CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 September 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

(from various sources")

Australia's Pluck

A journalist with the New South Wales forces at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, writes : " I watched a University graduate this afternoon. He was told otf as one of a fatigue party to carry bread Ih yards from a lighier to the troopship's side. He swung a hundredweight at a time on to his shoulders and covered the trip at the double. It was facinating to watch him. He was putting the same earnestness, the same energy into the job ho used to display when playing for New South Wales in the Rugby football field. The same man has represented New South Wales as a cricketer. Another private paralysed his captain by quietly informing him that he has an income of £2000 a year, and that he wished to get off for an hour to make some final arrangements with his bankers. Papers subsequently handed by him to the officer disclosed that this statement was perfectly true. ' Theso chaps,' said one officer of experienca, ' are the finest lot I have ever seen. After a little expercence ..they will be qualified to take a commission in any regiment in the world.' Most of them are losing financially by taking on the job, but that is the last matter that is entering into their calculations." *>• * -a. The Mercantile Outlook A re-assuring statement as to the mercantile outlook in New Zealand has been made in Dunedin. A man who has exceptional opportunities of knowing what is going on at the heart of financial circles, says that there is a growing feeling of security with respect to overseas traffic, and as for the banks, while they have no money to put out in speculative risks, their regular business is quite steady and they are not calling up their clients. The Dominion is undoubtedly sound and the big men are as serene as though no war was going on. * * * Bald-headed Orchestra A trained ostrich recently disconcerted its exhibitor at a music hall by continually endeavouring to break away from ail restraint and to climb over the footlights into the orchestra. The widely advertised act came to a sudden ond, and the professor emerged from behind the curtain and apologised for the actions of his pet in about these words : " Lydies and gentlemen—Hi am very sorry to disappoint you this hevening. We are compelled to cease our hengagement until the management hengages a new orchestra leader. The one at present hemployed 'as no 'air on top of 'is 'cad, and my bird takes hit for a hegg." What Success Means Much depends on the success or otherwise of the British arms m Europe. It means much for British supremacy in India, and in other countries inhabited by the coloured man. Incidentally, too, tho effect would be felt in Fiji, where, in addition to the native, the coloured and imported Indian coolie is proving himself a tough proposition, not to say problem. Anyhow, as far as the native Fijian is concerr/ed, there aro in this British possession a band of so-called rebels who are oontinuallv plotting for the overthrow of the Government and the return of all the " papalagi," which moans Europeans, Indians, Polynesians, etc., to their own countries. There have been several outbreaks oi this sort of thing, but the Fijian authorities do not minoo matters with the ni^^rs and whenever the rebels gather and the police get wind of it, there is a raid and into the "nick" go the leaders. Still.' little things like this show what is possible once British rule is weakened. Keep on Going " During this period of national stress," said the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, in a sermon at the Gore Methodist Church, mit is a public and patriotic duty to sustain, as far as possible, ad our ordinary activities." He added that it was a poor patriot isn. for a wealthy man to refrain from painting his house, for a well-to-do woman to dismiss her maid or for one of assured income to cancel a contract foi digging his garden. To curtail the circulation of money was to create and aggravate the distress consequent upon unernploy* meut. Judicious spending would afford work for tho industrious and prevent the need for charity. It was bettor to spend 20 guineas in building a shed that to give two guineas to a relief fund..