THE CHANGING SCENE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 6

THE CHANGING SCENE

/ A,BIRD'S EYE.VIEW. ' ; (Br M.C.K.) 'One of the okrases in' the'insurance oolky . for ; ministers • which tho. Anglican, Synod, is . considering says.that no payment, shall be .- mado in "death or disablement ' duo to injury by- suicide or attempted . . suicide, whether criminal or not, or causod by or rosulting from or 'happening during ■ intoxication, somnambulism, duelling, fighting,. or any breach of tho law on the part : of.-the assured,, or causod by or .rosulting . from war or usurped power, or happening til'.' the assured whilst ballooning,, mountain- - eenng, or riding races, ,whether on wheels . or. horseback, or. whilst wilfully exposing . iiruself.to unnecesaa.ry danger, except in the endeavour to save human- life." Mm- special reporter m whose'hands this ': matter was , placed for, ■ investigation has obtained a copy of the "Anglican Sporting v Gazette," ■ which is Bccrotly printed for private cdrcukiion amongst tho clergy. The "table of contents" thoroughly justifies tho cautkm' of the insurance companies. Here Bro- somo of the :itians:—' " ■ ,A . revival of . somnambulism , (with sketches). • Duelling:, Final of the Curates' Stakes. \ .-'Therßalloan Derby: Won ••by-', an aged

[Arohdeaoon. Mountaineering.averages. .. . . ' Turf;. Notes: Tho new seat for Bishops. • .;The great; cycling dispute: The Doan do|>osits • his stake-money. ■ Diving for Divines. .' .-.The' Saturday Night Club: 'A brash with tthe" '.'Johns." : . Polioo • Court News: Was tho Chaplain provoked?.. ' ■. - The editor announoes that Mr.' T.-Burns ; .will, go *on ;■ circuit next" monthi vw The. ■' 'Two- • opV. Chib, it . seems, is to 'be abandoned, "a decision," .says the "Gazette," . "which we "... must approve, since the > chib has seriously -affected:, the.: :popukrity. of:; tho - Burglary . Circle." - •

. ' They .- on doing these things better,in ®VattOo. : iiy mernbor the Clamber 'of ' 'Deputies who ifails- to sign the time-sheet on .eix consecutive'day b (Will 'have 'his salary - stopped. That is all very well, but as with so .-/ many of the. pleasant little dodges that grow out.ofwhat-Dr. calls tho now con-' ception" of the State, many dormant trickinesses will- be- stirred- to life.f IWe - know

.. exactly -what would. happen-, here. . Impressed ■■■;■ .with the idea that political- work -is a-billet; .our M.P.'s . would. .the book ■■■ six times, ■ and .disappear at "once, leaving- Mr. ■ Speaker confronted, with a 'House • empty mve-for-one member—-Mr. Ell, who attends . Parliament- and talks for: the- sheer love of it.v, If attendances for a certain number of

. (hoars on. eioh oftho six : days were then ■ - insisted on, .we. should: see. the ■ House knock s off sharp at live. Perhaps the .member , who Y'-.'.-.-Juippened'vto.ibe talking might ; finish. his \. -■ sentence, > and: his astonished colleagues would -Y'V...W.to 'ban,'."Going to work all night,'.Bill?" ■v'-.i.',!.!4!ndr..if-, r -iti'.W6re• decreed 'that each member should he P«d 'on piewyspork, some- of :: them, would talk overtime: and- claim; pay- ' / ■ ment therefor. :Mr._Ell would quickly mako a fostijne. ■ Mr. .• Hardy - would be" seen at the ; ;Benevejeat Trustees'- office in a week. We , should . like to; see the new . idea thoroughly tested in France first.

> ' \ Thefollowing- • advertisement lately i ap•■•.•jv.'> peared in.large type • on. .the- front page'of a 1 London jpurnal :—- 'Householders should supportv,their families, -and the colony which - provides.-the -Empire . with . a Dreadnought i , and with 'the finest lamb in the world, by v. ; ordering weekly supplies'of choice New Zealand lamb." ' Vi'hcn the pnblic doubts the boaster, and r i*< , deaf to epigram, , v And the catchiest kind.oj poster fails to make

; them oarpj2ld.'i-;;fc^^^ : : ' You can quelL. tho loudest Bcoffer , By a' large Imperial offer: ii Therein nothing like - a .Dfeadnought 'to creato a run on lamß.', ' X-l: .When, pnmbWd, they hear Sir Josoph in his v . golden-rosiest-mood,. . ■ :>r.j■ ■ - - 'And the- wits become explosive, and the market stays : subdued}' .. . . ■ ' - Set a battleship afloat . -... -With a promissory, note, ■ ; ■ . ind a hint that frozen mutton is tho ono Im-

When, the,-patriots' hearts .'are flaming at 'the menace of the Powers, , : ' ' Slnd .the • German guns vara • aiming ••-atv: this Motherland of-ours, -, ■" v ■ . > . Show .the -Empire an oxample—: •' , Send a Dreadnought as a sample Cf the spirit in . the mutton that Sir J. G. ' Ward devours.

