FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN”

A QUEER MORALITY During discussion on land matters in the House of Representatives, it was frankly admitted by the Minister that values were far too high and that a general revaluation was overdue. Regarding the Government’s delay, however, the cat was let out of the bag by Mr. T. M. Wilford, who said the Minister could, if he would, tell the House that in certain districts revaluations would lead to such heavy reductions that second mortgages would be rendered valueless—therefore delay was often advisable “in the interests of the mortagagees and the occupiers of the land.” In other words, the Government was afraid to face the music—and revaluations were to be delayed until mortgagees had disposed of their paper and occupiers had a chance to sell out at something like present values to simple souls who would find they had paid considerably more than the land was worth! This is a queer business morality for any Government to encourage. If tne Government could be held legally responsible for private losses incurred by- fictitious valuations it might find itself developing a stricter conscience. NEW USE FOR STRYCHNINE A humane genius down Dunedin way has seized upon a bright idea (said to have originated in America) for thinning out the deer of Otago. He suggests that special salt licks, impregnated with strychnine, should be hung on trees for the deer to lick. A hundred thousand deer were killed by this method in the Stanislau Forest,” California, he says. Strych-nine-poisoning being about .the most agonising form of death conceivable, the idea is one that should commend itself to those who love to see animals suffer. To mortals with normal ideas, the spectacle of seeing deer lying in convulsive agonies all over the bush does not appeal. The proposal of the Dunedin man has been referred to the Game Committee of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, with power to act. If it is put into operation, it will be up to the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to send an officer on the trail of the poisoners.

BUSH NURSE PASSES The women's branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, with 40 branches and 1,250 members, is doing splendid work for isolated country housewives by providing bush nurses and visiting housekeepers in times of need. All that this fine organisation asked the Prime Minister in a deputation the other day was that the Railways Department should provide travelling passes for two nurses. The P.M. assured the deputation of his heartiest support and sympathy, but said a straight-out pass could not be granted, though the matter might be arranged between the Health and the Railway Department. This, apparently, is one of the results of our

wonderful book-keeping system. The Minister of Railways cannot give a pass. There has to be voluminous correspondence between the Health Department and the Railway Depart ment. Then, the Railway Department may issue a pass to the Health De partment, which, after further correspondence, may issue it to the women’s branch of the F.U. for its bush nurse. The Railway Department will charge the pass up to the Health Department, and the Health Department will get a grant for it from the Treasury. This is the red-tape method of Government which is responsible for the taxpayers of New Zealand paying the salaries of twice as many civil servants as are really needed.