FROM THE WATC TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 10

FROM THE WATC TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT V.AN RESPECTED MR. HARRIS

In denying that there was anything punitive in deposing Mr. Harris, M.P., from the chairmanship of the Industries and Commerce Committee, the Prime Minister said it was ridiculous to think the Government would go out of its way to “recognise the secession and independence” of the member for Waitemata. Mr. Harris was respected by his associates in the House. “There’s nothing punitive about this whatever,” remarked the big boy as he smote the small boy on the ear. “I do not wish to dominate you in any way,” he said, viciously tweaking the nose of the little fellow; “nor,” he added, aiming a blow at his solar plexus, “do I wish it to be inferred that I bear the slightest recollection of your audacity of twelve months ago, when you dared to contradict me. It is perfectly ridiculous that anyone should think so,” he concluded, turning his junior around and planting an effective kick in the right place. “You are thoroughly respected by me, and by all your associates. Go your way in peace!” CONCERNING MARRIAGE TANGLES

Marriage tangles that have been made public in Auckland lately have little on a case which recently caused an Australian judge to stroke a perplexed brow. One Florence Read, or Stewart, asked for a divorce on the grounds that her husband, Douglas Stewart, was already married when he wedded her. Stewart was supposed to have previously married one Alice Wright, but he affirmed that when he espoused Alice, she was already married to one Patrick Cunningham. Stewart was given an adjournment to enable him to call Alice Wright—or should it be Cunningham, or maybe Stewart. To add to the complication, it 1 was stated that Alice Wright (or Cunningham or Stewart) is now known as Mrs. Law WHERE WILL THEY STOP > Fears are entertained that the 60,000 chrysalises of an undefined parasite now on their way to New Zealand to devour our blowflies will not be content to starve when they, have eaten all the “buzzies.” Some people express dread le3t these parasites attack the bees and demolish the honey industry. This country is so overrun with curses which were imported as blessings that its inhabitants may be excused in looking askance at the importation of anything new in the way of insects. Rabbits, weasels, blackberry, ragwort, furze, rusts, blights, scales —and so on, ad. lib., enough to smother or devour the whole country if not kept in check by expenditure aggregating vast sums of money every year. If the new parasites will deal effectively with the blowfly, to “consume it quite,” well and good—or “so far so good.” But where will they stop?

A MEAN TRICK There are varying degrees of shabby morality, but surely the most mean is that which robs the public parks. The authorities recently went to great expense in forming a picturesque drive through the, Cornwall Park from Green Lane to the Campbell Statue, the drive being planted with valuable shruns. On a recent evening some meanspirited sneaks, utterly bereft of any spark of citizenship, went to the park in a motor-car and stole several rhododendron plants. An indignant public expresses the devout wish that these contemptible pilferers will be traced, for they are of that fraternity which steal from a poor-box or rob a blind man of his dog. * * * STEALING THEIR POWERS The Education Department, intimidated by the howls of wrath with which the “feeler” regarding the abolition of the education boards was received, drew in its horns like a scalded snail. Now it is seeking to destroy the boards by a more insidious plot. Yesterday the Minister of Education wrote asking the Auckland Education Board’s “views” on the suggestion that the control of teachers’ training colleges should be transferred from the boards to the department. The Minister may be somewhat surprised at the vigour of these “views” when they are officially conveyed to him. The militant Mrs. Ferner demanded that rather than surrender any further powers, they should try and recover some of those they had already lost, and the chairman complaitffed indignantly that the department was treating board members more like children than men and women. The Minister is being rebuffed by the Wellington. Canterbury and Otago boards also on this auestion. so that he will find be is not dealing with children after all. Wellington nronoses that ioint representations should he made to the departjment. Let such be made. Vra- is ti, e ■ time for the combined boards to strike p. glorious biow for libertv. end to have 1 their no w ers sTid st-’tus dofinpii orice and for all. “Up guards and at ’em!”