PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1929, Page 7

PRESS COMMENT

'l'lie upsetting of the Bay of Islam! election 0.1 the ground 01 certain im giilnrities (lor which the candidate were not .responsible) is not a ver, serious matter, j.t is probable that 1. any election where a decision is givci by one or two votes enough irregular! ties could be detected to upset the ck tion or to alter the result, as was sec. in the case of Lyttelton thru yeai ago. The courts, too, win allow or di.v allow votes contrary to the judgmuii of tlio returning officers, ’iheie ban been cnugli irregularities in this cas< dearly to justify the court in orderin', si by-election, and it there is a lesson in it for the Electoral Department ii is that instructions' to returning officers should be carefully prepared am issued in prnted form, so that no mai should be allowed to act on his own initiative except in very unusual and un for.seen circuimHam-es.— Christchurch “Star.”

The last appointment to the Supreme Court Bench, that of Mr Justice Smith showed that there was a swing over in favour of young men. ‘There is wisdom in this so long as the young man has luid experience enough to fit him for the position; hut it would no! he altogether wise to make a practice of appointing young men in the hope that they will he useful members of the Bench in years to come. “Playing into form” is often a slow business, and so far as the interpretation and administration of the law is concerned experiment is scarcely desibable. Academic achievement is not enough to make a judge; for in addition to legal knowledge, he must know the foibles and fluidities of mankind. Those are considerations that should ho borne in mind when appointments to the Dornin ion’s Bench are being made. In the past few years’ death has removed great figures and worthy successors must be found, even if it means increasing salaries. Our justice is evenhanded; hut it must always he com pet cut as well.—“ The Sun,” Auckland.

You ask 1110 about my early stage experiences,” said dainty Miss Dorothy White, who, with tile rest of her talented family, Clem Dawe, Erie Edgley, Los and Dick White, provide sparkling entertainment in the new “Midnight Frolics” company, now tour ing New Zealand under the J. C. Williamson banner. “Well all I can say is that it was a particularly hard school. Lancashire people as you doubtless know, are noted for their dancing proclivities, so that, in a community where nearly all are more or loss expert dancers, you have to he something out of the ordinary before the public will pay to see you. I joined the Lnncahsire Lads team of dancers (as a girl mascot who dressed as a hoy) and believe me, it was an apprenticeship one does not readily forget. There was little or no leisure, and the remuneration for apprentices was sixpence a week all found! The days were devoted to education, practice, and rehearsals, mid the evenings to the performances. It was nothng unusual to appear in three music-halls in one night. It was a hard school, all right,” said Miss White reminiscently. “but it was worth it. I do not regret it, for the experience I and my brothers gained amply repaid us in after years.”

Myrna Loy, greatest impersonator of Oriental character, is now to be seen in her greatest role at Shrott’s Theatre, where Warner Bros” “The Crimson City’ is playing. This brilliant melodrama of the China coast was written by Anthony Cokleway and directed by Archie Mayo. The cast includes John Miljan, Leila Hyams, Matthew Betz, Anders Randolf, Sojin Anna May Wong, and RTclmrd Tucker The story is that of Nan Toy, a Chinese girl slave and the love and sacrifice for a white outcast whom she meets in “The House of a Thousand Daggers” Many thrilling incidents mark the way of Nana Toy and her lover, until the white woman comes who takes him from his Chinese “Madame Butterfly” forever. Be sure to see The Crimson City” with Myrna- Loy.

In view of the now notorious facts of the Elsie Walker case and the remarks made by the coroner in giving his verdict at the inquest, the decision of the Minister of Justice to hold a public inquiry into flic conduct of the police force in this matter will command general approval. Quite apart from faults of omission or commission that might be credited to detectives and police officers, the long delays that marked their investigaions tended not only to nullify the value of their work hut to produce in the public mind an excusable and natural l sense of dissatifaction and insecurity which can best he dispelled hv a public inquiry open to the Tress.—Auckland “Star.”

Although there are hooks in the Dominion that would rouse the acquisitive lusts of a biblophile and pictures that would brighten the eve of a connoisseur, it is far better to have them undisturbed in their present quiet lodging than have them put to exile for profit. Of course, this is an uncommercial attitude, somewhat difficult to appreciate; hut it certainly would he much more satisfactory to leave then in the Dominion. Good example was set. by men such as Sir George Grey and the late Mr. Henry Shaw, both of whom left superb collections of book to the city. Such philanthropy is not. always possible, and Auckland should be grateful that even this much has been done.—“ The Sun,” Auckland.