PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1927, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE CASE FOR THE “ LORDS." The present House of Lords is the very embodiment of the hcreditaiy system, and tho real merit of the Government proposal's is that they arc calculated to dilute this system by the only practicable method of dilution — that is, by conceding the right to create lion-hereditary peers. ,Sonic lew more logical than practical, frankly would sweep away the whole existing edifice and replace it by no elected Senate. But Ihe whole case for such a Senate rests on the desire lor a strong, over-riding Second Chamber, constituted on arguable and democratic pnnciplefi; and there are certainly no signs that, any measure of “general agreement” would bo forthcoming either now or at any future time, for that particular system of government. lor our own part we are convinced not only that an elected section is incompatible with any relict of the hereditary system, but that the method of popular election is itself incapable of securing that export knowledge which is the ultimate quality required of the Second Chamber.—“ Tlio Times ” (London - ).

THE CITIZEN AND HIS HEALTH. “The ordinary citizen needs to be educated. He is even now clamouring for knowledge. The lesson of health should begin in the school. Having regard to the marvellous heritage or health to which most individuals'fall heirs at hirth, it seems incredible that no systematic attempt has been made to instruct the entrant into life regarding its preservation. We must press for the metre general inclusion within ordinary school teaching of training in the principles of health—not instruc. tion regarding disease or a system of hygiene!”—Sir Robert Philip, M.D., in his presidential address at the British Medical Association annual meeting at Edinburgh.

A DEMOCRATIC GAME. ' Golf has always been the most democratic of sports. Common land by the sea is usually called the links; and ah of the historic British courses—such as Leith, Bruntsfield, Musselburgh, Black - heath, and St. Andrews—were laid out on community land. Tire best players usually have been artisans. Many n us have heard of Patersone, the shoemaker, whom the Duke of York, afterwards James 11., chose as his partnerwhen he contended with his English rivals. Golf in earlier centuries seems to have been the favourite sport of the “ common and meaner sort of people wherever they had easy acecss to the links. History’ is Very uncertain as to the origin of the game. There are those who are convinced that it was imported from’Holland, and it ie not unreason-

aide to believe that the Scottish sports* men of property and position may have brought bails and clubs from Holland and adapted the Hutch game of Kolf to the links of their native land. In any case, it has been'the game of the common for centuries and the chief pastime of the people residing near such public ground.—Robert Hunter In ■' Scribner’s Magazine.”