Current Comment

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 12

Current Comment

(By M.O.S.)

OtKer Points of View

People used to laugh at the idea that one Britisher is worth three foreigners, but the R.A.F. has proved it right. # # * * Spitfire Fund—If the response does not imnrove the fighter waiting to be paid for and christened will have to take off inscribed "Tara . # # * * Demand for reprisal raids on Berlin— British people consider bombing raids on the German capital should be more than the ersatz variety. * # * * The Government had not even thought about the coming general elections, said the Prime Minister. Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. • # # * * A full year is the basis announced for fifth period import selection licensing. Some opinion is inclined to think the year will nevertheless be somewhat empty"* * . The introduction of big reforms in schools were outlined by the Minister of Education. Judging from the size of some pilots attending R.N.Z.A.F. mght classes big forms are equally necessary. * * # * Berlin has had its longest air raid of ihe war. — Cable message. Oh, no, it hasn't! # ♦ * * Plans are being considered to build underground courts at London. To deal with the underworld, we pre5ume. „ „ # ♦ . Among the London buildings that suffered from bombs was Madame Tussaud s waxworks, where the figure of Hitler was undamaged. . This was unusually fine discrimmation on the part of the Nazi airman. # # * * On the Value of a Library. (The Hawera Borough Council has accepted the offer of the country library service, provided that the library is made free to residents and ratepayers). The value of books is great. What a service a free library will render to the lover of contentment, who no longer need curse nightly as he settles comfortably down in the chair from one leg of which young Freddie has removed the castor! He, having exercised his rights as a householder, need only - take a free library book and insert it neatly between the floor and the chair-leg, and the service will have done him good. With relaxed mrnd he may now settle down to enjoy the thriller he hired for 3d round the corner. One must think, too, with summer coming on, of the benefits to art. In what ordinary fiction library is there a book heavy enough to smooth the wrinkles from a newly-filled photograph album? Echo answe'rs, "None." We have been gently reminded that non-fiction books are sometimes read by people. That, we would point out from our great store of economic knowledge, is obvious, because otherwise they would not be written. Yea, truly the value of books is great; We know a bookmaker who is very rich. # ♦ * * German official quarters are using the argument that Britain can be brought to her knees by air raids, blockade and the destruction of economic life. Britain, however, is still on her toes. # * ' * ' * A rebellion at Wellington was prevent!ng the embarkation of New Zealand troops for overseas, said a Rome radio broadcast. A more likely cause than a rebellion at Wellington, to prevent the embarkation of New Zealand troops for overseas, would be a rebellion at Rome. * * * * Ap-Parent Lack of Control. We were approached the other day by a Person soliciting donations for the Society for the Prevention of Radio Thrillers. „ "You should do a Good Deed Day," he whispered, sitting on our typewriter to ensure that we should not ignore his presence. "Think of the wee innocents whose minds may be incurably diseased if you, the Representative Fraction, do not support Our Cause!" "Get off the typewriter and let us Get On with our Uplift," we implored him, wiping away a tear. "Here's sixpence, and if we win the prize keep it dark. We make it a rule to take no more than 40 raffle tickets a week and the other ninety and nine have been turned empty away." So he left, and we paused to thmk sadly of the days of our childhood, when men and women were not Mum and Dad, but Real Parents. And we thought of the advertisements extoliing the Selectivity of the Modern Radio, wondering if it . were not more desirable that scientific research should concentrate on the Selectivity of the Modern Parent. And from there it was an easy step to ponder the mentality of those who desire the Government to Stop This and to Stop That, just because the People are so busy being proud of the Fight for Freedom that they have no time to think of Individual Responsibility. "Heck!" we said to ourself, and, because of the Mood we were in, turned ofl the Classical Hour with unwonted irritability. Then we settled down to work out plans for the organisation of a Society for the Cure of Prevention. # • * * Objection to any outside interference with its activities was voiced by the New Plymouth patriotic committee. That was just what he objected to about the army, a private friend told us the other day. # # # * Following the abandonment of August 15 as the date for Hitler's triumphant entry into London, September 15 was fixed as the vital date in the German programme. Something seems to be gnawing at Hitler's vitals. # * * * It is officially announced at Rome that the Italian offensive in Egypt will be timed to coincide with the German offensive against Britain. In the same way as the declaration of war coincided with the collapse of France and as capitulation will coincide with the defeat of Germany? * * * * Getting To The Bottom of Things. (The beauty of Mt. Egmont and the province as a whole was worth publishing far and wide. said Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour at New Plymouth. If oil were struck in Taranaki there would be no need to seek publicity, replied the Hon. P. C. Webb.) "We have a scheme so striking in its simplicity that only M.O.S. could have thought of it. There are large parts of New Zealand possessing only insignificant hills. If Mt. Egmont could be taken on tour for an extended season thousands of people could he made to realise what we in Taranaki have to put up with. We are fully aware of the magnitude of the task but— haven't you heard of the | Spirit that Moves Mountains, and the New Zealand Railways (fumiture removed by the stick, week or while-you-wait system)? — we are confident. Just think of the huKe expanse of flat acres to be put into Increased Production for the War EfFort (we wanted to put those capitals into even larger type but the I Editor said no). I If Mt. Egmont were to be moved out I of the way we might find the oil underI neath it. In which case we could simply I build a shaft and put old Egmont back I again, because nobody would worry I about the Tourist Traffic any more— it I would not be worth trafficking in.