COEBBELS STILL FREE.

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 8

COEBBELS STILL FREE.

The arrest of Dr Goebhcls by Goering s orders, report broadcast by the German Freedom Party from its secret radio station, was very much exaggerated. After the similar report referring to the unsavoury Streicher, which came from Press sources and has not so far been denied, it seemed, and was, too good to be true. Goebhcls at any rate has been able himself, in an interview with foreign journalists, to contradict it. The Freedom Party must do better than this if its broadcasts, conducted with astonishing boldness, are to have their best effects on the German people. The report has soma significance, however, in spite of being based on inlorniatiou which must have been too hastily accepted by the German enemies of aggression, and has proved to be without foundation. It is bound up with the common knowledge that the depraved masters of Germany have seldom had the love and admiration for one another which they would fain inculcate towards the party as a whole. To quote Mr John Gunther’s ‘ Inside Europe ’; “ The rivalries between these men arc formidable. That between Goering and Gocbbels is the best known. That between Goebbels and Rosenberg is no less vicious. It would be a complex task to draw a chart of the mutual hatreds within the party. Goebbels and Schr.cht are far from being friends ; Goering and Papcn; Goebbels and Himmler [head of the Gestapo] ; and everyone dislikes Rosenberg ” —the egregious philosopher who supplied Hitler with some of his most, fantastic ideas. .Mr Gunther goco on : “ The only two men on fairly good terms with everyone arc Hess

and Frick [Minister of the Interior]; neither is ambitious, and both have more or Jess pleasant personalities.” 1 Tho man “ with the rodent’s face as well as the rodent’s mind ” was how the daughter of an American Ambassador to Germany described Goebbels. He has also been referred to as the man who looks like a non-Aryan, though be is not one, and though lie has the first name of Joseph. Between Goering.and Goebbels, according to reports, there has never been any love lost. Goering is the only leading Nazi who has not boon an outspoken anti-Semite; Gocbbcls in that connection has been only less rabid than Strcichcr. The feeling of tho burly President of the Council, of Ministers, nominated by Hitler to be his successor should anything befall him, for his I'Sllow-Ministcr most naturally would bo the contempt of the man of action for the man of plots. Towards him he has preserved formally correct relations, and that is all. Nazism has had one purge. The bonds of opportunism, more than anything else, which bind its leaders together, may bo yet an incentive to others, but not until things go wrong. Herr Hess, as a Minister without portfolio, acts as a co-ordinator between the other Ministries. He has been nominated by Hitler as his second heir, after Goering. Germans who live nearest to this ruling clique which has put the clock back for Europe may know which of them is the worst.

Tho time is opportune for the Government to consider the complete control of all motor traffic in the Dominion by one authority, and not have the multiplicity of regulations and prohibitions that at present obtains (states the annual report of the Automobile Association (Otago). In the city wo have control by tho Transport Department, by the police, and also by City Council traffic inspectors, and whilst not suggesting in any way that these authorities do not co-ordinate their activities, there must be differences of opinion which canont help the control of the traffic. In England andl France the police are in sole charge, and we believe traffic control is very much simplified, and as the average citizen has a good deal of faith in the police, and recognises their authority, a great deal of improvement might be looked for if this principle were adopted! in New Zealand.

According to a statement in the annual report of the Automobile Association (Otago), a “ recent issue of tho annual report of the Transport Department discloses tho fact that out of a total of 879 accidents in which a motor vehicle and a pedestrian were involved, in 623 cases tho pedestrian was at fault. A study of these shows that the pedestrian, through his own fault, is tho victim of a surprising number of accidents. There are good statistical reasons for disciplining pedestrians, but this phase of the safety first campaign appears to receive very little attention, and it is respectfully suggested that if traffic inspectors were to spend less time in tagging motor cars which have been left in a parking area a few minutes over the specified time and give more time to placing tickets on reckless pedestrians, much good would result.”

