Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 15 October 1907, page 4


SKIRTS AND SURF.

The surf-bathing season began a few Weeks ago with great eclat, and the few hot days which heralded the approach of summer made it clear that this popular pastime was about to assert its claims to an even greater extent than it has done during the past two or three years. Unfortunately there are persons to whom the misbehaviour of one or two hooligans seems such that in order to cope with it they must needs stamp a sport out of existence, and yet another attempt is to be made to despoil the surfbathor of his pleasure, and the race in general of a potent factor in health and strength. The regulations just promul-gated are an instance of the official mind run mad. That both male and female bathers of all ages must be clad in a species of skirt would be too ridicu-lous for comment were it not that many thousands of persons will immediately be-come the sufferers, some by the legal penalty, others by abandoning the surf, unless public opinion is enabled to express itself quickly and forcibly. Unfortunately as regards many social conventions the inchoate majority is apt to fall a ready prey to a noisy section, who, make of abstract opinion something like a business asset. We are not likely to be accused of condoning laxity of morals or lack of decorum, and we are therefore perhaps able to express in plain terms what the common-sense majority will think of this latest attempt to relegate the surf and sand to their former vacancy, for those portions of the new regulations which aim at making the sun-bath a crime are not less vexatious add absurd than those which relate to costume. Half the charm of the recrea-tion for both sexes Iles in this sun and open-air treatment, obviously so health-ful, and indeed a recognised remedy of medical science.

It the experience of the last year or two had given any reason to suppose that the crowded beaches of Bondi, Coogee, and Manly were becoming schools for un-seemliness it would of course be the duty of the local authorities either to pro-hibit the practice altogether or to hedge it about with stringent restrictions. But nothing like that has happened; and as a fact experience In these places has shown conclusively that the proper limitations of conduct may be quite safely left to the discretion and good sense of the bathers themselves, more especially since there exist organisations of decent and responsible persons who make Beemliness of conduct their first care; and if there is need of further discipline nothing is easier to detect than wanton impro-priety of behaviour, and the law provides a remedy without the aid of regulations. This attack on the surf-bather is there-fore gratuitous and an insult to the common sense of those who frequent our natural sanatoriums. Prudery of this typo is at least as objectionable as the in-decency from which in thought it is not far removed. A neck-to-knee cos-tume, with sleeves, skirts, and dressing gowns, Is a becoming addition to elderly persons, which could hardly, of course, be dispensed with; but surely to a sane judgment even this is a trifle superfluous in the case of the infants and children who form so large-a section of beach population. Let us try to do with as little hypocrisy in these matters as we

can.

State Parliament.-Tho Legislative Assembly will meet this afternoon, at half-past 4. Tha business paper contains a dozen questions and somo 30 notices of motion, but thone matters will havo to stand over until tho Houso has disposed of tho Address in Reply. So far eight spcechoa have boon delivered on tho Addross in Reply. Tho debnto Jhls aftornoon will bo resumed by Mr. Dooloy.^who won tho Hartley seat by a narrow majority from Mr. John Hurley. Mr. Dooley, on appearances, Is tho youngest member of tho House, nnd Inasmuch as ho is credited with having boon a student of olocution, members generally aro mildly curious to seo how ho will sbapo in his maldon Bpeech. The Premier is anxious to bring tho debato to a closo as soon as possible, and as a means to this ond ho will ask tho House to sit lato until tho division is taken. Tho Legislative Council, In which tho -Address in Reply has beon agroed to, stands adjourned to Wodnesday, October 23.

The Cabinet.-Another meeting of tho State Cabinet was hold yesterday, and MInlstors spent several hours In discussing tho work of tho session aud tho details of tho estimates. It is understood that Mr. Waddell will de-liver his Budget early In tho session. Tho Promler mentioned yesterday that ho In-tends to conclude tbo censuro débalo this weok, but It will probably occupy the time of tho Assombly till Thursday night, when It may bo found necessary to bavo a long sitting in order to como to a division. Mr. Wado would not venturo a forecast of tho division, but ho was ovidently satisfied that tho Government would win with a very sub-stantial margin.

Anti-Tariff Demonstration.-Some GOO per-sons attended tho anti-tariff demonstration held In the Town Hall last evening at the In-stance of the Women's Liberal League. Tho mooting was presided over by Mrs. Molynoux Parkes, and was addressed by Mr. G. H. Reid and Senator Neild. Mr. Reid said that though the demonstration carno rather lato in tho day, tho least ho could do was to attend, and ?how how sincerely thankful he was for tbo ?plendld effort made In the causo of liberalism by tho women of New South Wales. Ho pro-ceeded to sketch in interesting fashion the operation of the principle of protection,' and was happy In his use of Illustrations and In his replies to a few hostile interjections. He concludod by moving a resolution protesting against the tariff as involving serious hard-ship on tho pooplo of Australia. This was bocondod by Senator Neild, and carried with chcoring.

