a recent endurance flying stunt, after they had been in the air for seventeen hours, begged for some breakfast and a mirror, but most desperately for a mirror. Habits and manners change, but in one ease Eve is changeless.