That the Haast Pass road is now completed to the Otago boundary, is an item of interest contained in the annual report of tho Automobile Association (Otago). The time is not far distant when a complete circuit of the South Island will be possible, but in the meantime several large bridges have to be completed before the road can bo opened. Whether it was anxiety to listen to the radio announcements concerning tho war, or tho ainpleasantness caused by the sudden change in the weather to light rain that decided the great majority of the members of the Albion Cricket Club to remain at home last night was not revealed to the 10 loyalists who did attend at tho pavilion on the North Ground for tho purpose of holding the annual meeting of Dunedin’s oldest club, but the fact remains that the number present at 8.30 o’clock was well short of that required to form a quorum, and a postponement to a future date was imperative. It was not a very promising start for the new season. The war against profiteering being waged at present might well be extended to deal with people in Wellington who are alleged to be seeking exorbitant prices for the use of rooms during the Centennial Exhibition. In one instance (it is averred) £4 4s weekly is being askedi for a room with two single beds. No meals are included, though a, “ morning tray ” (presumably a cup of tea and biscuit) is offered if required. In contrast with the attitude of Ger-man-speaking people in Switzerland during tho Great War, tho sympathies of these people to-day arc with the democratic nations, according to a former Aucklander, who has returned on holiday after several years in Switzerland. Anti-Nazi feelings are stronger among the people of Gorman origin than among those of any other racial type in Switzerland, ho said. Although there had been an infiltration of Nazi ideas for a number of years, thoro was a complete change of attitude on the Swiss side of the border after the destruction of Czeclio-Slovakia. After waiting three months for the arrival of steel from Australia for the construction of a new railway bridge across tho Waiau River (North Canterbury) the contractor’s hopes soared high when he was informed that portion of his 200-ton orcTcr was on hoard a vessel which arrived last week. Upon receiving his invoice ho was amazed to find that ho had been allocated one ton of reinforcing rods—a quantity insufficient to enable a start to be made on the inh. No information is available when tho next shipment will arrive. Generally speaking, the health of tho community at tho present time is excellent, stated the District Medical Officer of Health (Dr T. M'Kibbin) tndav. Colds and sore throats are still fairly prevalent, but there is nothing to cauf-c any particular concern. For tho week ended to-day, one case of scarlet fever in Southland was notified to the Health Department, three cases of pulmonary tuberculosis ’ll Otngo, and one case of erysipelas in Otago.

Mr .1. A Gilmour. fvM.. acting ns a delegate of the Court of Arbitration, will bold a sitting in Dunedin, commencing on Friday, October 6, at 10 a.m.

Remarking that it was clear that both parties wore guilty of n“<digeneo, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., gave judgment for tlio defendant with costs (£4l in tbo case concluded in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon in which .Alexander Kennedy, of Bnlclut’na (Air .1. G. Warrington 1 proceeded egnicst James Viiment Whelan (Mr J. C. Mnwafl for damages amounting, to £42 .'ls Kid. Tln> case was the ontf-onm of a collision be'ween a junior car and a truck on tbe Alain Highway between East Taicri and Allantou.

Wlicn the mail bags for Clinton were being taken from the van on the south express last night it was noticed that one had been slit, and on examination it was discovered that remittances for the payment of pensions at Clinton had been abstracted, the amount involved being £3OO. The matter was immediately’ reported to the police at Dunedin and Invercargill.

The railway working account for the foui; weeks ended August 19 shows revenue at £659,731, and expenditure at £701,290. I'Tom April 1 to August 19 tho totals were; Revenue, £3,605,518; expenditure, £3,128,100; net revenue, £177,332; and for tho corresponding period last year the totals were: Revenue, £3,309,310; expenditure, £3,315,803; net loss, £6,492.

The award of bursaries is broadened by the war bursaries regulations Issued with last night ‘ Gazette.’ They provide for tbo award of a war bursary to a pupil otherwise qualified who is attending a public post-primary or private post-primary school. Bursaries aro now available to a university student who is paying bis own university tuition fees. Previously a war bursary was tenable only at a State post-primarv school and was available only to university students who bad a university bursary. When the House of Representatives met yesterday, Mr Bodkin, in a question to tho Minister of Internal Affairs, drew attention to the increased life insurance premiums which were being asked from soldiers who volunteered for active service, and ho asked if tho Minister would bring before tho Government’s notice a proposal that tbo patriotic funds might l*o used for paying such increases.—Press Association. “ Wo moot to-day when the clouds of war aro on tho horizon,” said Mr T. F. Mackie, at the annual mooting of the Otago Rowing Association last night. “It is the duty of those of ns who will possibly lemain at home to keep tho sport alive. The Government has asked the people and bodies such as ours to carry on, and I am sure that the oarsman will be ready to do bis part in every way. Tho holding of regatta functions, so' far as lies in our power, in times such as these should do much to relieve the strain on the populace generally.” It was later decided to suggest to tho New Zealand Association that, on behalf of Dominion oarsmen, it should make an expression of loyalty to tho Government. Authority for the payment to Boy Scouts’ associations of money contributed towards the New Zealand Centennial Boy Scouts’ Jamboree, which was to have been held at Heretaunga in December and January, is contained in an additional clause to the Local Legislation Bill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message in the House last night. An explanatory memorandum states that tbo promoters of the jamboree had collected between £7,000 and £B,OOO towards tho expenses, but because of the outbreak of war, it had become necessary to abandon tho proposal. “ There is, however, an obligation on the promoters to refund to the contributors the amounts already collected,” the statement added “ As these amounts were contributed mostly in small sums by individual persons. most of whom (being Boy Scouts) are infants, there are practical difficulties in the way of making individual refunds. To overcome these the promoters desire authority to refund in lump sums to the various Boy Scouts’ organisations throughout the Dominion, leaving it to them to make the individual disbursements. This is an equitable and practicable arrangement in view of the special circumstances.”— Press Association.

