The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 8

8 THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1933 the Mancheter Diocesan Conference last Selfridge Ltd. (Bdltarlal Boon), Condon. COURT PERSONAL the increased armaments which are now being vigorously demanded. Peace through the Balance of Power, or peace OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE LONDON, Thursday Night BY PRIVATE WIRE. Moscow to be seen by Russians there.

Yesterday Timber Distributors, said they had never seen the documents, and Mr. Ferguson lamely replied that if it was not Timber Distributors it was someone that whether- you regard them as politically significant depends a good deal with which political party you side. The Conservative line to-day is, naturally, to make the best of it, but I have been interested by the comment of one Conservative who is in a position to survey the whole field. What strikes me- most," he said, "is that Labour has gained a great many victories in a great many places, but they have captured very few'councils." To win seats scattered all over the country, he added, was nothing. They meant no increase of power.

The only victories that counted were such as resulted in a majority on a council. He thought that the Labour party ought to be disappointed, and he believed that as a matter of fact they were. Looking at the effect on local government, these comments are no doubt sound. But looking at the elections as a political sign it seems to me that the very fact that the Labour victories, admittedly numerous in the aggregate, are scattered all over the country makes them the more significant and for the Government ominous. A borough council may be carried on issues of The Trouble in Malta It is evident this time that Malta is to return to Crown Colony government for a long spell, to say the least.

When it was put -under Crown Colony administration before the Ministers retained their portfolios and it was made plain that the suspension of the Constitution was a temporary measure. This time the Ministers are dismissed, and there is no hint of any time-limit to the Crown Colony regime or of the possibility of an election. The grounds for the Government's action, as set out in the official state ment, are broadly stated as the evasion of the Constitution in the matter of teaching and employing Italian and the reckless and improvi dent administration of finance. The justification of these charges is not to be found in the official statement. That will come, later, no doubt.

But I am able to give at least one set of facts on which the financial administration is arraigned. The total expenditure of the island for the financial year 1933-4 exceeds the estimated revenue by nearly 151,000. The Consolidated Revenue Fund, which stood at 200,000 when the Mifsud Administration came into power, had fallen to 84,000 at the end of the -last financial year, and on the present estimates will be down to 33,127 by March 31 next. But that is not all. A Supplementary Estimate of 25,000 is now being called for which will reduce the fund to 8,000.

This of itself does not prove the expenditure to be reckless, but the British Government are apparently foing to show that it haB been reckless oUi in the sense of being improvident and as being used to frustrate the Constitution. The Spanish Mystery The increase of the French exports of motor-cars into Spain has been so steady-aince the Spanish rebate of 35 per cent in duties, while enacting the wnole duty against this country, that the Federation of British Industries is now urging quick and effective action before the Spanish orange season begins. The point is that the Spanish Government six months ago announced that they would give a rebate of 35 per cent on their ininorts of certain important products to nations that were taking 35 per cent of certain important Spanish products. The French, who were (curiously enough for a great wine-producing country)" tuKing iso.i per cent or bnain total wine product, made their claim and are now getting 35 per cent off foi their motor-car exnorts to Britain is taking 35 per cent of the total Spanish orange production, so ought also to be receiving 35 per cent rebate on her motor-cars delivered in bpain. Hut she gets no rebate.

The Spanish sav we have not nut in our claim. The British Government sav that we stand by the "most favoured nation" clause our treaty, and if any nation gets a rebate we should equally get it. We have protested, but months roil on ana tne Drench are pouring their cars into Spain with the nelp of the rebate, while the Spanish Govern ment still reply to our protests that tne matter will be considered to morrow. The F.B.I, now uree that the only way to bring the matter to a head is to take measures astainst Spanish fruit. It is an extraordinary state oi attairs tor anyone who has visited Spain and knows the attitude of the Spanish statesmen in the present ana past uovernments, Knows how friendly they are to this country, and how anxious they are for good trade relations with The Architects and the Register Sir Edwin Lutyens, the president of the new society set up to assist architects to become registered architects, will no doubt welcome the success of the movement for registration, organised under the auspices of the Royal Institute of British Archi tects.

