People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 298, 16 December 1931, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Sam Hardy Visited New Zealand with Davis Cup Team of 1920 : Some Humours of Championship Tennis : The Salaries Paid by the League of Nations.

'JMIE ESTIMATE of the League of Nations

Budget for 1932, as reported by Sir Eric Drummond, Secretary-General, is just over £1,400,000 —an increase of £160,000 over this year, and nearly £400,000 over the Budget of four years ago. And the League of

Nations has no doles to pay out. Britain will be expected to contribute 10£ per cent of the Budget for next year, bankrupt Germany 8 per cent. Wealthy France pays no more than Germany. These figures do not take into account more than a small proportion of the cost of the New League of Nations Palace on the

shores of Lac Leman. The architects appear to have miscalculated badly. It was to have been a £1,000,000 palace. After work was begun, it was discovered that another £600,000 would have to be called for to carry out the plan. This again, is exclusive of £400,000 given by the ninety-two-year-old American “ oil king,” Mr John D. Rockefeller, for the League library building. Work on the palace has been largely stopped until the Assembly considers the matter. & W ® LEAGUE OF NATIONS administration in Geneva has a personnel of 1046. Of these, 673 are in the League secretariat, and 373 in the International Labour Office. Thirteen States, so-called “ Anglo-French group,” contribute 43 per cent of this year’s Budget, and have 543 of their nationals on the League payroll. Forty-one countries pay 57 per cent of the League maintenance, and together have 219 in its service. Switzerland alone, with 284 Swiss in the League and International Labour Office, has more than the forty-one States. They occupy chiefly subordinate posts, including those of porters, messengers, etc. The Swiss Government, however, is dissatisfied with their pay, which is much lower than those of other nationals. Swiss typists, for instance, are paid £320 a year, as against other nationals’ £4BO. The argument is that the Swiss live at home, and more cheaply than can the foreigner.

gIR ERIC DRUMMOND heads the salary list with £4ooo—the pay of a Prime Minister, and an allowance of nearly the same sum for his staff. A deputy-secretary-general and three under-secretary-generals each receive £3OOO. “ Liaison with China ’* is down for £19,200. “ Liaison with LatinAmerica ” for £11,298. For “Intellectual Co-operation” £11,540. For putting down slavery £6O. That is for the International Convention on Slavery. “ Reduction of Armaments” will cost the League £186,300 at the coming Disarmament Conference. The Information Department of the League has a personnel of 54.

«£? gAM HARDY, who was captain of the United States Davis Cup team last year, and who has incurred the wrath of Sidney Wood, a juvenile member of the team, came to New Zealand in 1920 as manager of the team that lifted the Davis Cup from what was then Australasia. The American team on that occasion consisted of Tilden, Johnston, Hardy and Washburn, and the Australian team of Brookes, Patterson, O’Hara Wood and Heath. Sam Hardy, who played in the New Zealand championships, partnered by Miss Airey in the combined and by Washburn in the doubles, has been censured for telling the young man that he was no good, that he looked like a fool on the court, and that he had no chance of winning, but he impressed New Zealanders as the ideal captain, encouraging to. the players, and above all, polite and sporting in his demeanour on and off the court.

W sS? INCIDENT in which Hardy figured was reported as follows in the “Star” at the time of the 1920 championships:— There was some friendly rivalry between S. Hardy, the American captain, who is known as “Uncle Sam,” and O’Hara Wood, of Victoria, when they met in the combined doubles. Hardy had a most engaging manner and he played a very chivalrous game as far as his lady opponent was concerned, but Wood, leading at 40-love, did not hesitate to put down a very baffling service to Miss Airey, and it curled back almost into the net. Wood evidently felt remorseful for he insisted on having it again, but Hardy sotto voice told Miss Airey not to accept the point and she drove the service right out of the ground into private property. Hardy had his revenge on Wood in the next service by putting a spinning

undercut service just over the net, and although Wood made a desperate effort to reach it he was badly discomfited when he missed. In another match an Australian competitor, in rushing to the net for a passing shot, fell over a water tap, which gushed out and flooded him as he sat on the court.

M R WILLIAM W. SMART writes in a private letter to the editor of the “ Star ”: —“ On behalf of my two brothers, Enos (92), Eli (84) and myself (82), I would like through the medium of the 4 Star ’ to heartily wish the Canterbury pilgrims a happy Christmas and a contented New Year. May they enjoy many more anniversaries of our arrival in New Zealand.” Mr Smart, whose address is Richlands, Havelock North, makes periodical visits to Christchurch, and is still in excellent health, although Mrs Smart does not like travelling now as well as she used to.

grXTY YEARS AGO (from the "Star” of December 16, 1871):

City Council.—Councillor Jones complained of the streets not having been sufficiently watered on Saturday evening last. The dust was a great annoyance to shopkeepers in Cashel Street, Colombo Street and High Street. He had also to state that the light shown by the lamp on the Ferry Road, near the Catholic Church, was no better than a tallow candle. He begged also to draw the attention to the permission that had been granted for the erection of a shooting gallery in Latimer Square on the 16th. He had since heard that it was a very dangerous affair. Other councillors expressed a similar opinion, and the Mayor stated that he would see to the matter and have the permission withdrawn. To the Editor of the “ Star.”—Sir, I would suggest to the promoters of the Early Closing Association the advisability of getting the butchers and grocers to close their respective places of business at nine, instead of ten o’slock on Saturday nights, as they are in the habit of doing. As it must be remembered that the butchers are* open from about seven and the grocers from eight in the mor..ing to ten at night, therefore you will see at once that it is necessary to curtail t' hours of business. The drapers close at nine, and why should the other tradesmen keep open till ten? Your obedient servant. Counter Hopper.