NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The "Liberal rally," under the auspices of the Women's Social and Political League, on Tuesday evening, was vow appropriately held at the Socialists' Hall. The AetingPrimc Minister, Mr. Carroll, and his colleague, the Minister for Education—who, in spite of, or perhaps been use of, his enthusiastic devotion to single-tax notions, is talked of as the succcssor to Sir Joseph Ward, should the Prime Minister be tempted to stav in England—were present nnd do live reel spoenhes on customary lines. All tho Government can-

clidatcs for local scats were also in attendance, and with one exception also made speeches, Dr. Izard being the exception. He, according to the ofiicial organ's report, "refrained from making a political speech, contenting himself with giving a humorous 'skit' entitled 'No lady need despair of obtaining a husband'." The report expresses no opinion as to the reception accorded this departure of the candidate for Wellington North, but as Dr. Izard has some reputation as a humorist and little experience as a politician, we should imagine that lie was readily forgiven his preference for the more congenial role. The several candidates—with the exception, of course, of Dii. Izard, and the Minister as well—do not seem to have been at their best. There was nothing to inspire—nothing but hollow pretence and _ makebelieve. The Acting-Prime Minister said "the gathering was reminiscent of the Liberal party's early struggles." An unfortunate remark, when one remembers the calibre of the leaders and the clear-cut policy of the Liberal party in the early 'nineties, and compares them with the leaders of to-day without any policy beyond the selfish determination to cling to the emoluments of office at any sacrifice of principle or party aspirations.

Smokers will be sorry to hear that medical opinion in Great Britain is growing almost firm on the tobacco question. The latest warning is contained in the Lancet, and the Lancet has already shown the deadliness of everything so often that smokers will be relieved to know that it is from that quarter that the latest scare is launched. A French physician, it seems, has discovered that smoking promotes deafness, not by direct irritation of the passages, but, as the Lancet's - Paris correspondent records, "by the well-known effect of nicotine on the. vaso-motor system, which produces vascular hypertensive phenomena which arc not compensated in the cavity of the tympanum." We greatly dcubt whether even this blast of medical slang will disturb the ash on a single cigar. What most people who smoke in moderation will want to know is why these doctors will insist on worrying over tobacco. In excess it is harmful: nobody doubts that. But in moderation it is not, so far as the average man is concerned. And the picture of Mr. Henry Burling, the Waikanae centenarian, comfortably smoking his pipe will probably appeal more strongly to the average smoker than a complete file of the Lan cet.

Tiie annual appeal from the promoters of Pearson's Fresh Air Fund is to hand. The fund, as our readers will remember, was originated with the object of giving as many poor slurr children as possible a day's outing in the country. To anyone unfamiliar with slum conditions in the larger cities of Britain, it is impossible to properly appreciate what this day's outing means to the unfortunate little ones who live in the slums. The movement goes further in certain cases than Hie day's outing. A certain proportion of invalid children arc given a fortnight's holiday at the seaside. It is_ to many the brightest time of their _ lives. Some idea of the support which has been extended to the movement may bo gained from tho following extract from the. letter of the.lion, secretary of the Fresh Air Fund to'Tiie Dominion :

Twenty years ago the Fresh Air Fund was started with a day's treat to 20,000 waifs at a cost of ninepence per child. This year we want to provide for something like 250,000 to have a day's trip— and many of these, alas, will be so sick that nothing less than :i fortnight's rest at the seaside will give them even a fighting chance for life. Wc hope to provide for 4000 children to have a holiday of two weeks' duration.

The poorest and neediest children arc sought out for this holiday: what an event it is for the lucky ones. Ninepence will give one of these waifs a joyous day in the country; ten shillings will give him or her a fortnight of bliss at the seaside. His Majesty ths King, who is a regular contributor to the fund, and who on one occasion attended at Epping Forest to see the children enjoying themselves, has signified his approbation of the work that is being done among the slum children, and of which the Fresh Air Fund scheme is a part, by becoming its patron. It is worthy of note that the whole of the money 'contributed is spent on the children—nothing is spen't on working expenses, which are borne by tho promoters of tho fund. Last yeer the contributions of Dominion readers, ranging from 6d. upwards, provided a happy outing for many slum children. We shall lie pleased to receivc any contributions which may be forthcoming this year, and- to forward them on to tho promoters of the Fresh Air Fund, to brighten, not merely for a day—for the memory of the outing will live long with most of them—tho drab lives of perhaps fifty or one hundred, or may be several hundred little slum waifs—all will depend on the total amount received. _ Every ninepence means a day's outing for one child—a sum of £8 2s. will give 200 children a day of such delight that the memory of it will remain with them for years.