The impractibility of long trips for motorists in these -days of petrol restrictions lias brought new problems for sporting and other bodies. At the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting last night tho suggestion was brought forward that, in considering tho timetable for the spring meeting, the requirements of train passengers (should bo considered, and the meeting run early, in order to give travellers tho opportunity of catching the south express. However, no decision on these lines was reached.

Two long-established weekly publications in New Zealand are putting up the shutters as from this week. The issue of tho ‘ New Zealand Sporting Life ’ on salo on 'Wednesday last marked the final appearance of this well-known sporting journal, and today the last issue of the ‘ New ZeaI.vid Radio Record ’ is offered for sale. One is always sorry to see the passing of periodicals which have given long and faithful service to tho public, but within recent months nearly every type of weekly or monthly magazine has been badly hit, necessitating vital changes in policy or amalgamation with other interests. These conditions have been pronounced in Australia and in Britain, and are said to have been even more severe in tho United States, whore even such popular publications as “ movie ” magazines have been forced to the wall. To-day’s periodical trends seem to favour “ digest ” magazines, or others which are solely of the illustrated typo. Those containing short stories and long articles arc not wanted. It is not so long ago since London issued dozens ot high-class monthly fiction magazines, but to-day the tally may be made on the fingers of one hand.

Although activities among the local swimming organisations are now only beginning in earnest, the attendances at the Municipal Baths have been gradually on the increase during the last week or two. Tho renovations made.to the pool have been the subject of favourable comment, and the newlypainted dressing boxes present a spick and span appearance. The water, too, is in excellent condition, being very clear and moderate in temperature. Naturally, the present situation will affect swimming, in common with other branches of sporting activity, but since no pastime is so calculated to improve tho physical well-being of young people it may be expected that their patronage will tend to keep the local poo] active in the summer months to come.

Yoni Kippur. the Jewish Day of Atonement, will bo observed at the Dunedin Jewish beginning to-night. Tlio evening service will begin at sunset and will be conducted by the l!ev. Mr Hersch. He will speak on the significance of the day. In accordance with other denominations, special prayers regarding the present international situation will bo offered to-mor-row when the annual fast will be observed. .Services will conclude at sunset to-morrow.

Arrangements are now well in hand for a Labour Day week-end excursion to Stewart Island, which has been organised by the Government Tourist Department. The party will leave Dunedin at 5.43 r».m. on Friday, October 20, arriving in Invercargill at 10. G. The departure from Invercargill is at 9.5 a.m. the following day, and the party is scheduled to arrive at Halfmoon Day at 11.30. Saturday afternoon. Sunday, and Monday morning will bo spent at Stewart Island, and lanm-h trips will be arranged. The excursionists will leave on their return at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. October 23. avr.viu-: at Invercargill at 5.30. The trait* for Dunedin leaves at 0.40, and arrives here at 11.

chorus item at to-day’s community sing, and its reception assures its success as a 1939 favourite. The usual leaders (Messrs H. P. Desmoulins, J. F. Himburg, A. Pettitt, and Harry Marsden) were in charge, while the soloists were Messrs W. G. Faulkner and J. A. M'Caw. who presented ‘ La Paloxna 1 and ‘ Merry Musicians ’ as clarinet duets. The “ rocking dog ” was sold for 12s Gd, which brought the day’s takings to £B. Tho boycott of Auckland hotels maintained by a large proportion of Auckland waterside workers for the last month ended when an official meeting of about 600 decided that the position had become farcical. The ground for tho boycott was that an unfair profit was being made by hotels in reducing the size of “ handles ” after the imposition of the increase in the beer tax. ,‘since the boycott was begun weights and measures of beer have been stabilised, and this reason, together with the view; that nothing was being gained by the men’s action, was responsible ior the change of attitude.

A meeting of the executive of tlio St. John Women’s War Committee was held yesterday, when several subcommittee's were appointed. After discussion it was decided to take no further steps until word had been received as to the nature of the work required. All who volunteered their help at the public meeting were cordially thanked and will be advised as soon' as possible as to how their services will be utilised.

Though at times maximum temperatures this month have hovered around the CO-Csdog mark in Dunedin, yesterday’s reading over 24 hours would probably surprise most persons. It reached 70dog, but the atmosphere did not seem as warm as on Wednesday, with its bright sunshine, when OO.Sdcg was recorded. April 10 was the last occasion on which temperatures were higher than yesterday, 72.8dcg being tho reading.

'A gorse fire in Moriiington road yesterday afternoon was extinguished by the Ciity and Rosl.yn Fire Brigades.

Two hundred transport operators from all parts of Hawke’s Bay met at Hastings last night to learn tho terms of the proposed Government control of»tho industry. Tho proposals were well received, and a resolution was carried that this meeting of combined motor transport operators, representative of tho district, places on record its appreciation of the confidence reposed in the industry by the Minister of Transport and appreciates the opportunity offered tho industry to effect, of its own accord, the degree _of economy necessary in the existing national emergency.”—Press Association.

Tiie drawing of the l.nvhv Future art union ii to lake place at tile Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, this evening, commencing at 5.