Although there are still 'two months to run before the period laid down by Parliament for the admission of architects to the statutory register created by the Act of 1931, I am told that the great majority of the members of the R.I.B.A. have already applied. With one exception, I am told, every member of the Council of the R.I.B.A. has sent his application. It is officially stated that the members of the allied societies conference, repre senting 63 allied and associated societies of architects -in Encland.

Scotland. Wales, and Northern Ire land, have come in almost together. in snort, tne arsnitecturai profession, which numbers 18,594 in the ranks of the R.I.B.A. and its allied societies, is taking advantage of the privileges conferred by Parliament. There appears to be little necessity for another architectural organisation, which would be a 'fifth wheel to the coach.

The Moral of the Elections Municipal elections can be analysed in many ways, and it must be confessed night. (11) The compulsory marking of imported poultry is recommended by the committee under the Merchandise Marks Act. (2) In the Liverpool market yesterday American cotton was priced 2 points lower, middling becoming 6.48d. Futures were 5 to 2 points lower. New; York prices were unchanged for i pot -cotton, middling remaining at 9.76c., and 1 point to 4 points higher for futures.

(17) FOREIGN It is reported that the United States yesterday bought gold through the Bank of France. (12) Mr. Norman Davis, the American representative to the -Disarmament Conference, has gone home until the arms situation clears. (12) Two former Bulgarian Ministers had to leap for life from the first floor of an hotel in Bulgaria yesterday, when they were attacked by Macedonians and others. (9) At the League oi Nations advisory commissions yesterday, the American delegate strongly criticised Manchukuo for developing the opium traffic.

(9) Mr. Panter, the British journalist who was arrested at Munich, was released yesterday and "is to leave Germany to-day. (isi) "General Johnson has openly approved a recommendation for the control of industry exercised bv the National Re covery Administration, to be taken over oy private capitalists. (12) A Jewish cemetery in a small town in -Lrower Austria nas Deen desecrated by a tain. (12) The Government and Peace The Government have decided to devote next Tuesday, the first day of the resumed session, to a debate on disarmament.

They grasp a nettle and deserve the credit. Two reasons have persuaded them: the rising clamour for more arms in their own party, and the result in the East Fulham election. Mr. Wilmot, the successful Labour candidate, has explained in the New Clarion what happened. The withdrawal of Germany from the Geneva Conference and the League happened in the midst of the campaign; a "war scare atmosphere" developed; but "the electors calmly turned to the Labour party as the people who mean peace, disarmament, and co-operation." The Government were held not to mean these things, or to mean them insufficiently.

If it were said that the present Government did not want peace, it would be unjust. All Governments, of course, not only profess peace but do want peace on their own terms, but there is no reason at all to suppose that our own Government are not sincere in their professions. The question is not whether they want peace in the abstract bujfc by what means, in the present most dangerous confusion, they pursue it. And there at once the second ugly reason for grasping their nettle raises its head. For a large part of their own party does not talk or write like a pacific body.

It openly derides the League and all its works. "Enough of this foolery," is the sorb of test dear to its liveliest oracles. "Verbiage of the Covenant," sayB a Tory ex-Minister. And while the chorus on the one side of the' Tory stage chants its song of scorn against the League, the chorus on the other responds, stanza for stanza, with shrill demands for more ships, more guns, more aeroplanes for The Government on Tuesday will not only have to remember the electors who were startled by the abrupt announcement of an international crisis on October 14. They will also have to answer the most vocal of their own supporters delegates to Tory conferences, politicians, newspapers, and, of course, admirals, witch-doctors all, once more intoning the ancient incantation that to secure peace you must heap up the means of war.

The Government have tried to mediate between France and Germany with regard to armaments. For that they deserve praise. But whether in any event they could have succeeded or not, they have been handicapped by the lack, from the beginning, of a clear, consistent policy embracing not only disarmament but the organisation of peace. Disarmament is helpful to peace because it abolishes so many stimulants of war. but it does not in itself make war impossible so long as force remains the instrument of national policy.

