The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 20, 15 May 1912, Page 1

The Week in Review.

The Burglar. /qY YDNEY is experiencing a veritvnL able reign of terror by reason J of the numerous burglaries that have taken place recently. /Every day some new case has been chronicled of armed and masked men entering a dwelling place at night and Confiscating whatever valuables they Could lay hold of. One burglar, who Svas caught, was sentenced to imprisonment for life, but not even this exemplary sentence has deterred th? marauders, who are rapidly creating like a panic amongst the residents of the city and suburbs. The day following the passing of this sentence no fewer than five burglaries were reported. In three ca-es large sums of money were obtained; in one case the. booty consisted of £5OO worth of diamonds, and in .another a man who was driving in a sulky was bailed up by two armed men and robbed of £3. Th? police seem utterly • powerless to cope pith the outbreak, and citizens are prming themselves and taking other steps for protection from what seems to be little short of «n organised war Upon property. If the burglaries are Continued, it is probable that a vigilance Committee will be formed to protect the city at night. d* The Mounted Rifles. The most ardent anti-militarist must have had food for thought when he saw the recent march of the Third Auckland Mounted Hides through the streets of the city last week. It would have been difficult to find a more healthy-looking lot of lads anywhere. Their training in camp had worked wonders. In the coursa of a few days they had acquired quite R military bearing, and, in spite of the fact that their horses were for the most part new to the work, they kept their lines as if to the manner born. It was quite evident that the training has been productive of nothing but good from an {■durational point of view. Compulsory traiuing. quite apart from any question of its military value, has had an undoubted influence for good in teaching the lads habits of discipline, obedience, end self-reliance. Quite as much as our schools, the camp is forming good citizens. The behaviour of the men in camp V.’as beyond all praise. They were keenly interested in their work, they took a real pride in their arms and accoutrejnents, and they evinced a willingness to learn and to be taught. From the General down to the veriest tyro all the visitors to the camp expressed their surprise at the rapid way in which the men lu-J picked up their work. J* Not a Machine. That is where the New Zealand soldier excels. He is not merely a machine, but lie displays a high degree of intelligence, lie thinks for himself, and is quick to grasp the meaning of any new movement he may be taught. The country lad is a born rider, and can manage his horse under any circumstances. It would, of Course. I>e absurd to expect from recruits the trained movements of an English cavalry regiment, but we feel quite safe in saying that very few Yeomanry regiments would have done better than did the men of the Mounted Rifles. Especially noticeable was the thoroughly healthy moral tone that pervaded the camp. Not that the men were eaints; they were just clean, wholesome British lads with a true British contempt for all

that was unmanly or dishonourable. They were keenly alive to their duty, and showed an excellent spirit in carrying out the commands of their officers. Much was due to the tact and personality of those in command. There was neither too mu-ch discipline nor too much laxity. Nor was there any bad language in the real meaning of the term. The favourite expression was the quaint mediaeval adjuration “By our lady,” used in the abbreviaAed and much less euphonious form which is so common in the colonies. In using the. short form of the words, we are apt to lose sight of the religious significance of the phrase. It may be said that both in their military work and in the general tone of the camp the Third Mounted Rifles proved themselves worthy of the high honour which His Majesty the King has recently conferred on them. d* Napoleon and the Tailor.

Soldiers are noted for the smartness and correctness of their dress, but not every great commander has been punctilious about has uniform. It is said .that ■Napoleon "was the despair of his tailor. According to Dr. Poumies.de la Siboutie, the Emperor was constitutionally negligent in his attire, and it was not till one of hie sisters admonished him that he put himself into the hands of the fashionable tailor of the day, Leger. And so the tyrant met his tyrant. Leger consistently ignored his Imperial patron’s suggestions concerning his clothes. For instance, the Emperor wished the skirts of his tunics to be turned back like those of Frederick the Great. ‘T should not think of allowing such a thing, sire! You would look absurd, and my reputation would be lost- ... I would not make you such a tunic if you offered me the whole of your Empire.” And the Emperor laughed and gave way. Feger thought tiie Emperor not only indifferent, but. niggardly. ‘He once asked me to put a patch on his hunting-breeches, where his hanger had worn a hole. I refused point blank.” In tie end the tailor gave him up. “My other customers,” he said, “were worth more money to me. Murat, Prince Eugene, Borghese, Berthier, spent 40,000 to 60,000 francs a year on their own backs, besides the bills they ran up for their households." And so the great man failed to be a hero to his tailor.