. tiet . M drink'a. to crises;, .may their shadows nover fade! ■;■■■■'' . : ' TWhen the i Briton's anxious-eyo -sees things that i, maito him . sore afraid, *r -a,u.<. . ! . Mother England may rely on : -• . "Us,;her.boldest baby lion— ■ •/- , : . ; [It-least, of courso. as lone as wo've got frozen -.. -. meat to trade ... ,

_ "W©. do not . talk," said Judge Denniston .: 3nring tEo :hearing ; of a caso. before the Appeal Court .on.-. Thursday, ."of a .domestic ' aaeist'mg'in tho .admmiatration of .a iiousehold." Too true: the weather and the ; money-market aTe not conducive tlo jesting gad -mirth. ■

■ Developing an idea of- Sir George. Chf-1 ford's, - The Dominion ■; talked yesterday of Alio "non-unionist bookmaker." • Ono has .visions 'of immensely ■■ interesting'; possibilities in this direction. A .Bookmakers' Union is formed, and; applies for an award. .' It- derianda preference for unionists, and' a nonunionist .'tuiis: ; up A t© in .tiiaivlog. ; Judge Denniston gives,. evidence ithat tho man ; is duly, qualified, having . been sentenced to two years' hard, labour for burglary. Tho award,- after, 'lengthy- evidence lias. / bocn taken, .provides th at. tho racing Clubs shall , furnish .. each bookmaker with. ,an-office, ;.ind fixes a' schedule of, odds, the maximum odds being fixed at 5 to 1. ; Overrate permits for incompetent, pencillers 'and 'improve' are 'allowed; .' The'award' pomes into force, and- tho inevitable happens. The public' cannot aiford 'to tako less, ,on •' tho average, than 6 to 1. A few "soabs" accept, bets at 6to !, . and are prosecuted. A .Puntora' Association is formed, and' some punters , who . took'.odds higher than the award are prosecuted also, and go to gaol. . The. Association talks vaguely of a look-out.' ' Difficulties militiplj;.'. '-'Finally 'the great Bookpiakors', Strike begins. Dr.;- Findlay says r.bet' is .not, i. bet when . it.vis laid, . or -vice versa. Sir Joseph Ward announces l that; he will not send a worker -to prison.' (Loud applause.) Mr. Tregear Vi'rites. an.' article• in '"Tho. Arena!!, on . "the, soiled • fringe"; of- the -turf. Tom Mann rushes over from Australia. And the tote—tho toto goes • steadily .'on, 'swallowing up your tenners and my* half-sovereigns. :

The'use .of, the Dreadnought* offor to advertise our frozen meat is:an.excellent beginning of the. now polioy of. making Now Zealand thoroughly well known to fcho, people : ■> "of 'Britain. •: AVhen 1 the ship is built its .sides irill bo used as hoardings.- Large paintings of our. scenery will alternate with crisp ,an- > counoem'onts respecting" 'our. < butter.; - When the ship goes into action in'the. coming war . between- Britain and Gormany, these svdver-. : tisements will be of enormous value. Imag- • ine the effect on the Germans when, stealing . ; ;ialong : ; at midnight,- one ' of .their Mips suif - denly turns on its searchlight and a gla-r- ---: :irigi warningi .to:, "Eat "NewZealand.:butter", blazes up in tho darkness. Such an; advertiscmer,t would-never bo • forgotten. It is understood, however, that tho. High Com- ■ missionerV Department has ' other .schemes. 011 hand. Mr, 'Hall-Jones intends: to discuiso himself; as a Suffragette.- and drop ■ ' handbills from the gallory of the Houso ol Commons. . When these' are picked up, it. ' will bo''found .that they are .advertisements ' for New Zealand ruga. . Mr. Donne is hav- :: iiig a • largo.', model -of■; a : : Dreadnought. con-, '■■■' - Etructcd, armed with .'l2-inch l air guns, from which, as the vessel is draiin through Lon- • don' on a lorrjv leaflets. and statistics,.will fee scattered far and wide. Mr. .K, P. 7: ; - ■ r""~ —; ',

Reaves has written a play, in conjunction with Major du Maurior, entitled "Whoro tho Dreadnoughts como from." A bureau will bo opened at tho High Commissioner's Office, at which naval uniforms will bo distributed froo to all Now Zonlnnders who will undortako to \toar tlieni. Mr. Donne has already begun to do his canvnssiug gairbed in a cocked hat and 1 wearing a 6word.

