THE PASSING SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE PASSING SHOW.

COMMENT AND CRITICISM.

(By “Free Lance.”)

Many people who have been getting quite a lot of fun out of the egotistical articles written for the British United Press by Signor Mussolini will regret the announcement in the cables this week of the final one of the series. In this effusion the Dictator tells of his charmed life and his many narrow escapes from death. The great work done for Italy and Mussolini’s personal bravery are generally recognised; but surely, as was stated in this column last week, here is the supreme egotist of this decade —a power for good, perhaps, but at the same time a potential power for evil, for the fuiminations of a man wielding such influence could so easily lead to disaster. It is to be hoped, for the sake of the peace of the world, that Mussolini’s egotism will never lead him to seek world domination.

Mr Winston Churchill has been visiting Signor Mussolini at Rome, and vve are told that their conversation was very friendly, and at the conclusion of the interview Signor Mussolini accompanied Mr Churchill to the doorway and shook hands with him. One would have thought that the shaking of hands would be the natural termination of a friendly interview, and so hardly worth recording; it would have been much more exciting and worthy of mention had Signor Mussolini refused to shake, hands with Mr Winston Churchill! However, vve r.ejoice over the fact that while the interview was of no politisal significance it shows the cordiality of the relation between Britain and Italy. May such cordiality long continue.

“East, west, home’s best.” How often the truth of the old quotation is illustrated. People, leaving for a trip abroad, complain that they are “fed up” with their home town, their native land; “it is, too slow here, and vve are going to the world centres, where vve will be at the heart of things and feci that we are living, not merely existing.” They go, and we get word that they are visiting different parts of the world, and probably vve envy them. Then they return. Some of them did not intend to —hut they all do! And when we meet them vve near them say, as one Hamiltonian was heard lo remark this week after his wanderings abroad, “How glad I am to be home again. New Zealand looks mighty good to me.” Yes, home’s best.

There is a sight in Hamilton vvhich should not be missed by lovers of Nature. This is the section of River Patti (romantically known as Lovers’ Walk) leading from Ferry Bank downward. Leaving the velvety, emerald lawns near the traffic bridge one comes to a row of hydrangeas vvhich just now are a mass of gorgeous colour. In certain parts of America excursions are run to enable people to see the magnolia groves. Here in Hamilton a special visit to see these hydrangeas is well worth while. As one leaves the gorgeous blooms one enters a beautiful fern glade—a fitting termination to a pleasant stroll. How fortunate is Hamilton to posses such a river and to have a-Beautifying Society which has done so much to increase the beauties of its environs. All lovers of the beautiful should make a point of seeing the hydrangeas.

An incident which came under the notice of “ Free Lance” this week revives an' old complaint. He heard of a visitor from the south who sat at Frankton station for several hours, waiting to make the conncL-tion for Rotorua, and ihen was surprised to find that HamlMon, where he had friends, was very close: he had the. idea that it was miles away. Cannot something be done tc obviate incidents such as these” Hamilton, of course, looms largely in our eyes, but its situation is not quite so well known in other parts of New Zealand as vve would like, and it is surprising how many people in the South have the same idea as the recent visitor, that Hamilton and Frankton arc miles apart. The name “ Frankton Junction" fosters that belief. The suggestion that it should be altered to “ Hamilton Junction,” or some name that would emphasise its association with Hamilton, will doubtless not be pleasing to the many residents of the railway suburb who seem to forget that amalgamation has taken place and who do their utmost to retain a separate identity; hut there is no doubt that there is a real need for some such change. Let parochialism cease and Hie good of Hamilton as a whole come first. This is a matter that the municipal authorities should take in hand.

Exuberant youth may be forgiven much, but it docs not excuse the pranks indulged in sometimes when parties of young fellows find themselves on tour. An incident occurred in Hamilton during the week-end, when several youths who were here for a sporting event made themselves a nuisance at the establishment, where they boarded. Their horse-play was carried to the point of destructiveness, and the surprising tiling *is that they became quite annoyed when asked to pay for the damage they had done. Youths like these would never dream of doing in their own home what they seem to consider they have a right to do when on tour. It’s an interesting study in psychology.

The cables told us this week that skirts could not be further abbreviated, so women would shortly adopt trousers. There’s many a Hamilton Mr Henpeck who considers that the women took to wearing the trousers long ago 1 * * * *

The public-spirited action of a Hamilton resident in providing a camp site for motorists was greatly appreciated by numerous visitors to the town during the holidays. The provision of a permanent camp is a legitimate municipal enterprise, and “Free Lance” would like to see our City Fathers make an early move in the matter. It would do much to popularise the town as a tourist resort, and would bring both visitors and business. It, should be a comparatively easy matter to set aside a suitable section for the purpose and to provide the necessary services.