The Passing- Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18159, 25 October 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

The Passing- Show.

THE rapid flight of Wing-Commander Kingsford-Smith from Britain to Australia has won for him much well - deserved praise. It was epoch marking and it shows what is possible by a determined aviator and a reliable machine. It can he taken for granted in the face of the efforts of KingsfordSmith, Matthews and Hill, that it will not •be long ere regular plane services are established, and England and Australia will be separated by from ten to twelve days. When it is remembered that it was not long since a trip between the two countries was a matter of months, Kingsford-Smith’s record is the more surprising. “Free Lance” remembers as a lad an old dame who used to express amazement at the quick passages made by steamers, and she impressed upon him that when she “came out in the Zealandia the voyage occupied three months, a fortnight and three days." Hours and minutes did not enter into the calculation. One can imagine how amazed that old lady would be could she be informed that the trio has now been reduced to a few days, and that even more rapid travel may be anticipated in the immediate future, as so far we have only touched the fringe of the science of aviation.

The correspondence columns of the Times have contained some interesting letters on the noble art of wrestling, which seems to have taken a new lease of life in this Dominion. The reports appearing in the papers indicate that it is a strenuous sport, and when two burly lumps of brawn and muscle are in the arena there is something doing, and the audience get a succession of thrills. The sport is too much for the members of the Wellington City Council who have decided that the Town Hall shall not be available for exhibitions in which one noted exponent of the art is named as a contestant, and if any future wrestling bouts descend to the depths of the last one then the hall is to be closed against them a very commendable decision. But wrestling need not be brutal. As an cise it is excellent, for the contestants and exciting to the ; onlookers. Unfortunately professionalism has registered an appearance and that means the end of any sport for sport’s sake. “Free Lance” hopes that the members of the local association, while encouraging clean healthy rivalry, will set their fncps acainst the “trimmings, which apparently includes the deliberate maiming of an opponent in order to secure the referee’s verdict.

Herr Hitler, the leader of the German Fascists, has held a meeting of his supporters at which he outlined his programme. It is a rather ambitious one. He aims to smash France with the aid of Italy and Britain. After he has cleaned up Monsieur” he will turn his attention to England.’and will displace her frona her sphere of world domination, as therein Germany can brook no rival. The revelations do not go anv further, but presumably after Britain has been dealt with Italy will have to walk the plank despite the bellicose Mussolini, and then presumably the reign of the Steel Helmets will be supreme. It is well the cable man informed us. that that portentous .meeting was held in a wineshop for otherwise we would probably have imagined it took place in a lunatic asylum. Hitler will do no harm in Germany. His vapourings show his calibre; it will not be long ere the bubble is pricked, and he who went up like a rocket will descend like a stone.

A keen controversy Is being conducted throughout the Dominion at present on the question of cheese standardisation. Each

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.’*'

side Is giving and receiving some hard knocks. What one declares black the other pronounces white, and vice versa, until the layman is completely at sea, and is forced to wonder at the disparity of the evidence of those who are acclaimed as experts on all matters pertaining to the _ dairying business. To “ Free Lance ” it seems that a strong case can be made out for the system of standardisation, which if it means anything, .should secure uniformity of quality—a great desideratum in any commodity. The idea is to carefully gauge the taste of the overseas customers, and to consistently cater therefor, in this policy appears to be the secret of building up a successful trade, but the advocates of diversity maintain that the theory is wrong. Several interests appear to clash in the controversy, and amongst other factors can be sensed the battle of the breeds.

America Is a land of contrasts. Some claim that it is In the van of civilisation, that it persistently follows those things that exalt a nation. Facts, however, which occasionally come to light would seem to indicate that while high ideals are belauded they are not pursued with much diligence, and scandal follows hard on the heels of scandal in the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” The latest revelation is that notorious characters can, by the judicious distribution of “palm oil,” secure appointments even on the Bench and thereby dispense justice to gangsters and bootleggers, with whom they previously consorted, and who may be brought before them. It is alleged that one judge paid £20,000 for his elevation to the Bench. It need not be mentioned that In that case “justice” flows in a polluted stream, for that £20,000 has to be retrieved with high rate of interest. Platitudes and pious talk in face of fact's like the above avail little. A nation cannot be great when “justice” can be bought. It is gratifying to learn that the Governor is moving and may impeach those responsible, but when corruption is rampant in the highest circles of State administration, what must be the state of the masses?

A few weeks ago “Free Lance” referred to the number of tours undertaken by sports bodies in the Dominion. He hazarded the view that,the thing was being overdone and was calculated to give our lads and lassie 9 a false conception of life—that it exalted sport at the expense of business. It is interesting to note that at a Canterbury Rugby Union meeting' the other evening the opinion was expressed in very decided terms that the touring business was getting beyond bounds; that it was time to call a halt and curtail the programmes. The advocates of this step, however, did not argue along the same lines as “Free Lance,” but they urged that a surfeit of tours was bad for' the sport itself; that players lost their keenness, and the quality of play suffered. The .interest in the incident centres on the fact that Rugby advocates and “Free Lance,” looking at the matter from. Opposite angles, reached the same conclusion —a very convincing indication that something should be done. Much money is expended on tours, and to-day a trip from Auckland to Invercargill to play a game of badminton is regarded as quite a regular proceeding. Three decades ago a visit to the next village was almost an event in the career of a football or cricket club. That, of course, was before the days of national, provincial, and district competitions, when the week-end attraction wa,s a scratch match between players picked in the paddock. Then every member of a club was assured of a game and there were as many players as spectators. Things have changed and there are now scores of barrackers to one player. It the change for the better?