DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Issue 12186, 22 September 1911, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

It is astonishing with what alacrity prisoners can hop out Over of New Zealand 'gaols. The Garden Either the walls are Wall. not high enough, or the doors- have loose locks, or the warders " cock a blind eye " too often, either any or all of these things, or else we have a splendid) assortment oil 'gaolibreakers inhabiting the prisons of the Dominion. Their motto appears to be " Over the wall is out." Hardly a week passes but what we hear of a " bolter " sloping- round the country, with a force of policeman in pursuit. Man-hunting is becoming as frequent as deer stalking and may soon be added to the Tourist Department's list of attractions for visitors. We cannot expect all prisoners to settle 'down to lifie within stone walls with calm stoicism, for there must be a few roving spirits who will take advantage of a gate ajar, but, it seems to he as easy to get out of prison as it is to get 'in. There appears to be a lack of supervision, or system or something which it is hoped will be rectified. It is not pleasant to think that some criminals in New Zealand may let themselves loose on the community any moment they please. We might imagine the " bolters " saying with Addison, " A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty is worth a whole eternity in bondage."

The effects on the nation of the rapid increase of tobacco amokEffect ing in recent years, deOf plored by Dr. Saundy, the SmoHing). president of the National Temperance League, at Birmingham recently, states the London correspondent of the New York Sun, have been 'discussed by a number of London physicians. The general opinion is that although the habit is

I increasing (one physician said that ! two-thirds 0 * hi s women patients I were tobacco smokers) little ill effect has been noted on t-hc national health. " The old theory that tohacco poisoned everybody/' 011.3 cif the doctors said, " is now quite exploited. We now know that in the great majority of persons moderate tobacjco st.o 4ng has a sedative a r.d quietj in* effect on t:he nerves without depressing the heart or other organs. - The best time to smoke is after meals, panticularly after the evening meal, when the day's wcrk is over."

Late from London states that Lord Kitchener's .appointKUchener ment to take charge of Tn Egyptian affairs is causEgypt. in-g a good deal of heartburning in some circles, and by other parties is looked upon with complacen.ee. The general opinion is that the arrival of Lord Kitchener in Egypt will foreshadow a speedy annexation of the country by Great Britain. The Khedive, alias Hilmi, continues his intrigues against British rule, and the " war lord's " appointment is considcr?d as a red rag of menace, both by his party and the Nationalists, who would readily bfreak a way froin the technical domination of Turkey, and. the actual 'domination of England. The idea of thes 9 two factions is said to be the forming of the land 0 t the Pharoahs into an •independent republic, and it is believed that immediately the expected disorders commence Britain will assume that Egypt is no longer alhjle to creditably conduct her own affairs, and will act accordingly.