FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 191, 2 November 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LCOK-OUT MAN” FORTY HOCKS' TALK Green Envy is stalking among our members of Parliament, making them sad and disgruntled men. They have learned of the 40 hours’ speech ot Mustapha Kemal, in which Turkish history of the past five years was reviewed. Almost any one of our legislators would give years of his life to be able to deliver a 40-hours’ speech. We really ought to send some of them to Turkey to learn how —at the expense of the country, of course. "DOG- IX THE MAS GER ” One of the real needs of Point Chevalier is swimming baths. When the Dixieland people proposed to construct them some months ago, the City Council (which would not itself provide baths) obtained an injunction restraining them from going on with the work. Now the Minister of Marine has given Dixieland permission to construct baths in front of its caoaret, and the City Council regards this “with the greatest disfavour.’ The . City Council always does so regard any enterprise it cannot or will not undertake itself for the entertainment. or benefit of the public. That is why it is so popular. How really popular it is can hardly be estimated —by itself. Its members have not read the story of the dog in the manger. DEAR DRIVING "Storm of protest” is really a mild description of the manner in which the Government's proposal to place a tax of fourpence a gallon on petrol has been received. Fathers who take their families out at week-ends in cars which “eat” fuel are talking of returning their cars without making any further payments. Bus owners who ply with heavy consumption vehicles talk of raising fares, and for the City Council buses it looks like total extinction. One point the Government seems to have overlooked in placing so heavy a tax on petrol is the effect on the use of the motor. Cheap fuel makfes motoring popular; dear fuel will greatly restrict it. And in obtaining £720,000 from this tax, how much will be lost in Customs revenue on imported cars, the demand for which will be very seriously diminished? “Too hot altogether” is the phrase in which public opinion expresses itself over this tax. * * «» TRAM STOPR It would be Interesting to know how much time will be saved in tram travelling on the various routes by the elimination of a number of stopping places. Fifteen stops have been cut out on the Onehunga trip, 11 on the Remuera, and eight on the Great South Road, for instance. What time is it estimated will be saved on these journeys? Of course, the tramway authorities could long ago have saved Great South Road residents ten minutes of valuable time each way by running alternate trams via <Parnell; but they have preferred to ignore the representations made regarding this convenience. Still, they are brightening up a bit these days, having got rid of the worry of serious competition, and Great South Road residents may indulge in hopes—eh, Mr. Ford?

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS There are about 100 Chinese in New Zealand who have outworn their welcome—those who came for a brief stay on a temporary permit and forgot to leave when their time was up. Yet 14 Chinese landed in Auckland this week “to remain in New Zealand.” Are they men previously domiciled here, returning to the loved country of their adoption (after having taken home to China all the money they have been able to collect), or are they just immigrants being made welcome in a white country where many white men can’t get a job? What the immigration authorities should have done, in either case, was to have refused admission to New Zealand to these 14 Chinese until 14 of those in hiding had been handed over for deportation. BRAVE HUNTING “John Willie” was the name of a fine trout which for three years frequented a pool in the Patea River. And for three years men tempted “John Willie” by every means known to the angler. It really was a shame to permit this brave, sparkling fellow to enjoy life —just as you and I enjoy life, in our own way, for instance. So "John W'illie” was most persistently hunted, and he rose at last to a silver Zulu dry fly. That was the end of "John Willie.” - He was “of such beautiful shape and in such splendid condition" that the Stratford Acclimatisation Society decided to have him stuffed. It was a glorious instance of the bravery and resource of man, and the sight of “John Willie,” stuffed and placed on a board, will doubtless stimulate other anglers to fresh deeds o£ heroism. _