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The Spike or Victoria College Review 1937

[introduction]

God's Own Country they have called it. We are proud of our education, our sport, our democracy, of the high standard of our press. In the light of all that, let us look at these extracts, gleaned at random from local publications in the last few months, and see how essentially rational and sophisticated we really are.

"The 'scroungers' are gone, the Communist element is dead, and the boozers have been chased out. and we are well on the way with our programme."

"I'm not a Mussolini. I hate dictators. If I had my way they would all be behind bars." Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport.

"The youth of to-day must have disciplinary training. We in the British Empire flatly refuse to have this carried on as it is in countries under dictatorships. My own opinion and that of many others is that dictatorships undoubtedly do a tremendous lot of good to young people . . . Certainly its [R.N.V.R.] members are in uniform, but it has been proved that training in uniform is much more efficient than training without it."—Commander Boyle to the Christ-church Navy League.

"To me there is something very appealing about public school questions and the links that bind us together, school tie or no school tie. Personally, I frequently wear my old school tie and I am not in the least ashamed to do it."—H.E. Viscount Galway.

Viscount Bledisloe stated: "I have never seen a finer average human physique in any part of the world than New Zealand. I put it down to the fact that football is the great game of the country, and it is the aim of every man and boy to feature in a football team.—Dominion.

"Radical reforms are necessary in the matter of New Zealand jerseys and pants. They are worn much too tight and should now conform to the loose styles adopted in other countries."—Dominion.

"Thirty thousand people, much of the sporting blood of Wellington Province, and much from farther afield, including some of the greatest in the land, watched tensely while the home team battled bravely against overwhelming odds—a city against a nation, in the Springboks—Wellington game."—Dominion.

With improved facilities throughout, and an infusion of new pedigree blood in its stock, the Acclimatisation Society will be able to do much toward fulfilling the ambition of the Minister, Hon. W. E. Parry, to provide more and better game for sportsmen throughout the country, and liberate pheasants by the thousand."—Dominion.

"You will excuse me if I read some of the things I want to say and have written down. You see. they have already been handed to the Press, and I want to make sure I say them."—Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce.

The mayor then grasped the proffered spade to plant the first shrub and declare the dell open, but found to his surprise that all the plants had already been placed in the ground. "I see they are all already planted," he said. "What do I do now?"

"Stamp round it!" suggested a bystander. Acting on this advice, the mayor dealt the packed earth a couple of pats with the back of the spade, and announced, smiling, "Now I declare this tree well and truly planted."—Dominion.

"I have never met Captain Johanson. He always signed his messages 'Aloha Johanson.' I was not going to allow him to get away with Hawaiian like that, so I signed mine 'Kia Ora Davey.' and thus gave him a bit of Maori."—Captain Davey of the "Awatea."

Nearly every town and village in Britain organised a carnival procession as part of its Coronation celebrations, and the name of New Zealand figured largely on many occasions.

page 21

Anticipating a great demand for fancy dresses, the London office of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board circularised the whole of the retail meat trade in Britain offering to supply red. white and blue crepe paper on which was printed in gold the phrase "New Zealand Lamb."—Evening Post.

The organisers of Flag Day have enlisted the co-operation of the students of Victoria College, who will assist in the cavalcade of transport and the mock court in Post Office Square. The revels of the students will not commence until after the procession has passed the memorial plot.—Dominion.

The central idea of the arch is to bring forth the world-encircling confraternity of the British Empire in all its colourful variety of grades—Great Britain, the Dominions, the semi-autonomous Colonies, the Crown Colonies, the Protectorates, Mandates, Suzerainties, Con-dominums, and spheres of influence. The heraldry depicts the crests and insignia so as to represent the majestic sweep of this vast trust in which England has consummated her genius for ordered liberty and flexible political growth.—The Waitakian.

"The —— Women's Institute and the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union combined to hold a 'Coronation afternoon.' The room in which the meeting was held was decorated with pictures of the Royal Family, flags, streamers and red, white and blue flowers. A roll-call of 'reminiscences of Royal visits' was readily responded to. Mrs. Fox, accompanied by Mrs. G. Hansen, sang several patriotic songs. A novel competition, a flower made of red, white or blue paper, was won by Miss Wilson. Another competition, 'Jumbled British Empire Names,' was won by Miss Brittain."—Dominion.

"Is there a woman of education and refinement with soul so great who would assist widower, farmer, to put a family of eight on the right path. 'Complex,' S633, Dominion."

"A Large City Office requires the services of an Inexperienced Clerkling (otherwise office boy). Apply to P111, Press Office."