PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1928, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

ON SLEEP. “ Not being able to sleep we gave up the idea of sleeping and arranged to stay out all night in an open-air shelter. Our idea was not to sleep at all, but simply to lie quietly, drinking in tho beauty of the night. We knew that sleeplessness was not as harmful as people imagine, and that to lie quietly, restlully and happily was almost as good as sleep. Well', night came, and we lay down to enjoy the beauties of Nature—the stars, the trees, ilowers, night birds, etc., But within live minutes we were fast asleep, and we knew nothing until the morning, when we awoke after a long spell of refreshing slumber. The secret is to make up one’s mind to

remain awake and to enjoy it in a rest!ill manner. Trying to sleep keeps one awake—trying to keep awake sends one to sleep.”—The Editor. “ Science of Thought Review,”

THE MIRACLE OF CHILDHOOD. “ If all the earth became a place of city sidewalks, with only hard stone ! pavement for the tender feet of the" world’s children, they would still find plenty of opportunity for their glad playing hours. That is the most marvellous thing about those ceaselessly active feet. Rewitohcd in the dream of their frolic and laughter they 'dart like sunbeams across the dingiest areas. Winter never ends, tiie year never awakens, without the noise rising up of this- grand tattoo from the numberless battalions of tiny boys and girls. ’Dio thoroughfares resound, of course, with other feet hurrying, but, alas, what a different cause there is of the tramp, tramp, tramp, of grown-up multitudes Liverpool Post.”

, THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. “With the Freedom of the Seas guaranteed by covenant between nations, . there would he no incentive for the United States, France, Germany, or | Russia or other Powers to maintain ; navies larger than sufficient for police purposes. To say that such a treaty would not. be regarded in time of stress is to condemn all treaties. The consensus of opinion is that had Get many not violated Belgian neutrality probably she would have won the war, since Great Britain, at least, jvould not have entered the lists against her in time to check her. The hen-'its which word ! accrue to Great Britain through the Freedom of the Seas would he free communication with her Dominions, and the certainty that her food supply and raw materials could never nc* interrupted. Such a policy would eliminate the terror of submarine warfare, for submarines could be used only against battleships and craft of war. There is nothing so needful to be done at this moment ns to bring about an agreement between the naval Powers regarding laws relating to the seas, and there is but one adequate solution to this important problem—the abolition of contraband, and the right of merchant ships to traverse the seas in ( time of war as in time of peace with 1 absolute freedom.” Colonel House (U.S.A.). f

A LIFE FOR A LIFE. " There is a deep and honoursb'e reluctance to exact a life for a life. It permeates the Courts. In these days there are no ‘hanging Judges.’ If extenuating circumstances exist 1’ Judges are the first to note them and to temper justice with merc-y.”—“Daily Telegraph.” ‘lt is strange that in outbursts of mass emotion on behalf of a condemn- j ed murderer there is no pity for J murdered man,” writes Mr James Douglas in the “ Sunday Express.”

“ He is forgotten in the surge of sentiment and sensibility. Another thing is also forgotten—the purity ami majesty of public justice. The sanctity and security of my life and yours depend upon the law. What is the use of our judicial system if it can bo corrupted by popular hysteria ?' It is not right to torture the public conscience by these mass petitions against the laws which safeguard our life. Nor is it right to harrow and harass our juries and our Judges and our Home Secretaries by these herd revolts against their careful and conscientious interpretation of the law. 1 lie only result will be a collapse of our judicial machinery similar to that which makes justice in the United States tardy, hesitant, inconsistent, and uncertain.”