Antarctic Sewing. Sir Ernest Shackleton made an amusing speech recently at a meeting in Southwark in connection with the Girl Scouts movement. He Baid he believed that Boy ftcouts sometimes found people when they were lost, and if the Girl Guides were going to do that, lie hoped when he was loot they would find him. The education in cookery, and such like subjects, was very important. When they were away In the South Polar regions they learned how to sew, and he would back himself against any Girl Guide there to darn a stocking or put a patch on. He remembered once when his trousers gave way very badly he made a new leg by cutting a leg off another pair and sewing it on. But they learned to patch their clothes on the last expedition he was on. as they had no spare clothes. He did not suppose any of the girls present had ever h.td to darn a blouse at fifty degrees below zero, when they had to warm the needle by putting it into their mouths first. The only man who made a bad job of it was a learned profeasor, who sewed a button on over the edge.

The Sentence on Tom Mann, The sentence of six months' imprisonment passed on Tom Mann for seditious utterances will be sure to provoke a storm of protest from the members of the Labour party at Home. The circumstances leading up to the sentence were these: Three men associated with a paper called the “Syndicalist” were arrested and tried for sedition on account of an article which had appeared in that paper calling upon the soldiers not to shoot if ordered to do so. These three men were convicted, and or.e was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and the other two to six months’ with hard labour. Immediately the sentences had been passed there was such an outcry that the Government during the course of the following week reduced the sentences of six months to one month and the sentence of nine months was reduced to six months. The sentence of hard labour was remitted in each case. Many members wanted to know why the editor of the “Labour Leader,” which had previously urged soldiers not to shoot men taking part in the strike, had not been similarly prosecuted. Mr Grayson had also given similar advice, ant the awkward question was asked why he had not been prosecuted. Others wanted to know why Sir Edward Carson, who had incited the men of Ulster to resist Home Rule, had not been dealt with for treason. The Attorney-Gener-al was bombarded with these and similar questions, and as a result the. sentences were reduced in the manner we have mentioned.

A Stickler for Grammar. When Tom Mann was placed on trial he made a statement to the effect that he was willing to assume the responsibility for the advice given in the “Syndicalist” urging the soldiers not to shoot. He sail that he would always give similar advice. He made a long statement in Court which was duly taken down and read over to him. In the course of his statement he had said that the question at issue was his personal culpability for the article which had appeared. When the statement was rend over to him he asked leave to amend the phrase ‘’personal culpability for” to “personal culpability in connection with,” alleging that the use of the preposition “for” was bad grammar and sounded ugly. His counsel endeavoured to show that it was necessary under the Act that it should be proved that this particular article had been rea l by the soldiers, but as the accused was only placed on trial for attempting to influence the soldiers the plea of his counsel did not avail.

The Right of Free Speech. Tha whole question is intimately bound up with th-? question of free speech. The Socialists claimed the right to say what they pleased, and the prosecution denied the right of any man to incite the soldiers to mutiny. Mr. Victor Grayson stumped the country defying the Attorney-Genera! to prosecute him. Demonstrations were held in different parts of England, protesting that the right of free speech was being filched from the people. To these statements Sir Isaac Rufus replied that the right of free speech was limited by the Mutiny Act, and that it was a distinct, offence to incite spldiers to be false to their allegiance. The soldiers were there to main tain law and order, and to protect the lives and property of citizens. The sol diets had nothing to do with the merits or demerits of any particular strike, but they had to see. that lives were not jeopardised by the lawless action of the mob. The wisdom of this will be appar ent to all right-thinking people. Sol diers are only called in to help the police in the event of the civil power being un able to cope with ri-dous behaviour. To urge the soldiers not to do their duty is, therefore, equivalent to inciting the police not to do theirs. Few outside the ranks of the criminal classes would have any sympathy with anyone who urged the police not to arrest a burglar or a murderer. The maintenance of law and order is the first- duty of the Government, and anyone who attempts to interfere with the due carrying out of this duty can claim small sympathy from the community at large.

