FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 May 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By j ,

the LOOK-OUT MAN

THE TRAM CONDUCTOR ? BOXG -‘War- wiped the buses off the road a? id left you but the tram. And now you're got the same old crush. the dear old “rush hour-' 3 jam. That's not enough to rile you., so. vee give the fares c slam And smile serenely when -ice hear each cit.’e censorial 'ZI n!' “Another penny, if you please. Or tuppence to go farther — Excuse me if I pause to sneeze. The higher fares hare caused a breeze. Embarrassing, ichen I must wheeze'Another t-uppencef—ratherT Monopoly's the thing to-day—old Competition's dead. it here once you sat for fonrpen.ee. sir. You stand for six instead. You knew the issue, didn’t you—YOU PUT THE COUNCIL IN! Then pay your extra pennies out, and don't make such a din l *'Another penny-—pass it out I Pennyl Pennyl Pennyl VC hat's the use of all this talk Pay it out and do not squawk. ELSE GET OUT ANL TRY A WALE — Come, pay another penny l ” MR. A.XDERPOX GOES PLVMMIXG Minister for Labour Anderson has commenced a personal investigation of housing conditions in the congested areas of Dunedin, and to-day he is to continue his investigations at Christchurch. He is cordially invited to a little slumming in Auckland. Areas which may be particularly recommended to his notice are those about Alexander Street, off Cook and Grey Streets, and in the vicinity of Federal Street. These are some only—the City Missioner can locate a few more for him. It is guaranteed that a thorough inspection of Auckland’s slum areas will revise his opinion as to “the general prosperity”' of the Dominion, open his eyes on the unemployment question, and give him some ideas in regard to town-planning—and the incompetence of civic administration to deal with slums and housing. In fact, such an inspection would be what is known as “a real eye-opener.” Come along, Mr. Anderson: PH AW AMD THE SOLDIER That dogmatic and sensation-court-ing individual, George Bernard Shaw (who, of course, doesn’t believe the half of what he says or a quarter of what he writ-es). has incurred the displeasure of the Secretary of State for War, because of a passage in “Man and Superman.” In this, Mr. Shaw has it said: “When a soldier approaches, the world picks up its spoons and packs off its womenkind.” The Secretary for War contrasts the exemplary conduct of Tommy Atkins at Shanghai with this Shavian extravagance—and the rock rebounds on Shaw. A XOTELIPT M.P. Elected by a majority of over 14.000 votes for the late Sir Henry Craik’s Scottish University seat in the House of Commons, M:r. John Buchan, at the age of 52, can survey his career with justifiable satisfaction. Born in Peebleshire, he was educated at Glasgow and Oxford Universities, at each of which many successes came his way. At the age of 26 he was private secretary to the late Lord Milner, then High Commissioner for South Africa. During the War he was on the Headquarters Staff, and there he obtained the inner knowledge of events which he used with such skill in his admir-

able History of the Great War. When literary fashions change, and England grows tired of young novelists exploiting their own experiences and discoursing merrily of complexes, it is to healthy, vigorous romancers like Buchan that they will look for relief. Already his novels, “Prester John,” Greenmantle,” “The Thirtynine Steps,” and “Mr. Standfast," have been accepted, but Buchan deserves to he master of an ever wider domain. He began his literary career at the age of 20 with the publication of “Don Quixote,” and since then he has published volumes of history, biography and romance. PRISOXERP’ HARD LOT Contrasted with the life led by inmates of American gaols, where you may have anything you order (if you can pay for it), the lot of the prisoners in New Zealand gaols is very hard They have only three meals a day; they have to wear daily the same suit of clothes (which becomes very mono tonous); they are permitted only two books at a time from the library: there are restrictions on their smoking and betting, and even freedom of speech is curtailed (in the hearing of the warders); and the electric light in their rooms is turned out at 9 p.m. Some of them are even submitted to the indignity of work (an indignity which they would most strenuouslv contest outside) and it seems as if there really is room for the activities of the newly-formed Penal Reform League.