The frontier between Canada and the United States is unfortified and Canada is unarmed because there is confidence between hor and her neighbour for the same reason we ourselves and the United States could scrap every gun to-morrow. But for the most part, disarmament, to be successful, must be built on a firm foundation of a policy which will maintain peace, and that is what the Government have never had. The alternatives are few. One is to re-establish the Concert of Europe, the council of the major Powers, since, it is argued, what they say to-day all the others must accept to-morrow; But the other name for this is Discord. Unity cannot foe permanently maintained.

The other Powers will no longer suffer dictation. The device would infallibly break down in the same sort of exclusive understandings, alliances, and armaments as brought us to the Great War. Into this method Europe; is now There is another policy which is. recommended to the Government by some of its supporters, which is that we ahould cut ourselves loose from the international system. But it cannot be done, and never has been done, by this country.

Even the United States, which is a continent and much more isolated than our island, cannot do it: witness her incessant activity in Europe, her new relations with Russia, her growing preoccupation with the Pacific regions. Even were we an island we could not maintain -political isolation, 'but, from the standpoint of a possible war, we are now continental, with a land frontier! And in either case, whether we advocate the old understandings and alliances TUB KING The King will hold a Council to-day week. His Majesty has approved the appointment of Colonel J. L. Buxton as aide-de-camp to the King in succession to Major General A.

P. Wavell, who has vacated his appointment on promotion. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa of Japan, who is on a visit to London, was received by the King at Buckingham Palace yesterday. The Prince, who was for thirty'years President of the House of Peers of Japan, has visited this country several times before. The King also received Sir Montagu Butler, who has relinquished his appointment as Governor of the Central Provinces of India.

Sir Montagu kissed hands on his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. THE DUCHESS OF YORK The Duchess of York attended the matinee of Cherry Orchard at Sadler's "Wells Theatre yesterday. Afterwards Mr. Charles Laughton and the rest of the company were presented to the Duchess on the stage. PSINCB OF WALES IN EDINBURGH The Prince of Wales concluded his two-day visit to Edinburgh yesterday.

Shortly after midday he motored to the course the Boyal Purgess Golfing Society and played in a foursome with Lord Provost Thomson, captain of the sooiety, Sir Lionel Halsey, and Mr. E. O. Wood. Press photographers were instructed that no photographs were to be taken, and the round was strictly private.

On his return to Edinburgh the Prince visited the Kirk o' Field College, the nowly opened educational institution for unemployed. He watched with interest several boxing bouts. In the weaving-room Miss Drysdale, Lady Warden of the University Settlement, presented the Prince with a scarf woven on a miniature Biand-loom by an unemployed man. It was explained that a start was being made in the weaving of cloth. Before leaving the college he bought three more scarves.

Next he went to the new College Settle-" ment and visited the unemployed occupational centre and various other departments, including the boys' and girls' clubrooms and the gymnasium. The Prince's last call was at Hanover House, the British Legion's club for unemployed. He made a tour of the carpentry, boot repairing, and other work sections, and then went to the recreation-room, where he had a short game of table bowls. He was presented with a pair of moccasins made by the hoot-repairing instructor. The bo were of sheepskin lined with fur, and decorated with the Prince of Wales's feathers on -the toe.

In one of the lower halls of the club be addressed the men, saying that the work done at Hanover House was exactly what he had in view when he made his appeal two years ago. MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON Mr. Arthur Henderson is to be the guest of honour at a dinner on Monday evening arranged by the National Labour Club at Craven Hotel, London. Mr.

Henderson is president of the club, and tne members wish to show their appreciation of bis work in tho cause of disarmament and world peace. The occasion will also provide an opportunity for celebrating his victory in the Clay Cross by-election. WELSH SECRETARY TO BOARD OF EDUCATION Mr. W. P.

