The Passing Show

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20464, 2 April 1938, Page 15 (Supplement)

The Passing Show

COMMENT AND CRITICISM (By “Free Lance.”)

MODERATE LANGUAGE of an Opposition leader: “ Many of us can be forgiven if we regard the Government’s legislation as something close to muddling.”—Hon. A. Hamilton, speaking at Christchurch. In fact, Mr Hamilton could have added that in his opinion there is almost a faint suggestion that perhaps the Government are not, to some extent, altogether managing the country as well as the Opposition could. Or would that be too outspoken? Seems as though this winter it’s going to be the Roughby game. Well the polo tournament seems to have been a great success but Aunt Jennie still believes a chukka is the man who stands at the gate to eject non-paying spectators. Mr Semple has had a film prepared in order to rebut criticism. What about some nice slow-motion pictures now of life on the waterfront? * * * ♦ I am taking out a patent for a dummy arm, upraised, which can be strapped to the shoulder. Until the Austrians get armconscious there should be a ready market for the invention there. m * * * Noted that an official is visiting the Dominion to pick a team of rough-riders for Sydney. Any jockeys on the horses I usually back should make the trip. Referring to Austrian monarchists who have been imprisoned, a cable states: “ Their braces, collar studs, and shoe laces have been confiscated.” Still, I expect they can still hold up their heads. Part of the New Zealand defence scheme concerns the formation of four air squadrons—one in each of the four centres. The Dunedin and Christchurch units should be handy in case of invasion from the South Pole.

Headline: “ Size of Navvies.* It miut be the forty-hour week and all this increased leisure. * • * * There is no doubt freedom of speech should be preserved at all costs if only for when we receive our income-tax assessment forms. •** . w In Auckland recently the radiator cap of a bus blew off. But in Hamilton IVe seen the drivers of buses blow off when they have to stop at pedestrian crossings. A friend of mine from Auckland tells me that he has to pay more for an upstairs flat because, according to the landlord, of the wear and tear on the staircase. There are twelve independents in the new South Australian Parliament, and, of course, being independent they cannot form a party. They tell me that the re-nomination of practically all the sitting members of Parliament is really something in the nature of a tribute to the departing. “ Only four' men of the Mulaks are left to fight the last tribal battle among the Daly River aboriginals,” states an Australian paper. When Europe comes to that may be peace on earth. She was a very ancient car and the boys took her to Waihi Beach for the week-end. Then came the problems of chalking her name up on the windscreen or somewhere. So they wrote on the door: “Gerty the Girl with the Iron Lung.” So the forty hour week is reported to be slowing up French defence. Apparently by working shorter hours instead of longer hours there are fewer hours available in which to work enough hours to produce war materials designed to shorten everybody’s hours—for good.