Motor Traffic. In view of the numerous accidents and fatalities that have happened recently in connection with motor cars, it. would seem that something ought to be done in the direction of regulating the speed at which the cars travel, and of seeing that, only competent drivers are in charge of the cars. There is, of course, a speed limit, and in theory people exceeding Hits limit are prosecuted, but in practice most people seem to travel at any pace they please. To exceed the limit is not regarded by many persons as being in any way a serious breach of the law. but is looked upon by the large majority of motorists as a form of sport. In the case of private cars there is no regulation securing the competence of drivers. A boy of twelve may drive a private car, and there is no test of efficiency required. Nor Is there any inspection of private, cars, to ensure the proper working of the brakes. Private cars ought to be brought into line with licensed cars.

A motor ear in the hands an incompetent person a distinct danger to the I i-r-on« using the road, and regulations i be framed to ensure that the Liakis are in good order, that a reasonable -peed is not exceeded, and that very driver of a car I- a person i-ompet-nt to manage the ar with skill amt lixterity. Til! th'.' is done, we shall continue to have numerous accident*, and the motor traffic will be .. constant -our e of lang*-:. gt .*« Fashion in Fiji. The Fijians are going in for fashions, ami a correspondent of the "Daily Mail’’ tells u- that the present feeling in the be-t circles in Suva is for a loin cloth ■ •f blue jean, with a eenventional chintz pattern. For ceremonial wear a shirt er • ianofore. according to sex. is added, and the most exclusive set favour a print wrapper. The lytives are. according to the same correspondent, keenly interested in all that i-ertains to fashions in dress, and are learning to distinguish the different c!a--es by the manner in whi h they are attired. They are certainly picking ip the essentials of civilisation, and it seems a far cry from the day when the original traders found tfaeir _ ■ is stuffs rejected with the imperious demand: "We want something to w* ’. : give >' bead'." g* J* Chinamen in Toppers. T 1 ■ ‘ in all pi liability - on lave a si on pacei all to themselves. The mysteries of 1< n lothes and pinafores win ’ 1 - all the < nthmsiasm that the mon civilised countries throw into thes matt* - i -■ Chinese are also waking up to the importance of being . •' ■ fas • i in matters of dress. It 1 - been de reed that the silk hat is to take th< pla *:•: tl • pigtail. the eh _ has been made ompulsory among : . off ial classes at I th< membei - < f foreign embassies. A Chinaman in a topper will mark the high water mark < t th« W< sterilising f the East. It istrange that we -t 11 cling to the silk hat as a mark of respectability. We t.niv wear it upon festive o- asior,'. an 1 we" hav< tl e sens to keep the horror ’• id len . ..... -• t, but we worship if all th* -ame. IV* regard it a« a link -with better days, and when occasion req,>:i*s to wear it we do so with a s.l - of fatuo ■- pride. We like to feel that wc ear. do tl.e i g'.it thing when we 1 a ■ to, and that we art still hit, bed to t’.c prom : - tics. y* S The Case of John Hetherington. Yet at one time it was a criminal off. i. . ■ ear ; It ■ barely more than a entury ago that John Hetherington was brought before ’-he magistrate for a i- ng a disturbance by weari g th - strange headgear, and was bound over for f iture good behaviAn old work on .-tiimes describes • . . - result of w« aring - all a 'tartl.i.g r.*-vr)ty ti head-gear was that la ge ■' I of spe tutors gathered oun« rdajher before he had proceeded far along the street; H« was gned before the laord Mayor on a barge of breach of the peace, and wa. required to give bonds in the sum of £5OO. The eviproduced went to show that Mr. Hethei l-.gton, who vva* well connected, appealed . n tlie pal.!, highway wearing upon ’■ - 'lead what '.*■- .ailed a 'ilk hat. (w s rod 11. a tall structure Laving a -l.iny ’ and calculated to fi'.g!it*-u tin id people. The otfi.-ers of the • .own «tat* 1 that several women fainted at the unusual sight while ■ !dl- - n - reamed, dog- yelped, and a young son of ■ nei I ■■• in.-- was throw i - wd « - ■ ami kad hi- arm '• r >ken." -•* The "Waihi Mine. V ’ • a:.: -ial :> • • ting of ; Wa i • ■' _ t any the chair ma i of dir* o-rs a !>.*• >i» ■ I tli.it the directors w. re taking a • > ■ I'> '■ •'! t ,e London d.ar.:..d let- m to • desirability ! se.Miig nevv property in order to -, !•■.! I th. n-ks ll* r-giettcl that they .ver.* tn ai.'e ■ - ilt • he X* a Zealand -hare IwAdej-. a- tiut vvo.ikl involve a delay of ■o-veiul ni...i! ug. the prop.~*il a tion would I - ’aken *.rdy if a -aixtautkil majority <>f tie Eiigli-h -h.irehoiJers favoured it. Tn the eour*e of his remarks he pointed out that the mine ha 1 paid nearly in Jivhlenls. It was originally p-urcha-cl by the Waihi eont-