Wheldon, the new Welsh Secretary to the Board of Education, will address the conference of head masters of public schools at Shrewsbury to-day -week. Like the first occupant of the office, Sir Alfred T. Davies, the new Secretary is a solicitor, and was for ten years-a partner in the firm of Lloyd George and Boberts. His father, the late Bev. T.

J. was one of the pioneers of the Welsh intermediate schools and a strong advocate of technical education. MISS ISHBEL MACDONALD Miss Ishbel MaeDonald opened at. the Alpine Club Galleries, Mill Street, London, yesterday an exhibition of tree pictures arranged by "the Men of the Trees, a society of tree lovers. Many people do not, realise the import-ance of planting trees for future generations," said Miss MaeDonald.

During the war trees were cut down without any thought, and should strive hard now to wake up for that devastation. The scientific planting of trees is one way in which wa might useful work for the unemployed." SUGGESTED MEMORIAL TO LORD GREY OF FALLODON The question of a national memorial to Lord Grey of Fallodon was referred to by Sir Francis Blake yesterday at the meeting of the Northumberland County Council, over which he presided. Sir Francis said -the subject of a county memorial had been" mentioned, but he thought they would wait to see what the Government proposed; 'Lord Grey was a national figure, and his services to the Empire jubUfied national 'acknowledgment. THE LATE SIR AUGUSTUS FITZGEORGE The funeral 0I Colonel Sir Augustus Fiti-George took plsce yesterday, and by permission of the King the flrsfpart of the service was held at the Chapel Boyal," 8t. James's' Palace.

The King and Queen were represented by Lord Colebrooke, the Prince of Wales by Colonel. Piers the Duke of York by Colonel Kavanagh, and the of Connaught by Sir Malcolm Murray. MYCOLOGIST'S APPOINTMENT The Lawes Agricultural Trust Committee has appointed' Mr. Geoffrey Samu! mycologist to the Bothamstcd Experimental Station, in the department of plant pathology, fa succession to Dr. B.

H. 8toughton, now Professor of Horticulture at Reading. Mr. Geoffrey Samuel is plant "pathologist at the Waite Agricultural Research Adelaide Australia, ecd has had. a distinguished career, first at the University -'of Adelaide and then at the Waite Institute.

7 THE QUEEN'S GIFT The Queen'' has; presented beautiful Oriental screen -and 'mfodern' doll's' bouse' electrically lighted to" the TubsWutteas Chriatian Association to be auction at fts Halt Westminster, on The Dncheea of York has given a tea-set belonrint? ta Princess -Uiabeth. auctioned, include onlalab'aster, box which siooa on the Lord The 'Home i Mua-ri ran spies la ocennlM flELRatSOB 00.. WD. CALCULATION BULBS IN By CALLISTHENES It is customary nowadays to smile at tie journalistic calculations that the number of matches used in a year would stretch to the moon and back or that the amount of chocolate eaten would cover Salisbury Plain. But though the device is temporarily out oi iaamon it is Douna to return, tor it is the only effective way of expressing the extraordinary in terms of the ordinary, of helping ub to imagine -what, unless it were thus broken down, would be unimaginable.

During the last month or two we have been selling bulbs in the Store. We have sold a great -many. "We sold more than ever before, for bulbs sell largely on reputation, and the reputation of the Selfridge bulbs has been-growing every year. -You cannot tell four or five months after the purchase whether you have got good value in bulbs, and then there are so many complications of temperature and' watering and planting that it is almost impossible to say with eertainty what has been the cause of failure, if failure there be. These are the circumstances which make the public wish, more than in most articles, to deal with a firm they can trust, and it is ia the importance of this factor of.

confidence that we attribute the enormous increase in the number of bulbs that we sell year by year. Here is a way of expressing the number of bulbs we have sold in one month this year. This Store is open from nine o'clock in the morning till seven o'clock at night ten hours; on Saturday four hours. Bulbs are usually sold by the dozen, the score, or the hundred. But suppose they were sold singly and that every minute throughout the day a customer came in and bought a bulb.

