BREEZES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 May 1936, Page 4

BREEZES

Troubled Prospect. “What’s the matter, George?” asked his friend. “You’re looking worried.” “I am. It’s nothing but work, Avork, Avork, from morning till night,” said the other. “Oh, so you Ye got a job, then?” “Yes. I start to-morroAV morning.” **. * * Not So Good. “These look just like the rock cakes my mother used to make Avhen I Avas a small boy,” said hubby, helping himself. “Oh, George, I’m so glad!” cried the proud young bride. Hubby took a first bite. “And, by Jove!” he exclaimed, “I believe they are the same cakes!” # * » * “ScarecroAvs” Enquiry. There is not much that misses a British Government department, and Avhen next you see a battered scare-croAV in a paddock it Avill interest you to knoAV that scarecroAvs and their allies ha,ve lately been the subject of an enquiry by the Ministry of Agriculture. So many requests for advice on effective means of scaring birds from farms and gardens have been received that a special investigation was ordered. The time-honoured scarecroAV did not emerge from this Avith much credit. Birds knoAV too much. If it Avorks at all, the scareemv seems to do best on poultry farms, Avhere carrion crorvs do much damage, stealing both eggs and chicks. When possible it should be half concealed in a hedge, so that the birds cannot make quite certain if the crouching figure is alive. Imitation cats, made of tin and sometimes arranged to SAving in the wind, \are said to be more effective, if moved to fresh positions each night. Guns, clappers and rattles are useful bird snarers, but the noise must be made continuously. Automatic clock guns, discharging at regular intervals, are on the market, and good results are claimed for them. The most effective of all protectives seems to be the device of netting, although this is expensive. * * « , * “Boy Friend’ is 82. A slender, pretty English girl, with sparkling broAvn eyes and ready smile, is Miss Olive MattheAvs, Avho has for the past tAvo years bent all her energies to propaganda for building small cottages and flats Avhich Avill save old men and Avomen from the Avorkhouse. In. December, 1933, her father, a Gloucestershire squire, died at the age of 82, leaving the family in considerably reduced circumstances. The effort to provide a comfortable old age for servants Avho had worked on the estate for over 40 years brought Miss 'MattheAvs up against a problem Avhich. she -set herself to solve in memory of her father. “Unless they are ill, old people need never give up,” said Miss Matthews. She believes that 15 or 20 per cent of the flats on every housing estate should be designed with the special needs of old people in mind, and reserved for them alone. She told some heart-breaking stories of old women in cold, Avretched lodgings for Avhich they give 10s and 12s 6d a Aveek. To pay the rent they starve themselves of food and all simple little pleasures. Anything but the Avorkhouse, they say. Women hate the Avorkhouse more than men. Old people are the most-fascinating people in the Avorld, Miss MattheAvs thinks. Her “best girl friend” is 84, and her “best boy friend” 82.