The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19125, 9 December 1933, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

The proposed amendments fa the British Unemployment Insurance Act establishing- the solvency of the fund, providing for outside unemployment insurance, assisting and promoting the welfare of able-bodied persons, and extending the period ol benefit cannot be regarded as anything but beneficent measures. Britain has set an example New Zealand might well follow. The present crisis has proved conclusively 'the wisdom of making provision during the years of plenty for the famine which may swiftly overtake the unwary. The fortunate man to-day is the one who saved the spare pennies he might have squandered. He is able to sail bravely amid economic storms and even a short period of unemployment does not find him absolutely on the rocks. Many find difficulty in saving regularly, however, and that is one reason why insurance Is receiving such wide recognition. People readily Insure against sickness, accident or death, and they would subscribe to unemployment Insurance with the same alacrity, realising that In the days of adversity they would be assured of partial se.fsupporl, and in the event of 'their not needhis assistance they would be repaid through the knowledge that they were assisting those less fortunate. The burden of taxation which the workless place on the backs of the unemployed would, to an extent, be lessened, and the unemployed made to stand on their own feet. The British bill has taken thirty years to develop. Therefore, the time is opportune for the consideration of some similar soheme to operate in New Zealand in order that we may be prepared for the next depression in the trade oycle. * * « * “Every town fa New Zealand eccoept 'Hamilton seems to have had a carnival or prosperity week” remarked a member of the Hamilton -Regatta and Carnival Association. That is true. - With, monotonous repetition small towns and large cities ha% e indulged in an orgy of flag-waving, grotesque processiohs and other hilarities. Need we necessarily follow suit? The South Auckland Motor and Air Carnival Association have at least attempted to be original, and provided nobody gets smashed up their function should be widely enjoyed. However, the suggested Anniversary-day carnival week or week-end possesses possibilities. Now that wool prices are rising surely we can afford a little jollity. Arrangements need not be on an extravagant scale. A high-class programme of entertainment and judicious 'advertising should not only be the means of disseminating good cheer, but money would be brought into the town and Hamilton would become known as a beautiful and progressive centre. An appropriate name would* be “Hamilton’s ■Cheer up Carnival.” * # * * Requested to Invite the people to observe a day of prayer, Archbishop Averill, Primate of New Zealand, tells us that we may make every day a day of prayer and reminds us also that we ignore God when times are prosperous and need a change of heart before we can pray acceptably. The counsel is wise. Many people are 'inclined to neglect their religious life altogether, or else to leave too much to Providence. For instance, just as there are those who -pose as pagans there are others who, having made a hopeless mess of things piously attribute their circumstances to “the will of God.” Man has been given intelligence, and laws have been made for his guidance, and if by ignoranoe or deliberate wrong-doing he errs, he is scarcely fair when he imputes all the responsibility upon Providence. _ There is great need l'or a return to the simple faith of our fathers, but nevertheless we do well to remember that “Heaven helps those who help themselves." & • • • lOnce again fair flappers and fashionable ladies are tripping forth in their summer attire. And very dainty they faok. Of course there are some whimsicalities of Dame Fashion that the mere man will never understand. For instance, he remains blind to the beauties of the hat tilted almost to the perpendicular. But he kmnvs that most women pay to the rules of fashion a deference resembling the -respect accorded the

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.")

unalterable laws of the ancient Medes and Persians. Someone suggests that the lack of prospective husbands has reached such alarming proportions that women are getting desperate and the more extreme styles are a result of their panic. So we are enlightened. You might not believe It, but one day last summer the writer chanced to meet a young lady wearing one of these backless creations. He was astonished at the revelation until he noticed that the poor dear 'had been sunburned to blistering point. Had she cut the frock down tft allow 'the air to heal the burns? Was the blister the cause of the backless gowm or the backless gown the cause of the blister? The solution of the problem provins too much mental exertion for a hot day the writer passed on. However, the fashion forecast for this year points to plenty of backless' gowns—and blisters. * * * * No doubt even our household pets are aware of the depression. Their rations may have suffered “the cut.” The milk allowance may be diminished, and the bone less juicy. However, Puss delights fa being self-suppoa’ting, and with pride directs your attention to the nice, fat starling she has caught. As for Fldo, if food grows scarce he can always be relied upon to fend for himself. A resident chanoed to meet him grasping opportunity by the horns by helping himself to the contents of the milkman’s can. The worthy citizen duly in-’ formed the milk vendor, and so no doubt no time was lost In emptying the receptacle. Let us hope so. Too much care cannot be exercised in the matter, of hygiene where food is concerned. Individuals cannot be too painstaking, nor State inspectors too thorough. There Is still room for improvement, although happily the day has long passed when pastrycooks thought nothing of taking a few licks from the spoon they used for the raspberry jam, putting in a dirty Anger to taste the Icing, or spilling the calces on the dusty pavement and then dusting them against the legs of their trousers. But of course, wlmt the eye did not see the heart did not grieve fori * * * * The number of intoxicated motorists coming up for sentence is alarming. -Even the policeman was astonished when a labourer in a southern 'city, being accosted for driving wildly from side to side of a main thoroughfare, calmly admitted to having consumed 14 beers. The magistrate was pleased with .the open confession of the culprit, but not with the sorry story disclosed. Accused stated that as his wile was an invalid he kept the car to take her out. But his intentions of being a dutiful husband all seemed to vanish like smoke when he commenced to partake of liquid refreshment which 'he could scarcely claim was in his or his wife’s interests. The fact that he, a relief worker, could afford such an expensive and questionable luxury also takes a little explaining. The offender was lucky to escape with a fine of £lO and costs, as publio nuisances of this variety deserve severe chastisement. * * * * The. failure to observe the quarantine regulations regarding measles 'has been commented upon. Probably there always will be those who think that rules are made to be ignored. Parents are at a distinct disadvantage when the youngsters are concerned, though, for the young hopeful is nearly always certain to give the show away. Perhaps he conceives a sudden Inspiration boj add interest to the conversation by volunteering a little personal information. . , Pitching his voice in high key, he announces, “ Tommy has the measles, iso mother said* as -I couldn’t go to school 1 could come tflj the pictures 1" * * * • The reminiscences of the centenarian whoj celebrated her birthday recently are interesting. She remembers being present as a girl of seven at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Also, she attended the burial of Governor Hobson at Auckland. Then we ara edifled to learn that she attended a public hanging. She and another child played truant to see the public execution of Mukatu, a murderer, who was the first Maori ever to be hanged. And yet they tell us that the world is not growing better.