The Passing Show

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 17 (Supplement)

The Passing Show

COMMENT AND CRITICISM

DETAILED INFORMATION concerning farming operations is now sought from farmers by the Gov-

ernment. A pal at Horsham Downs confided to me that he put in his return but forgot to mention an allowance of 2d for seed for the sharemilker’s budgerigar.

Herr Hitler seems to be doing his utmost to secure a Czech-mate.

There seems to be no doubt about it—the bigger the armaments race the smaller the human.

Exasperated European statesmen, at their wit’s end to solve current problems, should simply be told to go to Halifax. * * • *

Wonder if those 30 new bombers the Government has ordered will suggest anything to the Garden Place Committee?

Taxpayers will not be interested in the proposal for a new State mill. They are busy enough in going through the present one.

Boring will start shortly in the search for oil, states the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines. It has already begun in earnest in the search for votes.

It seemed to be this way. Mr Nash says the newspapers exercise discrimination and the newspapers say Mr Nash exercises recrimination.

Aunt Jennie, reading that the Arbitration Courts were overworked, said she quite approved the appointment of industrious magistrates.

Reference to a man with a wooden leg who played football was recently made at Auckland by Mr Justice Callan. But if the newspaper critics are any criterion the heads of our footballers are the trouble.

It is the policy of the Auckland City Council gradually to eliminate verandah posts. Suitable protests have been made, I understand, by the Scroungers and Sundowners’ Industrial Union of Shirkers.

Another entry for the historical exhibition —a copy of the first complaint about the price of butterfat made by a Waikato farmer. Though rather indistinct, the date appears to be 1384.

If the English elevens have no good spin bowlers the rest of the team seems to be having a good spin at fielding.

The colder weather may be all right for facial eczema in stock, but it is of no use to rheumatism in me.

“ China must be governed by the Chinese,” says the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Hirota. The only question, then, is who shall govern the Chinese governors?

“ In New Zealand we have only one Court of Revue.”—Extract from a Farmers’ Union report. But most mortgagees don’t find the revue very entertaining. * * * •

I know now why they call it duck shooting. We ducked when one of the party mistook us for the quarry and we ducked again when the punt upset. •

Scientists tell us money is a germcarrier. Judging by the taxation figures Mr Nash believes the public’s health should be protected against handling too much of it. * * * •

It is a bit of a puzzle. These chaps work allegedly from nine to five daily, and their wives prepare the evening meal for 6.15 sharp as that allows the men nice .time to get home. And they live only ten minutes* walk from the centre of the borough.

Ah, the gentler sex. How gentle! They met at the races and one said: “Sorry, dear, but I forgot all about your party the other night.” And Dear replied: “Oh, weren’t you there ?” * • • •

Yes we were at Te Rapa and I was introduced to a visitor from the city. He seemed a nice sort of chap so I suggested a cup of afternoon tea. “I don’t drink tea,” he said. I then suggested ale, but he didn’t drink that. Then I said: “How about a whisky and soda?” and the dear chap replied: “I don’t drink soda.” Ah, a nice fellow, a fine spirit.

* * * • These bright frosty mornings, so bracing you know, but not all quiet on the home front. Oh, no. Signs of distress from the bathroom between seven and eight in the morning. As I came down the hall I heard the. lady of the house say: “Listen to that bird outside. It isn’t crying.” And the heir to the estate (plus mortgages) replied: “But it’s muvver isn’t washing it.”