NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1923, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

— .New born babies in the Solomon an* never washed fur three weeks, stated Rev J. R. .Metcalfe at Pnlnior-.-ton North. One baby, in a filthy -laic, was taken lo a while iilir-o, who washed it for ten days. Despite thi-, there was a patch oil (!,.* baby's body that was rather puzzling. Examination proved it to be a cake of ibi t t hat had mile,-led. The baby died. A capital levy, continued .Mr Holland, was now being successfully levied in (V.ceko-Slovakih. Italy, also, was making a capital levy: and, surely Air -■•assay would not call Air .Mussolini a Bolshevik. (Laughter). Air Bonar Law, too, who was certainly no Bolshevik, had said tiiat there was nothing of confiscation in such a levy. ''The people of the Solomon Islands cherish their pigs,” said -Mr J. R. Metcalfe, at a lecture he gave at Palmersiiui North. ‘‘Valuing a woman as not being worth two of the animals, they treat the pig as a child, taking it to church with thorn, hanging it in a basket outside.” The AV nnganui Borough Council sitin state with a magnificent horse-slice table, padded chairs, and electric heaters for its comfort (states the ••Chronicle”). The Gonville Town Board believes that comfortable furiiTture is the mother of indolence, and that comfort and warmly only promoted long-winded-ness. It therefore has no padded scats nor appliances for preventing cold feet, and conducts its public affairs with overcoats on and muffled to the eyes. The Castleelilf Town .Board lias no luxuries beyond an open fireplace with a lire in ii that would make toa-t in a tw'ink. It's equipment, like its eloquence, is solid, plain and efficient.

The Labour Leader ..Air H. E. Holland). advocating a capital levy as the best method of reducing New Zealand's National Debt, declared in the course of the debate on the Financial Statement last week. King Edward 1., when England was invaded by King David of Vales, made a capital levy upon his subjects in order to defend his kingdom. It was, said Mr Holland, the way in which King Edward tested the loyalty and patriotism of his wealthy subjects; but to-dav. no doubt, politicians would describe King Edward as a Bolshevik. (Laughter i. The Prime Alinister: So he was! Mr Holland: That, surely. Air Speaker. is disloyalty. (Laughter). The Prime Minister evidently forgets that it was in King Edward's reign that the National Assembly, now called Parliament, first assumed importance.