FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 541, 19 December 1928, Page 10

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

THE HAPPY TAXPAYER “Take notice that you have been assessed for income tax.” Preamble to a popular document. Having paid my good gold with a flourish On income acquired through sweat, I bless the dear Tax Department, Thanking heaven, for its small-meshed net. But there are men, o, blight the cursed grumblers ! Who hate the formality; But I, ever patient, enduring, Love paying my annual fee. Someone must pay civil servants. Who labour from sun-up to dark, And I, having sent on my levy. Feel joyous in doing my part. Then the blue boys who police the big city, Arresting with courage and stealth, Are monthly participators In the scramble for my bit of pelf. Then, too, the political spartans Who legislate sweetly for me Must have some superfluous shillings To deposit with good Bellamy. O, I have no hour of resentment: Freedom costs money, you see, So each year / pay the tax gaily And gurgle with ill-disguised glee. Tamerlane. SECOND THOUGHTS A new version of an old song is suggested by Sir Joseph Ward’s £2,000 unemployment subsidies. Sir Joseph * Next Tuesday being Christmas Day, Two thousand quid I'll give away. Auckland City Council : Ilip-hip hooray, hip-hip hooray. Sir Joseph : On second thoughts I think it wise. Merely your funds to subsidise. Auckland City Council : Alack-a-day, alack-a-day! etc. NOT CRICKET The proposed action of the Australian Board of Cricket Control against player-writers is expected to draw from those concerned the obvious answer that their pens are mightier than their bats. GIFTS FOR CHAIRMEN The chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board was last night presented with a pair of white gloves. It is expected that Newmarket will be stirred to emulation, but that in this case the presentation will take the form of a pair of boxing gloves. THE STRATEGIC POST An advertisement in an Auckland motor guidebook is of particular interest to incautious motorists. It reads: ‘‘Our garage is just across the railway line. Use care in crossing the line. Repairs effected promptly.” If there is anything in the power of suggestion, this should be capable of accomplishing it.

STRIKE AMONG JURYMEN “It’s an insult to my intelligence to treat me as a jury,” said Mr. Justice Blair at the Supreme Court yesterday. When he made the above hasty remark at the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. Justice Blair little thought of the dire consequences that would follow (writes our Waterloo Quadrant correspondent). This morning, howover, disaffection was evident among the jurymen. The trouble started among the jurors empanelled for the breach of promise ease, Maria Mopes v. D Juan. No sooner had his Honour entered the court than the jurors, who had not, it was noticed, risen in the usual deferential manner, walked defiantly out of the i box. When policemen started to intervene, the men in blue were met with a sharp volley or marbles extracted from the sheriff’s barrel. Subsequently a stop-work meeting of the jury engaged in the case, Rex v. Kilonis, being an action for wilful damage to one chair, the property of the Auckland City Coun: cil, was held iin the jury’s retiring room. A decision to join in the strike was reached, and as a result the whole processes of Auckland’s litigation were held up. Jurymeq were to be seen enjoying the sun on the lawn, while Mr. Justice Blair, the unwitting author of this terrible situation, had a game of double patience with the sheriff. The foreman of the combined juries, Mr. W. Dolt, made a statement to the Press, in which the strikers put forward the view that his Honour’s remarks of yesterday were a reflection on their capacities, and might bring them within the meaning of the Mental Defectives Act (1928). It is understood that the Auckland Law Society has communicated with his Honour on the subject, pointing out that its members will in future feel much embarrassment when making such remarks as: “Now I would not insult the intelligence of such a body of men as the jury, etc., etc.” The society points out that his Honour, having been in private practice himself not very long ago, will doubtless understand their feelings. Later: The situation is unnhangeh.