FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 568, 22 January 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

"THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

THE PIONEERS Three Rotarians, who appeared at the weekly luncheon yesterday in Palm Beach suits, one -with an open shirt, were hailed as the pioneers of a new movement in dress. O gallant trio, clad in fabrics fine. Defiant of observances sartorial! Honour, applause, and fame be ever thine For braving these conventions immemorial. Here in your tussore suits of pastel shade, Stand, and accept the poet's accolade . Maybe you wear no collar, tie, or stud, A standard not conclusively Rotarian , But don’t, infer that I am throwing mud. No, I respect your lead humanitarian . Pioneers Peacock, Rhodes and Roche O’Shea, You’ve shown the town a thing or two to-day. Great-hearted three, perhaps you’ve helped to start A movement that will give your names canonical Significance wherever clothes impart To manly forms a dignity ironical. If not, then pray be charitably mute, the trouble is—ive can’t all folloio suit! Jack of Spades. THE REMEDY A member of the Rotary Club says the trouble with the hot weather is that it scalds the throat. There is an excellent remedy for that complaint. BACK HOME News is always welcome (says an English journal) from overseas visitors who come over here to enliven our proceedings before going back home to Australia, New South Wales, or other parts. Just so, just as we in New Zealand always like to welcome visitors from Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales. THE PERFUMED TRAIL Ambergris-hunting has sprung into sudden popularity in the North, principally owing to the bonanza finds of Mr. V. Subritzky. Having only a few days ago found a record lump that should keep him In comfort for the rest of his life, Mr. Subritzky has now picked up a smaller piece for pocket money. Even though ambergris does come from the inside of a whale, there seems no valid reason for regarding Mr. Subritzky as a Jonah. HA IM.YA BOUND Even though it is not every round-the-world tripper who gets a wreck thrown in, there will doubtless be a heavy demand on the bars of Havana when the harrowed passengers of the stranded President Garfield eventually reach that delightful city. Once described as “a filthy pest hole,” Havana now calls itseft the smartest city in) the two Americas, and boasts magnificent hotels, for which there are two rea sons —-prohibition and advertising. Prohibition in the States gave thirsty republicans a reason for seeking some other clime, and a wonderful publicity effort run by the citizens of Havana told them where to go. As part of its publicity campaign, Havana even had a song written for it, just as “Miami” and “Avalon,” two popular songs of yesterday, were written to stimulate Florida real estate projects. Another version of the second ditty might well be written for the benefit of Mr. C. G. Macindoe and other Sanders Cup enthusiasts.

TINDER THE CHANNEL

Certain sections of British officialdom are notoriously slow-moving, so it is not surprising that naval and military authorities are still antagonistic to the Channel tunnel scheme, in spite of the plain fact that Britain could easily defend her end of the tunnel with a few sticks of gelignite if the entry of another Bonaparte and his legions were feared. In such cases it seems most practical, as suggested by Lord Lee of Fareham concerning naval discussions, for the matter to be taken out of the hands of theorists and placed in those of commonsense persons. The depression in the Welsh coalmining industry, where over 100,000 men are out of work, is keeping the tunnel project before the people just now. but it is doubtful if the tunnel could help more than by employing a relati lhly small number of miners over a long term. The Channel tunnel is about the oldest surviving engineering project which is still in the dream stage. It has been cropping up for - generations, and if it isn’t started soon there will be no need for it, as air-ferries will be doing its work. It. looks as though England should form a Channel tunnel society —and send for Mr. R. H. Greville.