PRESS THE BUTTON

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3208, 18 September 1934, Page 3

PRESS THE BUTTON

A ROBOT FOR THE SORTING OFFICE. Years ago every metal letter used in a book or a newspaper was set in its right place iby hand; to-day an elaborate machine places the letter in position when the: operator strikes a r key ■'similar ; "# the- key of' a typewriter. The saving in time and money makes ■ the machine well worth) While, says the Children's Newspaper. At the present time in the, Post Office the isorter handles' each letter, looks at the address, and sorts it into a pigeon-hole or some other receptacle in accordance with its destination. A machine has now been invented by which the mere pressing of a key and the placing of the letter on a moving band results in the letter being dropped into the right bag. This new sorting machine is, of course, much larger (than that used by a printer. It will cost thousands of pounds, but it has been tested on the Continent with great success. Our Post Office has tested the first robot sorter, and three girl operators are able to feed it with 9000 letters an hour. The girl' ha© only to read the address' and stamp the corresponding index number, the machine does the rest. A MYSTERY Where do colds and chills come from 1 ? It is often a mystery. But while there are a hundred ways of catching a dozen different kinds of colds, there is only One sure way of remedying them all—Baxter's Lung Preserver. "Baxter's" has proved itself quicker, safer, surer. Has excellent tonic properties too. Insist on "Baxter's." 1/6. 2/6 and 4/6 — a t all chemists and stores in New Zealand. Tobacco in tho -slums! An Auckland social worker who visited a slum dwelling tho other day found a husband, wife and three children occupying a miserable back room. The wife looked worn out. Tho man was smoking his pipe in the back-yard. The caller afforded somo relief, and then gently remarked that bad as tilings seemed the husband could yet smoke, and that tobacco cost money. "It don't cost 'im much, miss, not the bit 'o smokes,'' said the wife, '' and e"s a fair.terror when 'o 'as no bacea. You'd know if you 'ad to livo with 'im. 'E's alright when 'e 'as 'is pipe." Another tribute to the virtues ■of the This was not the first time "ImC-a" ha;; filled the rolo of peacemaker. But to do good, tobacco must bo good. Our cwn New Zealand brands are the best —the purest and most fragrant money •can buy, and practically free from nicotine as no other tobacco is! Five brands: E-iverhead Gold, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead) and Desert Gold.*

A slip of the tongue Iby the Leader of the Opposition (Mr M.J. 'Savage) caused loud laughter in the House recently. Mr Savage was in the middle of a forceful argument when the Speaker's bell rang to indicate that only five minutes' speaking time remained. The Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) promptly rose to move an extension of Mr Savage's time; Evidently the interruption temporarily derailed Mr Savage's train of thought. After the extension had been agreed to Mr.'Savage, said: 1 thank the Minister and the House, and now ladies 1 andi gentlemen—. After the laughter had subsided Mr

Savage, smiling broadly, remarked; £ "I thought I Was speaking pie of New Zealand. $ have been? talking to many thousands of inteHf*gent people throughout the country* int* the last few months, so perhaps■ I' ; catt» be excused if; I thought I jwsts- still' doing so." '..,