FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 791, 11 October 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT WAN.”

THE FALLEN GLADIATOR "I was crazy,” says the wrestler, Farmer Vance, explaining liis defeat by Eklund. The farmer went where lazy daisies He took a toss. The world seemed vague and hazy. But was it to the credit of his foe? The cognoscenti answer blithely, "No!” He merely went where reckless wrestlers go. He was crazy! SO THIS IS UNITY! Mr. A. E. Davy, who is engaging with some heat in a political controversy in 'Wellington, is well known in Auckland. He is known as one ol the ablest political organisers this country has ever had, and it has been more than once whispered that when Reform lost his services it lost a very good man. Being a controversialist of some skill, Mr. Davy will be able to look after himself in the present argument with a trio of hypercritical henchmen. Nevertheless observers will be struck by the subtle humour of Mr. Davy's claim that he enters the fray as chairman of the “United” party. DARK-EYED STRANGER One of the longest service car runs in-New Zealand is from Auckland to Napier, close on 300 miles of travel. The journey is occasionally relieved by those pleasantries that do so much to relieve the tedium of travel. A swarthy stranger stepped on to the car at Hamilton the other day, and at Putaruru courteously insisted on paying for the lunch of the lady passengers. He did not consult them at all. Indeed, he was notably silent during the meal. He just plied an efficient knife and fork, then silently stalked to the counter and did his bit toward proving that the age of chivalry Is not dead. The-ladies later protested, but it was no use. The stranger was inarticulate. He simply made soft, apologetic gestures, and smiled a smile that was 90 per cent, pure ivory. Later, after he had left the car at Atiamuri with a salutation that was gallantry Itself, they learned that he was a Greek timber worker from some dark forest of the interior. The dark-eyed alien could speak no English, but he obeyed in his own fashion the proprieties of the road. SYNTHETIC WEATHER A step toward the inevitable has been taken by Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., in moving to have airplanes made a carriage within the meaning of sundry Acts. Perhaps this is the first signs of a crusade against the freedom of the air, though it may never be assailed so seriously as motor-cars were in the days when a standardbearer with a red flag had to pilot them through towns and villages. Whether they are deemed carriages or even flying tea trays for the purposes of the' Act, airplanes may be limited for a time by other factors than legislation. For all the easy grace of their hops Southward, the Auckland touring airplanes have had to halt two days at Wellington on account of low-hanging clouds. It is high time some of the’se enterprising inventors learned to control the weather. Why, oh why, can we not have synthetic rains, synthetic winds, and other phenomena turned on as required? After all the wonderful week-ends we have had lately, what is the betting Summer Time on Sunday won’t be introduced by a dull day? CO ELECT —IF YOU CAN. Explanations and apologies may follow the little difference that lias arisen between Mr. W. J. Poison and the Waimairi (Canterbury) County Council. Seemingly Mr. Poison wanted some information about the number of ratepayers in the county whose properties exceeded certain valuations. He telegraphed for the information, and the clerk obligingly telegraphed it back—collect. Mr. Poison then rejected the wire. The cost fell back on the unfortunate ratepayers of Waimairi, and possibly made severe inroads Into their petty cash. It is easy to understand that they are seething with indignation. Any one who has had a collect telegram landed back on his hands will sympathise with their position, and agree that the council has the fullest right to tell Mr. Poison exactly where he gets off. It may be, however, that Mr. Poison will plead a misunderstanding. He may even have a moment of prodigal generosity and send down Is 6d, or whatever the sum involved amounts to. to square the matter. Or perhaps he will just stand on his rights as an Independent M.P., blow out that big black mustachao of his, and continue to assert his independence.