Tho demise of tho Motoorologicnl Journal has como as a godsend to tho farmor. Ho was growing weary of having only tho old themes for Bis grumbling—tho . tornbly wearing effect of heavy. orops on tho land, tho shortage of pig's-food when tho grain is .all finst class, and so on. Tho "Farmers' Union Advocate" has given itself up to luxurious grief at tho abolition of tlio publication which used to contain the data concerning winds, and rain and tcinporatures. It profossea sadness—thoroughly enjoying itsolf— at the fact that tho farmer will not now know what crops he had better sow. .But —. Agriculturists now are Bauealing; Sbouts appealing Have-rent tho Blues, Since tho Government, so unfeeling, ■ Weather-figures no more BUppUea. Gone tho figure a-Hhoso aids material— /. Dark and dreary all \ Days are now: Who can toll. thom tho sort of cereal .Ought to co in the fields they plough? . . One I asked why he made lament: ho- ■ ■■■ Gavo me plenty ■ Of reasons why: - Such as, !'What about 1920? Will that season bo wet or dry?"'

Gone tho figures he once derided (Poor misguided Son-of-a-gunO— .'. Now he bitterly questions. "Why did Ministers lot r thing be done?" Matter-of-fact, • his grief is hollow: Who caji .swallow ' ' Els mournful chat? Agriculturists love to wallow . In all of the woes they' grumble at..

Lo! But wait: for the simulation Of indignation, . ■ As time will Bhow, Neglects, the morrow when confiscation .Leaves thorn nary a. rood to sow. .

The Now York "Sim;" discussing the Dreadnought offer, ' has discovered the reason why "New Zealand is able to fork up : £2,000,000 ,in a hun;y to build a- great' battleship and give it slvay." It is duo to tho ,faot that Mr. Soddon once said: "I rbolievo •that the -cardinal --aim "of-'govei-nment is to conditions whidli will' reduce : want and pennit 'the very" largest po'ssibl-o ■ riuinbor of'its people.to be healthy, happy human : hemgs." New Zealahders aire'far too'prone ''to'leavo 1 -the -causes of .'things unexplored. :There; is'.' a.- irich'<field open.. to tlie ' serious inquirer. ,':our recent weather, for - example, is due to the s fact < that; tho •State- 'has , a Meteorological" Department.. When the British' money-lenders received £20,000,000 from Sir Joseph Ward the other day in. repayment of, olid loaiis; they were ,sur- ! prised; but thought no rnoro about the matter. If they had thought for a moment they would have - seen that- the money ( was produced by tihe policy which Sir Joseph Ward ■ announced he said -that "despite tho croakers, • tihe' Government will not be de- ': fleeted from, its 'intention : of so acting as .to ensuro such a sound "financial position as will bo in the best-interests of the colony as a whole." The current serious shortage of labourers, is of course the result. of the exoes-; slvo encouragement which, witih; the best intention's, the Governinent has given to people .with . money 'to - invest:.. The "wonderful speed Itaken -up by European settlers is a direct re- : suit : of : tho' statesmanlike policy: of Tai-lioa inaugurated 'by : our .ieitergetic amd tireless Minister for Native Affairs.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 9 , T .. .... i '-./V '." '.•''• • • 0 INVEROARGILL DEPUTATIONS. , (By Telegraph.—l'reaa Association.) ' / invcrcargill, July 23. c The Hon. Dr.;Pindlay spent a busy morning v here to-day. -! He visited the old gaol, tho new \ and tho Yictpria Nursing Home, and re- "? ceived a,"deputation of 'about 60' members; ' cbnccrning ; a scheme to', reclaim about 3000. acres of the new river-foreshore, by prison labour, in return for' about 800, acres'of, re- ; claimed area , for: a prison farm, for uso. in , connection with $bc new gaoh . The matter was..'sti-ongly. r ;urged on, the Minister as ."a . inexpensive method; of realising his; favoured • scheme of reformatory; farms. The Minister. -. admitted frankly. that ..'the scheme .strongly. '. attracted- him, but'he had to consider from .;i an administrative point .of \yiew." If it ful-,' filled requirements in.: that, 'direction , they would have his fullest co-operatioil. He pointed out as'rather, an objection'to .the pro- ■ posal that it was stated that the land wouldbe worth'in- a very short time from'£2o "to. ;■ £50 per acre, aiid probably. it. would not bp advisable .to lock.'up. land; of such value. They, should .look; some years ahead, and de- ;' termirie whether.-; the farm; would be suit-' able as avpprmanency^.. .A fact in favour, of '• tho ! scheme .was' that ~ each. prisoner was at . present . a ..dead '.loss to ;the -State, and tho proposal- seemed' to -promise that. the.;, pris-,- J oners would, be self-supporting,, at the same' , tifee asidoing reformatory work.- The dotermination; depended ."a good , deal on export ad- ' vice,'and two.experfa(Would bo sent down in a'.week.or .two, alterNvhich he would give the deputation-an-early reply.. . . , . , ' A 'Law ' Society deputation waited on Dr. .. Findla'y, regarding the Stamps _'Office pro--posals, on the lines: of deputations in D,un-ed-in and Ghriatchurch, and a similar roply was given. '