FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 April 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By the LOOK-OUT MAN

THE GOOD SHIP “ AUCKLAND" The shouting now is over, and the tumult dies away. And Baildon's in command again five cannot shout •* Hoorayl") Tom Bloodworth isn't downcast, and Warnock doesn't mind — But Schmidt is left lamenting, a long, long way behind. The saine old cj'cw is back on deck, excepting one or two, And the seas ahead are stormy (Will the old ship weather through?). The pilot's had the wheel before; his navigation shocks — But he's heard the seagulls screaming note, and MAY keep off the rocks. So here's a hope that, through the shoals and perils of the sea, The storm-worn craft may come to port and not be cast a-lee. Her skipper’s not a Captain Cook, her crew is rather slack. But — “a, sweet little Cherub sits up aloft, and looks out for the life of poor Jack V*

THE “MAJOR" “Major Williams, V.C.” offered to sell some cocaine to a stranger in a London hotel. The stranger turned out' to be a detective, and the Major, was no Major; nor had he the V.C. There were numerous stray colonels and majors (who weren’t either) knocking around Auckland in the early years after the war. They told tales of painful war wounds and feats of derr-ing-do, thereby enlisting the sympathy of society ladies and “temporary financial accommodation” of clubmen. Some of them had their antecedents investigated by a doubting journalist; when the Army List showed them to be bogus—although one “ major ” had actually been In the army—as second lieutenant in a yeomanry regiment. His wounds were not those of war, how r ever. Like the Arabs, these heroes “folded their tents and silently stole away ” —those who weren’t gaoled when they were exposed, leaving behind unpaid hotel bills, 1.0.U.'5, and feminine hearts damaged by deceit. Nowadays, all visiting colonels, majors, and even captains are expected to produce proof of their bona fides before being clubbed by the men or lionised by the ladles of Auckland society. IN CHRISTIAN ENGLAND! While a measure of returning prosperity is bringing the London of fashion more than a measure of returning extravagence—in which the disgraceful excesses of night clubs figure largely—what of the poor of “Christian England,” and of her great metropolis in particular? Mr. F. Lee, the Mayor of Coventry, recently investigated personally a shocking case of overcrowding. A widow and 11 children of both sexes, of ages running from 12 months to 25 years, were found to be living and sleeping in one upper room containing five beds. And in a West Lancashire town, 13 people were found to be living in a oneroomed house, the adults sleeping in chairs and the children taking turns in bed. “The Church Is the first to cast stones at immorality,’ ’says an English writer, “but could anything be more absurd than to expect men and women to live wholesome and moral lives while such a tragic state of things is allowed to exist?” an epic of the ocean The heroes among “those who go down to the sea in ships” are not confined to our own race, glorious as is its maritime history. Happily the Briton is not slow to admire courage and chivalry in an alien and the thrilling rescue last week of the crew of the British steamer Collingdale by a veteran Spanish pilot has gained the glad praise of the English-speak-ing world. A large cargo boat and a British destroyer had failed to succour 30 British sailors who were in a most perilous poslton, when out came the gallant Don in a tiny launch risking being swamped in a heavy sea, and brought the distressed mariners safe to land, while thousands thronged the shores of the harbour and cheered him on. Let us be thankful that no one nation monopolises courage—or any other virtue —and picture the shades of Martin, Frobisher, and Drake saluting those of their ancient foes, the Dons of the Spanish Armada, in honour of the Spanish hero of this modern epic Of the sea. And let us reflect that this international recognition of worth is one of those factors which are -working to some day make the whole world kin! > AMATEUR FARMERS * Apropos of New- Zealand's need of settlers for the land, are we going to get them from Britain with Britain’s blessing? It hardly seems likely. According to «Mr. Noel Buxton, late Minister for -Agriculture, 200,000 more workers should be employed on the land in Great Britain. Yet, apart from farmers’ wives and servants, 19,000 women farmers and 100,000 other women are engaged in agriculture there. It is a fact that those who are already on the land in the Old Country are the hardest of all to persuade to emigrate. That is why so many of the immigrants who come to New- Zealand as “experienced farm-workers” prove w-ithin three hours of starting work on a farm that all their agricultural experience has been obtained in mines or factories.