Allowing for Sundays and Bank Holidays, the procession would not come to an end tm the year ias3. Fifty years of it, two generations, half a century Year after year the continual procession would go on. As regards other stores and shops, and even as regards our own past, this is a fairly handsome figure, we do not state it to prove that we are bigger distributors of bulbs than any other single retail house in the country, etill less to indicate that we are satisfied with the figure. We hope to add millions to it each year. But it does give us pleasure to think of the thousands and thousands of people who in the new year will look at their flower-beds, their window-boxes, their gardens with pleasure and pride, admir-ingt the eize.

the colour, the perfume of their hyacinths and tulips, and on inquiry saying with satisfaction, "We got them at Selfridge's." Before -the end of the season we shall have sold many more thousands. We like to think of every single bulb we have sold as an advertisement for Selfridge's. telling more charmingly than print of good value, good service, and of friendly confidence more firmly established. i Selfridge Co, Ltd TEXO PLASTIC COMPOUND is still the best cure for LEAKY ROOFS BAXENDALES 5 1 MILLER STREET THE GZTAJRJDIAN MANCHESTER, FRIDAY, November 3, 1933 TO-DAY'S PAPER 6PECIAL ARTICLES Bodger's Battery 18 Party Fusion in South Africa 8 A Forced Landing in Brazil 7 Poland and German Ambitions 18 The Halle Concert 11 The Heroine's Clothes Canvas Stitches A Bookman's Notes 5 Book Reviews 6 Wireless Programmes 10 CORRESPONDENCE The New Children Act (Mrs. C.

D. Backhaul) 18 The White Paper It German Policy (Mr. L. W. Car- ruthers) 18 Slum Clearance and the Schools (Father Vincent Marshall) 11 HOME Mr.

Kenneth Lindsay (Nat. Lab.) has held the Kilmarnock seat for the Government. The result was declared soon after two o'clock this morning. (9) Sir Herbert Samuel, in a letter to the Liberal candidate in the Skipton by-election, makes a sweeping attack on the Government. Their record, he says, is one of failure after failure.

(0) Our political correspondent says the construction generally put on the letter in political quartets is that Sir H. Samuel has decided to advise the Liberal Parliamentary party to go into opposition. (9) Our special correspondent at Skipton writes on disarmament as an issue at the 1 by-election there. (13) The Colonial Office yesterday announced that the Nationalist Ministry of Malta had been dismissed and the Governor had taken over the administration, following the Ministry's refusal to abandon its Italian policy on the language issue a policy in defiance of the' amended Constitution of the island. (9) Mr.

Arthur Greenwood, M.P., outlined the Labour party's policy in a broadcast speech last night. (2) The price of petrol is increased by a penny a gallon from to-day. (9) The Minister of -Health yesterday issued a circular to local authorities stressing the importance of removing present local restrictions on the use of ambulances. (4) Lady Hewart, the wife of the Lord Chief Justice, collapsed and died while attending the Lady Mayoress's reception at the London Mansion House last night. (9) Protests aroint what -were taken by memoers oi tne audience io do ntinns of dishonestv aeainst business -at the 3osjng sesaon ofc through isolation and more armaments to be secure against it? The Govern ment can hardly tell us that on Tuesday.

But what will they tell us It will not be enough to recite their efforts to secure an agreement at Geneva, even if their record were good which it is not, for their practical disarmament policy has from the first been slow and grudging. If they are to convince the country that they are a peace Government, they must show that they have pressed, or at least are now resolved to press, the policy which is the only practical alternative to Balance of Power and Isolation: the strengthening of the League influence which we all of us, whether some had their tongues in their cheeks or not, established for this purpose at toe end of the war. But the League, it is said, is discredited 1 If it is, the process began in 1931 with that fatal betrayal of Chjna- which showed that the League machinery would not be used against a powerful offender for the preservation of treaties and of peace. We hear much of the Treaty of Locarno. Has it escaped its critics, and the Government, that the Locarno Treaty waa only to remain in force "until the Council decides "that the League of Nations ensures "sufficient protection to the high parties" We ask of the Government not only a disarmament scheme but a positive, many-sided policy of peace.

