NEWS AND VIEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 2

NEWS AND VIEWS

SOME COMMENT FROM OVERSEAS

HOW BRITAIN HAS SOBERED

“It.is almost impossible for any one to realise the change that has como over thg Old Country who did not know the conditions of our cities and even the small towns and villages twenty years ago. The Navy and the Army of to-day, are extraordinarily sober. It is a rarity to. see either a drunken sailor -or a tipsy soldier in an English garrison town or naval port. Hard drinking ■ among the officers of both Services has practically died out altogether. During my thirteen years of membership in the British House of; Commons I have only known two cases of drunkenness among six hundred men, in spite of scores of allnight sittings and much political excitement. The farmers are as sober as other sections of the community. Even, the cocktail habit is l dying out in society. The younger members of the great middle classes are really sober.”—Commander J. M. in the “North American Review.”

BANKRUPTS ALL

“America like less advanced countries, is learning lessons from the hard facts of experience. a She is beginning to realise , that she can surround herself by a litter of bankrupt countries who will do her as much good ns the old man of the sea, or, on the other hand, can help in the restoration of her mrikcts. Both her candidates for the Presidency have shown that they recognise the facts of the situation. There are some Americans so humiliated by the collapse of their own conutry that they would feel better if they coul make u:l declare our inability to pay. Blut the mass of Americans can see’ a fact- when it shines as plain as the sun at noon. France has been forgiven hall! her debt for some years now, and Italy a third of hers. There is obviously nothing immoral in forgiving such debts. Theyrwere cut down as a matter of business; they will in the end be cancelled as, a matter of business. —“The Star” (London).

THE GUTTER PRESS

“Fifty years ago, when a paper might be run profitably on what would now be considered a small circulation, things were very different,”' writes Dean luge in the £ ,‘Church of England Newspaper.” “The,,readers respected themselves, and expected tlie newspapers to respect them. Party politics and religions controversy were no doubt sometimes bitt,er; but these after all are subjects on which unbalanced judgments : and' strong prejudices are to be expected.,, There was then no daily 1 - apppßk to mire sensationalism, to ghoulish gloating over horrors, to a childish, passion for what are called ‘records.’ -Sub-editors ring the changes on ‘tragedy,’ ‘drama,’ ‘mystery,’ ‘sensation,’ ‘collapse,’ till those words have lost all meaning. Betting is evidently supposed to be the prime interest of most .readers. The treatment of unpleasant , cases in the law courts marks a still lower, stage of ; degradation. The chief actor in these ‘dramas’ may, if he or she is shameless enough, make hundreds of pounds by writing, or signing autobiographical accounts of his or her unedifying career.”

BORAH GIVES A LEAD.

“I estimate that the depression* has cost the American people alond £30,000,000,000. As against this the United States receives in debt payment £50,000,000 a year from foreign nations. I would he ready and glad to cancel debts as an investment for permanent prosperity. I- would be delighted to trade £50,000,000 to stop the devasting effects of a £30,000,000,000 depression. I am in favour of a permanent settlement of the problems arising from the world war if such a programme included cancellation of war debts. I am in favour of cooperation between the nations in the spirit of Lausanne. Ido not think the United States can help by mixing in European affairs part of the time and standing aside part of the time. In my opinion the proposed monetary conference without a discussion of war debts is like playing ‘Hamlet’ without the Prince.”—Senator Borah.