FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 514, 17 November 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN.” JUSTICE UP TO DATE It has been proposed by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that policemen and traffic officers should have power to fine motorists on the spot for minor offences. . . . “Oyez, oyes, oyez! and likewise, Hear Yet My roadside court is now about to function. You, Silas Jimkins , buy your hurry dearly. . . Ten bob for speeding past the Penrose Junction!’ * “But Mr. Policeman—pardon me. Your worship Appears a little hot beneath the collar. I only did a modest forty-five, Sir. Couldn’t you knock it down to half a dollar?” “Enough. Your plea is vain. I’ll show no mercy . Silence in Court! You pay your money here. Ah, thanks. . . WhaP's that? You say thirsty? Court stands adjourned! Now what about a beer!” NODROG. * * * CONSOLATION An unsuccessful candidate for one of the Auckland suburban seats had a son born to him on the day after the election. The consolation prize. ... LETTS AND LATVIA The tenth anniversary of the proclamation of the Latvian Republic will be celebrated in Auckland on Monday. Let’s all go down and see the fun. Yes, Letts. THOUGHTFUL The fortunes of Sir John Luke in his neck-and-neck contest with Mr. C. H. Chapman will be followed eagerly by members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, who year by year receive an expression of S’ John’s goodwill in the form of a consignment of excellent cigars. Distribution of this form of bounty, once common, has gone out of fashion, though Mr. J. Horn, who retired this year, used to send m> a oase of Central Otago apples. And no two men in the House sought or got less publicity. *h * . NOISE BY RADIO Information comes from a visiting Wellingtonian « > the effect that the uproar transmuted by radio when Mr. Coates was endeavouring to speak on Wednesday night was not the result of a combined demonstration by the huge crowd, but simply the effect of a demonstration by a small and noisy group immediately in front of the microphone. For the sake of Wellington’s fair name, which had been sadly besmirched, we are glad of this acquittal. However, perhaps there was no real reason for the disclaimer. Many people were in doubt as to whether the| noise was really a political uproar, or just a typical sample of the balmy breezes that sometimes blow in Wellington. ... FIE! Touching on snobbery among cricket teams, and the point raised in this column yesterday, it is opportune to recall the jest played by Dunedin upon Maclaren’s M.C.C. team. The colonial Scot could not appreciate the exalted motives which prompted the tourists to ask that the amateurs be sent to one hotel, and the two professionals to another. So the two professionals were quartered at the best hotel, and the amateurs at the next-best. Incidentally, it was cheaper that way. The M.C.C. team included Colonel Hartley, who used toward New Zealand cricket the sanguinary adjective that gave “Pygmalion” and “Aren’t We All?” much of their piquancy. The Colorfel cculd not understand the horror which followed. But then, he wasn’t snobbish; yhe was merely dense.

JAPS TRIUMPHED Russian Admiral Oscar Starke, whose death in exile at Helsingfors was reported in yesterday’s cables, would not treasure his association with the Port Arthur fleet as a very happy memory. The rout of the Russian ships by Togo began early in 1904, only a few days after war had been declared, when a string of Russian cruisers ran into disaster on their own minefields. The main fleet was bottled up in Port Arthur for a long time, and when it emerged it found the Jap gunnery and navigation far ahead of its own. Inside 18 months Russia’s claims to strength by sea were scattered to the four winds, the defeat of the Baltic fleet at Tshushima —after a laborious voyage across the world—coming as the crowning blow. After that, Ivan and Boris never had much faith in their navy. Meanwhile, the brown men were winning on land from larger Russian forces, but with greater difficulties and at terrific cost. The intervention of the United States with proposals for peace probably saved the Russian forces from annihilation. It was a good move for Uncle Sam, who didn’t want to see the Japs extend their conquests indefinitely.