It must be based on the League on our willingness to submit to the judgment of the League in our own disputes on our intention to be loyal to the treaties which we have signed on our determination to bring all armaments under a common supervision and to put their manufacture (because it is a stimulant of war) in national ownership. If we were wise we should add that it should be a part of our peace policy to consult the United States and Russia, whose cooperation is indispensable to peace. Malta On the point of legality the withdrawal of responsible government in Malta might be justified. The Constitution was restored in 1932 on definite conditions, notably that only Maltese and English should be taught in the elementary schools. The Mifsud Ministry has broken these conditions with the Italianate and Italianising Minister for Education as the spearhead of the attack it has endeavoured to spread the use of Italian wherever it could, and that at considerable, cost to the public funds.

Sir Ugo Mifsud has accordingly been dismissed, and the control of the island will remain in the hands of the Governor presumably until the Nationalists bring themselves to a better, or at least more pliable, state of mind. What is the wider position, both in politics and equity? It might seem reasonable that the Maltese should have the freedom to determine their own language question for themselves. On the other hand, the agitation for the greater use of Italian is partly spurious and artificially fomented. Four, out of five Maltese speak only their native tongue, and little more than one in ten have any knowledge of Italian. These have no direct interest in the question; the Opposition in the Maltese Legislature has indeed claimed that the 1932 election which returned the Nationalists was fought not on the language but on the religious issue, and that Dr.

Mizzi and his colleagues have accordingly a highly doubtful mandate for their Italianising policy. But behind Dr. Mizzi stand the agencies which are sedulously pursuing the Italian "cultural penetration" of recent years the educational "institutes," the "Casa del Fascio" in Valletta, and the rest. The Italian ambition to absorb Malta has long been unmistakable. Can her "penetration" be in any way stayed without this recurrent resource to the suspension of the normal political life of the people? That is one enduring problem which emerges from the present crisis.

Mr. Bennett and the Timber Mr. Bennett's attempt to force Canadian timber on this country has produced an undignified wrangle. He was intensely disappointed when the temporary embargo on Russian timber was withdrawn, and he lost no time in demanding its reimposition under the blackmail clause cf the Ottawa Agreement the clause on which he threatened to wreck the Ottawa' Con ference if Mr. Baldwin would not sign.

The British Government transferred the responsibility of handling Mr. Bennett to the Import Duties Advisory Committee. Obviously the Committee, if it is to give a fair judgment -on whether Russian prices and State trading are "frustration" of Imperial Preference, has to hear both sides. The Canadian Government produced its case in the shape- of memoranda by Bennett and Mr. the High Commissioner.

Having, as it thought, obtained the consent of-the CanadiBn Government, the Board- of Trade sent the case to Moscow for. the Soviet Government's reply. As the Russians are the accused party this seems elementary fairness. Mr. Ferguson think otherwise.

On Tuesday he denied that he agreed to allow the document to be sent to Moscow, and declared he knew nothing of it until he heard that Timber Distributors, which handles the imported1 timber, said "it had to go to On Wednesday the Canadian. Government stated that; it did not. mind documents being seen by Jtussians in London, but to thek being seat to else; in any case he protests Certainly he seems to have muddled his side of the affair. Anyhow the Russians have now got the precious documents. But why all the pother It can hardly be, as one of Mr.

Ferguson's sympathisers 'in the press has hinted, from fear Canada's case has been "given away" to the Russians. It must be a pretty poor case if it loses by contact with the Moscow air. Making Their Mark Some years ago the Large Black. Pig Society was seriously concerned about the indelible marking, for show pur poses, of the animals which were the reason for the Society's existences the problem, simple enough in the case of a white one, was how to get a black pig plainly marked for purposes of identification. No entirely satisfactory solution ever emerged so keepers of large black pigs are worse off than keepers of poultry on whose behalf the Standing Committee under the Merchandise Marks Act has just worked out most detailed directions about one type of agricultural identity disc.

