The Wanganui Chronicle. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1945. 1918-1945—UNCHANGING HUMAN NATURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 302, 22 December 1945, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1945. 1918-1945—UNCHANGING HUMAN NATURE

J\jHW Zealand, though perhaps outwardly unaware of it, is realising to-day that history has a habit of repeating itself, but though the world has its ups and downs, human nature does not change a great deal, and the tastes and habits of years ago remain the same. Twenty-seven years ago we experienced just such a Christmas period as this one, a round of festivity in sunshine following the end of war. It is true that this jollification season has come at a time further away from the actual cessation of hostilities than was the case in 1918. On that occasion no sooner was the war over than the Christinas season came along. The two happy events blended almost into one. But the same emotions were evident then as now —relief at the fact that war was over being uppermost. Otherwise there has been little change in human nature, in fact no change at all, if it comes to that. Look at the newspaper headlines of Christmas of 1918. The first one which would strike a Wanganui eye is: ‘‘Good News—Dredge Kaione—Admiralty Willing to Forego Retention.” Twenty-seven years later the dredge Kaione is still in the news Two slight adjustments and the headings would be very appropriate: “Good News—Dredge Kaione Now Owned by Somebody Else—Men who took her away want to come home from Sydney.” There was always a tag attached to the Kaione. Twenty-seven years ago it was the Admiralty; now it is the men who took her away. Human nature does not change!

Picture theatres were popular in 1918. In Wanganui, His Majesty’s invited patrons to see a seven-act Metro super feature, “A Sleeping Beauty,” and the prices of admission were, circle Is 3d, stalls 9d. The Grand featured “The Sign of the Invisible” and, with a flourish, announced that Charlie Chaplin was coming along for the New Year week in “The Shopwalker.” Except that .the films “speak” these days, and in place of the actual music from the screen there were living flesh and blood orchestras in the orchestral wells, there has not been much change. People still have the theatre habit.

Whether by coincidence or at the dictates of necessity is not clear, but no cigarettes or tobacco were advertised in 1918, nor is it clear whether as much was smoked then as now, but the demand for both is keener. Hairdressing salons did not advertise women’s “hair-do's” then as they do now, but woman is just as fussy about her hair as ever, as salon advertisements show. Human nature will never change, even though woman’s hair does and men can meet women in the same saloon.

In reading the demand is as great as it ever was. “The Green Dolphin Country,” “East is West” of to-day, compare with “The Adventures of Bindle,” “Red Pepper Burns” and “King of the Khyber Rifles” advertised in 1918. Probably there is contrast in the type of book, but the desire to read is still as keen as it ever was.

In sport where has there been a change? An Army Rugby team was touring Britain in 1918 and early 1919 just as there is one there at present. Christmas and New Year racing was as prominent in the pages of the “Chronicle” as it is to-day, and the “tips” then were as reliable as the “tips” of to-day—no more and no less. In sport human nature will never change. In politics there has been little change. Men and women are still worrying about the same things as those of 1918 worried about. In the “Chronicle” near to Christmas of that year railwaymen were talking of “going slow” because of refusal by the Government to accede to their demands. Wanganui engine drivers and firemen, it was reported, were dealing with heavy traffic, and were working like Trojans. To-day the headlines still speak of heavy traffic, and of striking if a man is sacked. Human nature never changes. In 1918 the Employers’ Federation urged that a clause he inserted in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to the effect that if a secretary or officer of a union takes action which leads to a strike, he should be severely punished. Probably such a clause would be helpful to the Hon. R. Semple to-day in his handling of men who want to strike if a man is sacked for anything except drunkenness. As for world affairs ( ■ headlines of 1918 reveal much what they do to-day. “The reave Conference,” “The League of Nations,” “To Save Russia,” “Britain’s Naval Might,” “The New Germany,” “Future of the Balkans,” —with small adjustments those headings could be made to fit the present day. Russia was just as much an enigma as she is to-day, and while the naval niight of Britain is now the naval might of the United States, and the League of Nations is the United Nations, the problems of the world are almost identical with those of 1918.

Troops were coming home in 1918 just as they art to-day. Instead of Mooltans, Straithairds, Strathmores, Andes and such vessels there were Maunganuis (now a hospital ship), Willochras, Tofuas, Ulimaroas and Rarangas berthing. They had conditions not quite what ships of to-day have, but the gladness at being home was as keen then as now. A generation of 27 years ago experienced the thrill of home coming from war, just as the generation of today is experiencing it. Human nature does not change. Tn search for presents people of 1918 had more to choose from than those of to-day and prices were lower, hut so were incomes. Handbags were advertised (Morocco, calf, antelope and puma) from 2s lid to 67s Gd. Christmas puddings could be bought for 2s 6d and 4s, preserved ginger at Is 4d, fruit salad (large bottles) at 3s. Women’s hats were advertised at, 8s 6d to 15s 6<l. Men’s Panama hats were listed at, 14s 6d, trobraleo shirts at 12s to 16s, cashmere soxs 3s 9d and wide-end ties 2s 6d. Skirts, gabardine and tweed, ranged from 25s to 455.

Christmas hampers could he bought then, ranging from one bottle of port wine and 11 hotties of ale or stout at Ils a hamper, to a dream-like compilation made up of the following: Two bottles of whisky, one bottle of three-star brandy, one bottle of dry gin or schnapps, two hotties of Spanish sherry and four bottles of invalid port, price £4 12s 6d.

There is still a search for hampers at Christmas—lnnnan nature docs not change, it is the hampers that, do.