THE DAILY ROUND.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19013, 2 August 1933, Page 6

THE DAILY ROUND.

SHOTS IN PASSING. (By ” Wanderer.”) MORE QUOTAS. The quota agitation Is spreadinf fast in Britain. To banish depression, restore confidence and provide for the return of prosperity, it has been suggested that production of commodities should be restricted. Now Dr. Barnes, Bishop of Birmingham, has expressed his conviction that it would be well for Britain if her population were to decrease. Thus having painfully and arduously learned how to produce more food, we must destroy it because it cannot be consumed. Yet the Bishop wishes to apply the quota doctrine to tho family and so the vicious circle goes.. First we lop a bit off our production of commodities; then we lop a bit off our population; then another little bit off our commodities and so on—till eventually we have done so much lopping that there is. hardly anything left. Probably that Is a much simpler state of s.oolety, but one could hardly call it progress- • But here in New Zealand, Mr Tom Bloodworth, whom everyone knows as a sincere and earnest student of life and economics, says the best way out of our (troubles is to double our population. Now surely he and the bishop could qome to some sort ot working agreement—or perhaps it would be better for, them to debate the question first. After all the rule of to-day is to have at least one year’* discussion for every month of progress.

• * • • MULTIPLICATION MUMBLES.

. Dame Rumour, that'wicked old ladf with her tongue perpetually in her cheek, whispered to me the other day that all Is not well with thfr-vurveyora of the multiplication formula for wealth. She even suggested that they aspired to produce a newspaper. T* make more money? Surely notl To enlarge further the range of their charitable distribution of funds? Well, perhaps I * * * # JUST ANOTHER GOOD ONE. While on the subject of short-cuti to wealth It Is of Interest to recall a scheme which was mooted some time ago—long before the depression produced its florid outcrop of multiplication marvels for the ensnarement of the unwary. This scheme, known as the “Cat Proposition" had the element of sincerity and straightforwardness without the complications of harrowing arithmetical problems. I make no apology for quoting the letter sent to me by the promoters:—! , Dear Str, —Having been informed that you are Interested and open for a deal in a live business proposition I take the liberty of presenting to you what seems to us a wonderful business, In which, no doubt, you will take a lively Interest and perhaps advise me by return mall the amount of stock you wish to , subscribe towards the formation of I company. The object or the said company Is to operate a large cat ranch near Walpukurau, where the land can be purchased cheaply for the purpose. To start with we want a million cats, each cat averages twelve kittens per year, the skins to run from 6d each for white ones to 2s fid for the pure black ones. Flesh coloured ones are not accepted. This will give us 12,000,000 skins'* year to sell at an average price of. Is 6d each, making our revenue £2500 per day. 1 A inan can skin 60 cats at 5s per day wage and it,will take 120 men to operate the ranch, therefore- the net profit is £2-157 per day. We feed the cats on rats and start a rat ranch. The rats multiply four times as fast as cats, so that we -must start with a million rats and we will have four rats per cat each day, then we shall reed the rats on the carcases of the cats from which the skins have already been taken, giving each rat a quarter of a cat. It will be seen that the business will he self-acting and automatic throughout. The cats will eat the rats and the rats will eat the cats, and we shall have the skins. Awaiting y.our favourable reply, and , trusting you will appreciate the opportunity to get rich quickly, Yours Faithrully, N.Z. CAT FARMS, Ltd.

P.S. —Eventually we shall cross the cats with snakes and they will skin themselves twice a year, thus saving the men’s wages for skinning and also getting two skins from the cat. *** • • BRITISH DIPLOMACY. British officialdom has a happt faculty of avoiding difficult situations. The Davis Cup now, is a case in point. As a sporting trophy It is liable to “ad valorem” duty on entering Britain, but how could any customs officer have the heart to throw official sand into the cogs of its smooth entry into Britain? At the same time it wouldn’t do to create a precedent by remitting the duty. Therefore official brains began to work and finally with triumph, discovered that as the Davis Gup had been in Britain before, it was a “reimport!" Such is the spirit that has fyuilt the Empire. *" ' 0 0' THE “CLICHE." Dear Wanderer, . , — _ May I seek your assistance for sn «f* pianation of the term ‘‘cliche.’' I always thought it.denote a little coterie and that it was practically a synonym for “Clique." I am, etc., P.G.W. Morrlnsville, July 28. The "cliche" is perhaps best explained as a catch phrase—one might almost say a hackneyed expression. The word Is derived from a French printing term to describe the process by which a surface is laid oveb a mould or cast and the impression is hammered into the surface. In modern use the “oliche" Is a thought-saving expression, which possesses no originality but which is often adopted by writers because of its convenience. Here is a list of a few “cliches" commonly met with in journalism (some of them more excusable than others): Laubablc object Economic blizzard Worthy citizen Felicitous remarks Insuperable difficulty The line of least resistance Insatiable reader

When all is said and done. There are many more example*, majiy, I am sure, better than those I have been able to recall.