The result, embodied in a White Paper now submitted to Parliament, is as follows On importation, on exposure for sale wholesale and by retail, and on sale wholesale and by retail each imported bird shall bear an indication of origin in block letters of not less than one and half millimetres in height, and such indication of origin shall be printed, stamped, or embossed on A seal or diso of permanent character. Such seal or diso, to be not less than two centimetres in diameter, and to be attached to one of the wings by a durable attachment passing through a circular hole of not less than one centimetre in diameter punched or stamped through the web of the wing. It ib said that at present the housewife is liable to have an Irish, a Dutch, an Hungarian, or even a Russian bird fobbed off on her as British born and bred by an unscrupulous dealer who charges the higher price for the lower-grade article. That horrid possibility should certainly vanish under the system now proposed in case of doubt she can always produce her micrometer from the shopping bag and measure the millimetres of the bird's identity disc. An "Economy" Scandal There are few people to-day who need to be enlightened as to the activities of the Workers' Educational Association.

From its annual report now published we learn that there is no slackening of the desire for adult education among the men and women whom it seeks to serve. On the there is a steady increase in demand for instruction, especially in the social sciences, literature, drama, and history. In every district throughout England and Scotland university lecturers and teachers of the first order of ability are glad to devote one or more evenings a week to take Workers' Educational Association classes. Everywhere they find an unquenchable thirst for knowledge among their pupils. The association has during the last year made a particularly sensible move in admitting unemployed workers to its classes free of charge instead of asking for the normal small payment.

But naturally the association cannot do this work on private subscriptions. In the past it was thought' reasonable that the Government should assist with grants-in-aid. The present Government, however, believes it advisable in the interests of economy not only to reduce contributions from the National Exchequer but also to stimulate local authorities to reduce their grants. Yet the association is doing work that the Government itself should do in finding valuable and intelligent occupation for the unemployed, and the sums involved are a mere drop in' the bucket of the National Exchequer. The Child and the Film Galashiels is the latest town to conduct an inquiry into the effect of the film upon the schoolchild, and the report of the evidence collected by teachers has now been issued.

Like that of Edinburgh, Dundee, and other cities, it confirms the proof of the cinema's attraction for youth. Seventy-five per of the children in that textile community go to the movies at least once a week, a fact which has impressed the inquirers with the need for securing the right type of film for this eager audience. On the whole impact of the cinema upon the child is not, in the opinion of the investigators. a bad one. True, they suggest that the most regular attenders among the senior pupils are found among those of lesser mental ability." The youngster who is interested in books still finds wider scope in them than the film can give.

But the general effect- of the cinema on its young patrons is to widen their views and increase their interests. In its effect on their health the picture-house does not escape quite so lightly. Children for the most part occupy cheap seats near the screen, where they' are subjected to an optical strain, and the inquirers consider that a good deal of the headache and nervousness complained of by pupils can be traced to" this source. It is a danger of which parents would'do' well to take account. The more impalpable risks involved in' presenting children with completely unsuitable programmes are less easy to avert; but they can be met to some extent by compelling the trade, as the wiser municipalities do, to indicate clearly outside the theatres whether the films shown are for adults only or for all, and to refuse, to admit chOdrenJto the former even' when they are.

accom-' gained senior purely municipal policy and may Bignify no thing in national politics. A widespread epidemic suggests a widespread infection of discontent. The B.B.C. Slam -Dweller with the Rat The story of rats that threatened the babies told by the Slum-Dweller in the B.B.C. debate on Monday has had a practical result.

Mr. Anthony Rothschild, as chairman of Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings, which lets dwellings for working people in various parts of London, has decided, I learn, to make an offer to Slum-Dweller of a three-roomed flat at a rent of 14s. 6d. a week, or about 19s. including gas.

