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Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 8

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By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

HONOUR FOR NELSON Amid all the talk of our decreasing birth-rate, one New Zealand wife gives birth to triplets at the Nelson Hospital. All are doing well. It is an honour for Nelson, and Nelson can best show Its approval by honouring the mother. This is the second occasion within a few weeks of triplets being born in the Dominion. “A FAST RUN” It is proudly announced that a St. John ambulance travelled 66 miles in 125 minutes on Thursday, bringing an urgent case of sickness to the Auckland Hospital. Very good work, doubtless, In the circumstances, and thrilling enough for any patient. Considered calmly, however, it seems merely an additional argument for the establishment of efficient country hospitals. It is not in the interests of patients who are desperately ill that they have to be conveyed over long distances into the city. EXPENDITURE AND CONVENIENCE The chairman of the Tramways Committee says that over £SOO a month is being saved by the elimination of a large number of tramway stopping places. And a great deal of inconvenience is being caused passengers who have to walk long distances to a stop. Tramways are a convenience, and should give the utmost service to the public. The Tramways Committee could save a lot more money if it cut out a large number of trams, as well as stopping-places. It would hardly be a popular move, though. What is wanted Is more efficient service at a lower cost. LIFE-SAVING ON LAUNCHES An extraordinary state of affairs is revealed in connection with the launches which ply for hire in Auckland. Launches which work within river limits are, under present regulations, compelled to carry life-saving apparatus for only one-third of the number of passengers they are authorised to carry. The other two-thirds, it is presumed (or those of them who cannot swim), are to drown if the launch is wrecked. The knowledge is not likely to encourage non-swimmers to indulge in Saturday afternoon excursions. The question is now being gone into by the Marine Department, and not before time. The Sun commented on this matter a year ago. INCONGRUOUS PENALTIES For having struck an umpire, a footballer lias been suspended by the Wellington Rugby League for life. For having engaged in a conspiracy jo ensure the winning of certain horses in two separate races, the racing authorities have disqualified two jockeys for twelve months, and another for six months. The one offence was committed in the heat of temper; the other was a deliberate scheme to swindle the racegoers who had put their money in good faith on horses that the jockeys had arranged should not be allowed to win. It is time the punishment of racing swindlers was taken out of the hands of “judicial” committees and placed in more judicial hands. COMMONWEALTH BRIBERY CHARGES A new development in the bribery charges brought by Mr. Lambert, M.H.R., is the allegation that after lie refused to give up the West Sydney seat (for wTiich he says he was offered £8,000) in favour of Mr. Theodore, exPremier of Queensland, Mr. W. G. Mahoney was induced to give up the Dailey seat for the newcomer Into Federal politics. The “testimonial” given to Mr. Mahoney was recalled, and Mr. Mahoney told the Royal Commission that £1,250 of the money he was presented with was his own money, which he paid in because the “testimonial” was “hanging fire.” What a novel idea! We can all obtain “testimonials,” and thus demonstrate how popular we are, by paying for them ourselves. However, Mr. Theodore admits that while lie only gave £5 to the “testimonial,” he gave £2OO to Mr. Mahoney personally. Politics are in a queer way over in Australia. BUILDING DECREASES Figures from various centres show that building is largely on the decrease in New Zealand. A couple of years ago there was tremendous activity in the construction of dwellings, largely as the result of money being made available by the State Advances Department. There Is a tightness in State financing for building purposes now, however, and, in any case, the housing shortage appears to have been well overtaken. Just now there are numerous dwellings to let. Gradually, of course, another shortage will develop with the growth of population, and rents will go up—together with loud political cries anent Government inactivity, etc. These things move in cycles. TRAVESTIED SEA TERMS Romance has gone from the sea, and now even time-honoured sea terms are being taken from us. “Port” and “starboard” are no longer to be used in orders to the man at the wheel. Soon no seaman will dare to “shiver me timbers!” Under a decree of the International Shipping Conference he will have to exclaim, “Disintegrate my wooden planks.” Pirates will no longer chorus, “To, ho, and a bottle of rum!” They will press the bell and say “Cocktail, please, waiter.” Bow and stern will become the “sharp” and “blunt” ends of the ship, respectively, and the skipper who wants “Full speed astern” will ring the en-gine-room to “step on it in. reverse.” Worst of all, “splicing the main brace” will descend to the land level of the mere drinking of beer. All of which reminds me of a classic rendering of naval terms Into their shore equivalents during a “visitors’ day” aboard H.M.A.S. Australia, some years ago. A woman, puzzled by the Intricate alleyways on the main deck, and desiring to find a ladder which would lead her to the upper deck, met a friend outside the wardroom and inquired the way. This was her friend’s direction: “You go along there past the dining-room and then up the stairs on to the roof.”