pany for £3OOO. The directors in their annual report announced that the present dividend would be maintained till June of next year, but after that there were indications of a reduction unlesa the prospects of the mine materially improved in the meanwhile. With regard to the propo-al that other property should be at-ijuired and that only English shareholders should be consulted, it nay be noted that 29 per cent, of the shareholders are in New Zealand. It would seem only reasonable that th.'V should have some say in the matter of such vita) importance to their interests. *.* 3 Tourist Resorts and Cheap Fares. At the last meeting of the Rotorua ( Hamler of Commerce resolution- were passed calling on the Government to institute reduced railway fares to ail tourist resorts owned by the state, to issue ■ heap- week-end tl- kets. and to ba-e longdistance p<assenger fares on a sliding s ale. In moving the resolution Mr. MeLean pointed out thaf increased traffic meant increased receipts from the baths and trip* fares, as well as an enhance I value of property. He quoted examples of what was being done in Australia in the nia.tt*r of popn'.irl-i:.g : '. - sorts, although there the State had > - direct interest in these resorts as was th< • .i.-e with us. He also shoved that the in rease in fares introvluev I by tl ■ late Minister for Railways had - arte ted the traffic to Rotorua. l liei ■ had been 126 Q less arrivals by tra n s 1911 than in 1910. The <\; erien-,-e ■ ther countries has shown that redu ■ I fares p>ay for themselves ■ . the enormous increase in ti.nt;. It costs just as much to run a half empty train as it does to run a f ill < ne, amt it has been found that any In-, in receipts due to reduction of fares is nev r more than a tempiorary loss, and tl as it is soon made up by the increast ii the number of ticket- sold a- -.-■■•! as the isduced fares are made widely known. In all bus’mess there is bound to lie some waiting for returns, and he is the best man of business who is able to the future and not only for the immediate present. We have no doubt that th-* - mentions of the i.hamLer tiiat policy they- advocate is sound * • ially and of benefit to the • >mm i'.y are founded on well a*-?er:a:m-d fa d* gt The Latest Fashions. An American paper has the foil amusing comments on the fashion- for he coming season. — 'We missed the ‘Millinery Trade Review" la-: month ami -usp>i- t that it was stolen by the foreman. It ■- on« of the few bright sj ts in our otherwise colourless existence, .nil it- loss was severely felt. It seems -.'.at. the question of shapes *- 'not likely t*> 1 ...Iv. d. ar.,, given dlris tion.' Tills is disappointing, as we hoped thematter would be settled, but there is a subsequent senteii e that is either c.irelee,sly written or that conveys a meaning not. intended for the male mind. We ar* told that 'it has been dinned into our ears until we are tired of hearing it that large hats are on their ia-t leg-.’ In heaven’s name, whose legs? -We are used to a bewildering display of unusual terminology in the ‘Review.’ but here we must confess that we are out of our depth. Paris models, it seems, are to the front as usual. There is one in [articular that must be a perfect dream, and we intend to have one or die gloriously in the attempt. It is in mole gray tagil with mauve and gray shot silk, looselydraped over the crown and shirred to the edge and over the edge to a depth of an inch and then folded back on the right where it shelves down over the ears an 1 i- turned up on the left, the trimming onsi'ting of a sheaf of gray an I mauve aigret.te fastened upright Ibehind the crown. That i« exactly how if is dc--.ribed in the ’Review/'and if <lol lets ii* live until next pay day we will own ■me and wear it either on our ‘la-t legs’ •>r on whatever other part of our anatom it will show to good advantage."