The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

High FINANCE! -a Hamilton sport desired to attend a recent meeting, but funds were short. His credit, however, being reasonably good with a local fleshcr, he purchased a joint on tick, sold it to a neighbour for cash, and the way was cleared for a day with the gee-gees. This was told “Free Lance" as an actual happening. He doubted its truth but a similar story comes from Australia. Here it is: “During their ‘won’t work’ holiday the coal miners have seemed to get along very comfortably by the aid of baby bonus, child endowment, government doles, levies on the workers, etc. But for cool cheek a story has reached us (Quirindi Advocate), which just about ‘takes the bun.' A despised city landlord who had one of the miners as tenant in a very nice cottage was informed that owing to the conditions prevailing the miner was unable to pay rent, and as he was a good tenant the landlord decided to suffer with the' sufferers, in the hope and on the promise that when conditions changed arrears ' would be gradually extinguished. Time passed on and the mining trouble showed no improvement, and it occurred to the city landlord to take a run up and see how his cottage and his tenants were far- • ing. He was delighted on arrival to see a trimly kept garden and clean well-ap-pointed home, but on knocking at the door, which was opened by a lady, imagine his surprise when he learned that Mr Miner and his wife and family had been away at Lake Macquarie living in a lent for some months, and that the occupants had paid them the rent regularly. Realising that the wisest policy was to make the best of a bad job, Mr Landlord decided henceforth Mr Miner should not receive tjie rent to assist to maintain him in comfortable indolence.” For cool audacity. that story would surely be difficult to equal. c # * # The political sensation of the immediate past is supplied by the drastic action of the Federal Labour Government in placing an absolute ban on the importation of certain lines of luxuries, and rationing others. As was to have been expected, the announcement caused a bit of a stir. The prohibition will, of course, have the effect of curtailing the customs receipts, and this will mean that further internal taxation will be necessary or the Treasurer will be faced by a substantial deficit- In this connection an Australian paper says: “There is the sacrosanct picture industry which commands queues of people from morn until night ‘in "Sydney and Melbourne while the shops are empty and trade and employment languish through the diversion of the people's spendings through improper channels. The proposals of the late Government were estimated to have produced £600,000 from taxation of the picture industry. There was at that time a cry of the unemployment which such taxation would bring, but the invasion of the talkie has resulted in unemployment and the people affected would be better employed in useful and productive occupations than in more or less unnecessary callings. There are too, the liquor interests whose figures prove the tremendous menace to national thrift which the liquor trade offers. There Is unmeasured and unchecked the great horse racing industry which is even more pernicious in its destruction of popular ideas of the value of money. Will the Government face this? Will it tax these luxuries and tax them heavily so that people will bo forced to spend or invest their money in productive channels and so that where this waste continues, the people as a whole will benefit through such taxation?”

The energetic member for Raglan has had his knuckles rapped. He had Ihe courage to pay a tribute to the work of a Minister, who is not a Labourite, and ihe Maoriland Worker, has risen in wrath. Mr Lee Martin had been with Hon. E. A. Ransom, the Minister of Public Works, for several days in a comprehensive tour of the. Raglan electorate. Mr Ransom handled the various matters brought before him with directness

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.”)

and vigour; he made decisions and gave promises on the spot when satisfied that there was merit in the requests preferred, and Mr Lee Martin, as the representative of the electorate, was naturally grateful. He so expressed himself In language that was neither exaggerated nor fulsome. This does not meet the approval of the editor of tne Maoriland Worker, who has taken the member seriously to task. It will be interesting to await developments. The Labour Party in Australia has a habit of excommunicating those who are not sufficiently servile to the “Labour Poohbahs." Apparently it is a heinous crime for a Labour member to recognise virtue in any but a supporter of the Labour cause. Politics are coming to a pretty pass.

The shocking disaster which occurred near Hokianga last Saturday evening, six persons being killed in a level crossing collision between a heavily-freighted bus and a train, has once more emphasised the terrible menace to life and limb which these i crossings constitute. The matter has been referred to so frequently that practically nothing more can be said, but the toll of life is still being exacted. Regulations . galore, bearing heavy penalties for their infraction, have been framed and promulgated, and if they were faithfully observed it goes without saying that a smash would be impossible. The regulations however, are, it is to be feared, more honoured in the'breach than in the observance. The public prefer to take chances rather than lose minutes, and • the outcome is frequently tragedy. We are bring in a hustling age; speed, speed—aye, speed—is our object. We risk our lives for the saving of seconds. It would be air most amusing were it not tragic. Truly, as the noted jockey Fred Archer declared, , almost at the moment of his dissolution: “It is the pace that kills.” * 4 * * * * * ii The commercial travellers have es- ‘ poused the cause of the youngsters, and they ' are to launch a campaign to raise funds for the complete equipment of the Waikato Headß Gamp. Having so decided, it can be taken for granted that the matter will be carried to a successful issue, for the travellers are noted for the thorough way in which they carry out their schemes. .The 1 camp is a worthy cause; it is one which must strongly appeal to every citizen. Much work has been done there, thanks to the organis- j ing ability of the Hamilton Co-mmittee and the hearty co-operation of the residents at the Heads. Much, however, remains to be ' done, and when the travellers have completed their campaign it may be taken for granted that the carpenters, plumbers, paint- • ers and others will again become active and when the time comes round for the next contingent of campers to depart to draw ; fresh drafts from the Bank of Health, they ! will be even more comfortably circumstanced than on any previous occasion. > When the appeal is launched, “■Free Lance” ’ bespeaks for it the hearty and earnest cooperation of all classes of the community. It is a work in which it should be regarded an honour to participate. / « e * • • i A Christchurch firm has had a rather expensive object lesson as to the value of terseness in telegraphic communication. ' Being in need of a certain class of goods it instructed its Welhngton agent to make inquiries. The agent advised them that an excellent line was available at an approxi- ; mate price- He received a telegram advis- : ing him “No price too high.” So he con- : - eluded a deal, and advised his principals, . fully expecting a commendation for the celerily he had displayed. He did receive a letter but it was anything but complimentary, for he was soundly rated for exceeding his instructions, which the firm stated were: “No; price too high." They of course were saddled with the goods. Next time they are communicating with an agent they will be a little more careful. Had they omitted the “no” they would have made their meaning clear beyond the possibility of error. Much suffering and loss quently follow the use of excess words.