TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19878, 6 May 1936, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Dickens’ Protests Charles DickensY interest in the suppression of street noises was referred to by Lord Hordvr, (‘llilil'lllilll of the Anti~Nuise League, at u lunohuun of the League in London rucontl)’. Lnrtl Murder road from :1 letter written in 1863 by Hit-lions to an MP. whu hml intru-(lm-ml to the House of Cmnmom it Bill for the Snpprnwiun of Street Music. (‘o—signutories im'lutlnd All'i'otl Tennyson, John J‘lvm‘ott Mil—lzlis, \\'. Huhnun Hunt, \\'illiio ('ullins. and Thomas Carlyle. Divkons wrote that all tho signaitm‘ivs worn “professors and pram titiunors “1' mm of the arts or N‘il'lu't-S.” Ho mldcrl: “In their devotion lo thvir pursuits—tending: to tho pence and comfort of mankind—tlwy an: (1:1in interrupted, lini'nwml, worried, wotu‘ied, driven nearly 111 ml, ll_\' >ll'k‘('t lnusiviuns. 'J‘hc-y nru own made espcviul objects of pursm-nliun hy ln‘uzvu port'm'nwrs on human instrunn‘nts, hunters ul’ drums, grindors of organs, hangers of banjos, clashct‘s of uymhnls, \\'urrin'rs ul’ litltllvs. and bellpwers of ballads.

“ Yuni‘ grateful C«)I‘I'(‘Spllll(l(‘llls tulce tho liberty to suggest to you that, ultlmug'h u l’ul‘liuuwntury tlvhulv undoubtedly requires grout (lCll(‘ill‘)' in tho handling, their :u‘ooutions require at least as uuu‘h, and that it would highly vouducc towards the success of your pmpusml cum-tuwul it‘ you prm‘uil on its opponents to state their uhlicc—lions in il‘ zi>>uilml on H” sidos by the frightful noises, in despite ut‘ \\'llll‘ll _\nur m:rrospmulvuts hch to gain their bread.”

Lon] llnnlm‘ (Inniml lllut llu‘ Ll‘ug‘lu‘ was attempting to make life 19‘s mn‘lurnlrlv. “ \\'(l lwliovv," lw mid: “ llmt In eliminate needless “..isv mud in Iv<>on nqu \\'hivh \mht oxi>t is merely one of the means 01‘ making life better worth living."