It should be recalled that Slum-Dweller, whose address has not been made public, said that he lived in a house in which 31 people were accommodated in seven rooms, and that he and his family occupied the basement, where the floorboards were rotted with damp. We can't leave the babies alone because of the rats," he added, and he then mentioned that he had brought with him one of the rats, caught that afternoon in the gas-oven. He gave his rent as 14s. 6d. "a week, and with gas about 19s.

Little Jerusalem in Spitalfields Spitalfields is now established as one of London's "little Jerusalems." The process of Jew replacing Gentile has been watched there for nearly forty years by Mr. Reginald A. Slader, who at the age of seventy ia retiring as secretary of the Bedford Institute Association. This body has nine social and educational centres in East London, the first of them started by Quakers in Quaker Street, Spitalfields, in 1849. To-day Reginald Slader's office in Quaker Street ia hard by Pearl Street, down which, when he first took up his secretaryship, policemen only ventured in pairs.

But Mr. Slader thinks that since, the coming of the 'Jews the character of Spitalfields has changed. Whenever the Jews become the dominating in an East End street the moral tone, he says, improves. Overcrowding still goes on, but, strangely enough, the Jews do not seem to appear to suffer from it like other people. Their care for their children and strong family feeling are perhaps the explanation.

John Burns and George Lansbury attended classes in their earlier days at Bedford Institute centres. The name of the association has nothing to do with the county town, but is in memory of Peter Bedford (1780-1864), the original Quaker inspirer of the work, a great-hearted Christian protector of little children from the gallows and criminal sentences and friend of vagabonds and thieves. The Dirty Flag at the Mansion House That the flag over the Mansion House should be dirty is not surprising in a sooty city, but that it should be noticed by members of the City Corporation is worth mention. The. chairman of the City General Purposes Committee was asked by a councillor whether he had estimated for a new flag for the coming civic year.

It was not, he thought, in accordance with the dignity of the City that a dirty flag should fly over the residence of the Lord Mayor. The chairman replied with dignity that he had not estimated for a new flag; he held that the old one could be cleaned. The inquiring councillor said that if the committee could not afford a new flag there were members of the Common Council who would be only too pleased to present one. The meeting then became more Pickwickian, with members arising to ask a question and the Town Clerk interjecting. Do you want to give a flag also followed by sallies of laughter.

It was stated at the end by a competent authority that flags for the Mansion House came out of maintenance and were renewed when necessary. at a stall and then-bought a box of policemen skittles. At the Spero stall, where novel toys are on sale, she bought one of the -Sheridan seta designed by Lady -Napier for- amateur producers of plays-and pageants. The set includes' a folding background with interior and exterior scenes and cards of little figures to be cut out and set io little grooved stands. Sybil Thorndike has described this "as a brilliant idea.

It enables, scenes be. planned before rehearsal. The Queen's quick understanding of a difficulty of which certainly can have, had no'experience enabled her, to appreciate another "new device--a, suitcase' with-an- electric, torch attachment at one Touch a Bpring and a light.flashes. on the -keyhole. in the front door.

The.Queen bought one fit these small cgaca, THE QUEEN AND DISABLED SOLDIERS The Ingenious Things They Make (From onr London Correspondent.) Fleet Steeet, Thcbsday. One' of the first things that attracted the notice of the Queen' and the Prin cess Koyal this morning when they visited the exhibition of goods by war-uisaDiea men- as me imperial Institute, was the plaque of Ashstead pottery bearing a portrait of the Prince of Wales. ThePnnce'had given Mr. Percy Metcalfe, the i 'designer of Irish coinage, a sitting for this, and the Queen, who said it was an 'excellent likeness, bought two of the- plaques. The Princess Royal, admirrja display of hand-woven, tweedsj bought a tweedapron made with a spring belt.

Housewives have been using such aprons of cloth for some time, but it'was'a'bright idea to warm tweed aprons -Lto 'use instead of a rug when motoring. The Queen watched a. demonstration armu' conference; of the ipoj at BuiUan Houao on We4nwdyiysiv, simple- isolation the pjoKcj; goes.