The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18165, 1 November 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

, (By “Free MR JOrifr THOMAS LANG, the Leader of the Labour Party in New South Wales, has deliberately challenged the financiers and the bankers. He declares they are altogether wrong in their diagnosis of Australia’s malady and hopelessly .at sea in their proposed method of treatment. They recommend economy for the State; he declares for lavishness. They urge sacrifice and thrift for the individual; Mr Lang says these are unnecessary. The way of national salvation is paved with sovereign's; it is necessary only to pick them up.' Mr Lang has convinced a sufficient number of the electors that he is the true prophet, and they have entrusted him with the reins of office. The die is cast for weal or woe, and. time alone can disclose what the result will be. If the financiers are right dire calamity will overtake the State, and scorpions will follow the whips as instruments of chastisement. If, on the other hand, Mr Lang establishes himself as a sgne seer, New South Wales will start out on a delightful journey along a primrose path, and a strong lead will be given to those who declare that financiers and bankers are ignorant of even the first principles of economics —that despite all allegations to the contrary it is possible to extract a quart of liquid from a pint pot. “Free Lance” is endeavouring to preserve an open, mind, but If forced to make a wager he would, seeing he has a dash of the Caledonian in his makeup, orefer to back the bankers. * * * * *

It is pathetic at times to read of the, tears being shed over the plight of the colliers on the West Coast. We are told in so many words that communities are absolutely destitute, that work is not obtainable, thatchildren are being sent to school without breaking their fast—in fact, Westland is painted as a famine-stricken area sonTething akin to a locust-swept district. Whilst one is forced to the conclusion that Westland, like all other parts of the .Dominion, is not exactly flowing with milk and honey, there is reason to believe there are those who are seeking to magnify rather than to mitigate the conditions. They have a purpose to serve, and they think the exploitation of the alleged sufferings of the miners will assist their cause. In this, however, they have been mistaken. A little quiet investigation pricked the bubble, it being shown that many of the reports were gross exaggerations, substantiation for which was not forthcoming. The result will undoubtedly be that when further reports of genuine distress emanating from that quarter come to hand they will run the risk of being passed unheeded. The boy in the fable wantonly raised the alarm of “wolf" and befooled and exasperated the villagers so that when the despoiler did actually enter the fold the cry for help elicited no response. There is a moral there that all who run may read.

Are things really bad on, the Coast? Men, apparently, are ready to forego a day’s pay for a mere whim, which in the face of stories of alleged distress seems almost unaccountable. A railway carriage had a leaky roof, and a few spdts of water fell on the august head of a miner; as a protest no work next day. A shift of men knock off at a certain hour; they hie to the station, and as the train is not ready for some unexplained, but probably unavoidable, cause, to move off immediately, the shift decide to show their resentment by taking a day off next day. These breaks are tantalising to the management and productive of loss to the mines, but that does not seem to be worthy of consideration by the men who are not able to cast a thought beyond the circumscribed area of their own immediate convenience. The isolated life of the colliers, and the unlovely environment in w’hich they are usually located, no doubt are calculated to make them self-centred. The pity of it is that those who constitute themselves their leaders have no wider horizon. So they persist in their idiotie policy of biting off their own noses in the belief that thereby they are effecting the facial disfigurement of the bosses. The chief sufferers, however, are themslves.

Mr E. D. Mosley, one of the stipendiary magistrates at Christchurch, at a recent public meeting, made a recantation as well as a confession of faith. He frankly stated that for many years he had strenuously opposed any form of religious instruction being

Comment and Criticism.

Lance.”) given in the, public primary schools of the Dominion. He had, however, now changed his views, and he. recognised the necessity for some form of such teaching. He declared: “Education without a knowldge of the teachings of Christ is not worth twopence. lam convinced that we will never attain our ideqls unless in some way or other the teachings of Christ are introduced in our primary, schools. Religion has been taught for many years in some of our secondary schools, and my experience of the boys who have passed through them is that they are the better for it.” “Free Lance” firmly believes that if Mr Mosley could be induced to elaborate the foregoing statement he would express the conviction that to the lack of moral and spiritual instruction a large proportion of the crimes by juveniles is directly . attributable. Reverence for the law of God is a greater deterrent of crime than fear of a policeman. The latter may resolve itself into a trial of wits as between the policeman and the offender, in which the odds are about even. It is even' conceivable that the “fierce joy” of such a contest may be an additional incentive to a “Bill Sykes” or “Artful Dodger,” confident in his ability to outwit the enemy, to embark upon some nefarious enterprise. Impress him, however, with the fact that there is a higher law than the moral and that its penalties cannot be dodged— : that “as a man sows so shall he reap”—and you will probably convert a potential criminal into a Worthy ) "citizen. Our own Governor-General-, at Hastings last week, and President Hoovei*, of the United States, in a recent speech, voiced some w’holesome truths as to the necessity for religion in national life. Such pronouncements are much needed in these rushing days, and they are honouring to those who voice them. '»* * • •

His Excellency, Lord Bledisioe, in his address to the Hastings High School boys last week, referred to the folly of snobbishness, emphasising • the fact all work is equally honourable —whether it is wrought by brain or muscle. It is a commentary on our idea of values that such an obvious truth needs stressing in this democratic country, but unfortunately it does. To some the mere insinuation that they have to take off their coats to labour for their daily bread is an insult. It, of course, shows a warped outlook. If we -could g'tet into our minds & proper sense of the dignity of 'service wa would be as ready to acclaim the scavenger as the legislator recognising-that each is giving to the community according to his ability. We would be ready, to admit that position is largely a matter of birth and opportunity, and that these add to the possessors’ responsibility, as from those to whom much is given, much is required. The one-talent man, who by the sweat of his brow and the toil of his hands is rendering faithful service in cleaning the streets, is worthy of equal honour in the community in which his lot is cast as he who, decked with, plumes and epaulettes, administers the laws in the name of the King. Each is serving according to his ability, in hi§ own sphere, and it were injustice to exalt one and abase the other. j

■ A Southern murder mystery has been solved. A deathbed confession by the perpetrator has cleared the name of a man who for nearly forty years has been an object of suspicion amongst his neighbours and the residents of the district In which he lives. For this belated vindication the man and his family will no doubt be grateful. The public, however, would be the better pleased were the name of the confessed murderer announced. The message stated that “for obvious reasons” the name would not be disclosed. To “Free Lance” it seems that J‘for obvious reasons" the matter should be thoroughly ventilated. The fact that the confession was made is evidence that the murderer desired to clear the name of the suspect; therefore, as an act of restitution, the' suspect and his family should be apprised of the man who had done them this evil and permitted them to live under a cloud for nearly four decades. Then again thq withholding of the name may place suspicion on others. Every man who was known to be in the district at the time the crime was committed, and who has "passed over” within recent months may be deemed - to have done the deed. For “obvious reasons” the name of the murderer should certainly lye published.