FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 173, 12 October 1927, Page 10

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN" THE men The “T. 8.” returned soldiers in the Domain shelters are to be provided with four-bed huts (if the Hospital Board has its way) instead of the single huts to which they have been used, and the privacy of which they greatly value: The “T. 8.” men they were Al men in the days when the tear was on; But done is their dash in the battle's crash —and the days of their use have gone. They were stalwart chaps to endure hard raps and to keep the foe at bay, But where are the cheers of the bygone l! ears—the promises where are theyf It was understood there was nought too good for those who went bravely forth With steadfast hearts to play their parts where the war gods screeched their wrath, But the pledges made by hearts afraid of the din of the warring drum Are shattered now; it seems, somehow, they pass as they lightly come, The “T. 8.” men were splendid men in the frill of their soldier pride ; But- they're crippled now—so why all the row, as to where or to how they a bide f The “T. 8.” men they are broken men; and what can they reckon to reap f Why, four in a hut in some hidden rut—where the cost of their keep is cheap 1 MINISTRY FOR TOURING Mr. Amery, Secretary ot State tor the Dominions, holds that the visits of Dominion Ministers to Great Britain should be reciprocated, and he speaks a deal of sound sense when he insists that Downing Street should more intimately know the children of the Empire. “British Ministers,” says Mr. Amery, "should take every opportunity of visiting the Dominions.” A Ministry of Touring might be established, both in Great Britain and in the Dominions. There would be no lack of candidates for these portfolios. An ounce of seeing its worth a ton of telling. One of these days there will be created a truly Imperial Parliament, to deal with matters of Empire policy, sitting in turn in England and in each of the Dominions, tl£ members of this Parliament to be elected by the various national Parliaments. It is a dream of statesmanship as yet; but it will be realised. Meanwhile, British Ministers from the heart of the Empire should be accorded the warmest welcome when they come our way. * * * FOURPENN’ORTH OF SILVER It is said that the shilling of the new coinage will contain only fourpenn’orth of silver. If all the coinage is alloyed in proportion, half-a-crown will be worth tenpenee, and the man who buys thirty pence worth of goods with it will be able to con, gxatulate himself on securing a great bargain. To soften the blow, the Mint authorities, we are told, are giving us most artistic designs. The new coinage should be a highly profitable industry, and no doubt it wifi help restore a lost art outside authoritative circles and provide the police with some highly interesting work. There is no reason, by the way, why New Zealand should not have its own Mint, seeing that profits are to be so great. New Zealand Is a nation, able to strike a blow for itself. How about striking some silver coinage?

* at ki »k ANCIENT ASTHMA CURE Sufferers from asthma (of whom there are hundreds in Auckland) should be greatly cheered to learn of the synthetic reproduction of a drug contained in a curative plant, “MaHuang,” which has been known to the Chinese for thousands of years. It is said that the Chinese claim this drug to be a certain cure, but they will not allow “Ma Huang” to leave China, although they raised no objection to the export of “Ma Jhong.” If the newvery ancient drug proves as valuable as is expected, there should be a great demand for other venerated Chinese drugs, such as powdered frogs’ heart, dried snakes’ eye, and the like. The drug business is in sore straits for something new—and suddenly it discovers that “there is nothing new under the sin.” But since the chief virtue in most drugs to-day is faith in their efficacy, any old resurrected nostrum will do to work a cure “ad aqua, ad fidem, ad lib.”