MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOUNDLINGS CAROLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1926, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

FOUNDLINGS CAROLS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] MOVE TO SHIFT COVENT garden. .LONDON, -March 12. The Directors of the Beet-ham Estate. who aro the owners of Covent Garden market, are applying to Parliament for powers to remove the market to a sits occupied by the Foundlings Hospital at Bloomsbury. It is proposed that the new market occupy twice the space of the present market and contain four times the storage accommodation. THE LUXURY OF STRIKES. NO NATION CAN AFFORD THEM. ROME, Mareh 12. The Senate approved, by 138 to 20, of the Fascisti Trade Unions Bill, providing; for compulsory arbitration in labour disputes. Mussolini described the measure as the most revolutionary yet produced hv his Government. He emphasised the disciplinary character of the measure, pointing out Fascist syndicalism now comprised two million agricultural and industrial workers, which was a formidable and obedient force, completely controlled by ■ the Fascist Government, and fully appreciating the value and function of capitalism and tin l necessity for co-operation l herewith. The Fascist conception was that all must lie within and none outside of the State. Above all, nobody must he against the State. The si niggle lor Ii Io was such nowadays that no nation could indulge in the luxury of strikes. THE EMIGRATION PROBLEM. LONDON, March 12. The Press Conference resolutions were presented to the Empire Press Union. Mr Donald deplored the Post Office’s lack of enterprise regarding communications, instancing its reference to wireless as a subsidiary service. Tile Imperial Cable in 1925 lost C 31.000 proving that its methods were obsolete, which unhappily seemed to he the Post Office’s reason for refusing to scrap them. Tho communications resolutions were referred to a committee for report. Mr Hurd. M.P., said the migration resolution should have mentioned the harriers—many of which were hidden —that were raised by the Dominions. Lord Burnham declared that all the barriers were not overseas. It was decided lo call a conference of the Overseas .Settlement Committee, High Commissioners, Agonts-General and newspaper proprietors. Mr Colehatch remarked that it would be use--1111 if it only removed the impression Unit obstacles were being deliberately raised overseas. Mr llurd, moved and Sir Harry Brittain seconded, that the union express regret at the estrangement between - Canada and the Pacific Cable Board, and hopes that the differences will be settled in a spirit of goodwill and mutual accommodation. Mr Hurd mentioned that he had been informed that such a resolution was likely to he fruitful.

The Union adopted a comprehensive vote of thanks to their Australian and New Zealand hosts.

LONDON, January 2. One of the dearest and most pathetic of old London customs is. alas! drawing to an end. A little more and it will lie gone lor good into the land of memories and echoes where disembodied mnsie dwells. For generations Londoners have come at this season of the year, through the dark of a Bloomsbury afternoon, to the sombre old Foundling Hospital at Guilford, street and there, in the high eighleonth-erntnry ehnpel. have listened to the children singing their Christmas carols.

Next Sunday and on the following Siimluv the singing will he repeated, and that will be the end, for the site of the hospital is to he sold within the coming year and the foundlings transferred to green fields and brighter skies in a fine new building in the eountrv.

It was a moment lo ravish the heart when the ton tiers of fatherless girls and hoys perched on either side of the historic organ, the girls in mob caps and bibs and aprons and the hoys brave in brass buttons and red waistcoats. sang with a unity and a freedom of voice which are all their own : 0 and A and A and O, Cum eanlibus in chore. Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino.

The time goes hack six centuries. Blithe it is and holy, as a carol should he, and blithely they sang it. “Sleep, Holy Babe, upon Thy Mother’s Breast” tliev sang later.

So on to “ Shepherds watched their (locks by night.” they went, and “ When Christ was born of Mary free.” Then on the organ on which Handel often played for the hospital, the present organist, Dr Weston, gave a short interlude.