THE PAST WEEK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5468, 30 August 1929, Page 3

THE PAST WEEK.

In this paper last week we wrote a short article on bagpipes. Now comes the news that our neighbouring borough Te Aroha is to have a pipe band of its own. Of course the article in question had probably nothing whatever to do with the decision of Te Aroha’s Scots, but the fact is interesting just the same. « « •. • • Arabs and Jews are at it hot and strong in Palestine, and by the look of it Christians are suffering, too. It would appear that Jewish casualties outnumber the Moslem by about two to one. The P-ntish Government is to be sympathised with in a most difficult and delicate situation. Ihe Arab population claim the country as their own, and deeply resented the artificial establishment of Jews from overseas therein. Britain was, of course, bound by promises given towards the end of the war to establish a Zionist State in Palestine, and manfully, despite fierce opposition and in the face, perhaps, of her own good judgment, she has endeavoured to carry out her promise. The situation is delicate, extremely so, and what makes it more difficult is who to affix the blame to. Jew and Moslem are equally guilty, tfie former probably more so, and it will take the. best brains of Britain to smoothe out the trouble that might be non-existent to-day had the administration used a heavier bsnd at the outset, pampering neither Moslem or Jew in its vacillating habit of first placating one and then the other. The situation cannot be let go by without protesting most strongly at the action taken by an Auckland Jew. He has taken upon himself the right to speak for the whole of New Zealand in the matter, and would wish to further embarass the British Government through a cable from Sir Joseph Ward stating “the deep concern in New Zealand regarding the position in Palestine.” Undoubtedly and naturally there is deep concern in New Zealand regarding affairs in Palestine, as only befits a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. But concern for Britain in her anxiety, not concern for either ! Jew or Moslem separately. One individual of one of the disputant religions has absolutely no right to voice an opinion on behalf of a Dominion peopled by Anglo-Saxons, and as such the cable, unless worded as the concern of the Jewish ccmmumty in New Zealand, should not on any account be sent. An order issued in the New Zealand Gazette last week makes it compulsory for all Dominion vessels to provision their lifeboats with chocolate in addition\to the ordinary biscuits and water, and to carry twelve fishing lines to,each boat. After the epic voyage of the. “Trevassa’s” lifeboat from Somewhere,in the vicinity, of St. jW and Amsterdam Islands to the South African coast seme years ago, as. a result of a court of inquiry t on the steamer’s. loss, the Home ' Board of Trade, issued, an edict that ! condensed milk had to be carried in ships’ lifeboats. The shipwrecked mariner of to-day, with his biscuit, chocolate and . milk, not to mention the chance of a succulent fish or two now and again, will fare off kingly food in comparison with his forerunner of the old days with (if lucky) weavillage biscuits stagnant water, and a chance flying fish. • * * • The following is given without comment: Hurriedly entering a store in Southland, an Englishman asked e for a sixpenny article and put down half-a-erown to pay for it. As Soon as he received the article from the storekeeper, a Scot, he rushed out of the shop forgetting iu his hurry to. colled his change. The Scot waited until his customer was round the corner.. Then most concientiously and most vigorously he began to knock on his window pane with a wet sponge to attract the Englishman’s attention. « • * • I Our Parliamentarians in action. Mr C. M. Wilkinson (Egmont.) in the House : “I would like to hear a little more from the Minister of Railways. He has said, very little since taking office ; he always seems to be examining some proposition with a view to doing something later on.” An Hon. Member : “He is ’holding’ kit steadily in view.” ■ I Mr Wilkinson ;“I am inclined to think that the honourable gentleman is indulging in quite a long and comfortable sleep, instead of getting busy with his department.” Mr C. Munns (Roskill) : “The honourable member is throwing bricks now.” . Mr A. M. Samuel: “It is a bouquet ; but I can tell the honourable gentleman it has a little cayenne-, peppei- in it”