The Summor Tlmo-tablc.-On Sunday next tho summer tlmo-tablo on tho railways will como into operation, and advantage has been taken of the opportunity to mako a number of permanent alterations In and additions to tho ttmo-tablo. Amongst tho most important changos is tho running of an additional train on tho southern lino as far as Harden to relievo tho mail train, an additional train on tho western Uno on Sunday nights, an early morning train from Gosford to Sydnoy and an ovening train from Sydnoy to Gosford, a dally( train betwoon Grafton and Casino, nnd a dally morning train from Wollongong to Sydney., Special arrangements havo boon made for tou-, rlstB during tho summer months, and import-

ant additions havo boon made to tbo subur-j ban services on tho main, Illawarra, and

Belmoro lines.

Rain Dadly Noeded.-Mr. W. S. Campbell,' Director of Agriculture, returned yOBtorday from a visit to Manilla, whoro ho attended tho ceremony of inaugurating a local agricul-tural Bocloty. Tho occasion was colobratod by a ohow on tho local recreation ground and a banquot in the evening. Subsequently Mr. Campbell addressed tuo firmer» briefly on

agricultural subjects. Tho Manilla district Is suffering, lu common with a largo area of the wheat country, from-tho want of rain, and tho crops oro in such a plight that serious losses cannot bo averted. A little rain within tho next few days would probably ensure Jialf crops In tho worst parts of the district, whllo tho crops where botter agricultural methods havo been fostered would probably recover sufficiently to give a fairly good yield. The outlook generally, however, Is far from pro-j

mtslng.

Promoting Intcr-Imperlal Trade.-The Liver-1 P£ol "Post" of September 3 devotes u leading article to tho speech delivered by Mr. C. H.i Hayes, secretary of the Royal Exchange, Syd-ney, at his, reception by the president of the Liverpool Chambor of Commerce, and states that "he ch rmed the company invited to meet

htm with nis plain unvarnished tale of Aus- '

trallan prosperity. The fact Is," continues tho "Post," "though Mr. Hayes, 'eschewing politics, did not say so, tho business men of Sydney havo been nurtured in and havo pros-pered under freetrado, but since the creation of the Commonwealth Parliament they have been brought under tho domination of the protcotionists, and Mr. Hayes humorously remarks that they have not yot become accus-tomed to thoir new clothes. Tho garments, ho says, aro as yet only basted together, and need adjustment in various directions. MeanWhile, however, the protectionists have gained the upper hand, and tho result Is seen not only in tho Commerce Act of 1905, but in the now tariff that has just been produced to promoto British trade in Australia hy piling up Customs duties upon British goods higher than thoy woro beforo. This is the broad fact that strikes people on this sido of the ocean, and they do not trouble to look Into tho de-tails and the byplay of Australian politics In quest of an explanation of this curious mothod of promoting trade withlu tho Em-pire."

Commercial Travellers Association's New Building.-Tho competitive designs submitted by Messrs. Robertson and Marks, architects, for tho Commercial Travellers' Association's new building were on Saturday last finally accepted by the general committee of tho as-sociation, and this Arm will therefore have the supervision of the building to bo erected nt the corner of Castlereagh and Moore streets, on land recently acquired by tho association. The building will havo a frontage of 70ft along Castlereagh-atreet' and about 66ft along Moore-atroet, occupying tho whole of the spaco from the Australia Hotel, in Castle-reagh-street, to the Savings Bank in Moorestreet, It will bo a handsomo structure of eight or nlno stories, and is estimated to coBt £25,000. Thorn will bo threo shops adjoin-ing tho Australia Hotel In Castlorengh-3treet, and with this exception tho wholo of the spaco will bo required for the accommodation of the association and club. The purchaso prlco of the land was £22,000, and it is esti-mated that when tha association takes possoBslon about tho end of 1908 tho total out-lay incurred in land, building, and furnish-ings will be fully £50,000. Tenders will shortly be called for the erection of the now building.

"Scattered Showers.-During Sunday light to moderate showers, associated with thunder, fell at widely-scattered districts, and chiefly over central and coastal areas. Tha heaviest totals woro 65 points at Boggabilla, C1 poIntB at Tilpa, BO at Clarence Heads, 21 at Nyma-gee. Temperatures wore high generally on Saturday and Sunday. On the latter day Mogil and Mungindi recorded 105 degrees, which is the highest heat registration of this season. Yesterday temperatures in many districts were lower, and at Sydney tho maxi-mum record was 70.3, being a drop of 17deg from Sunday.

Factory Legislation in Germany.-Germany, says "Engineering," is CO years behind Eng-land in the matter of factory legislation for regulating tho hours of work for females. Tho Government havo now sont to the Federal Council, for their" approval, an important measure to bo laid beforo tho Reichstag in November, reducing and limiting tho houis of labour for females in factories and work-shops, and In other particulars approaching the proposals of the Berne Convention. Tho 'maximum hours for females aro to bo rj-, duccd from 11 to 10, and all employment of females Is lo be forbidden which interferes [.with their night's rest. The bill also pro-vides for* tho regulation of homo Industries In such a way that numerous exlBtlng abuses will bo remedied. In addition to tho bene-fits to the workers, tho now law will render German competition less koon than hitherto, because the condition will then bo mors equal in England and Germany.

The Warships.-Tho Powerful, with a now crow, left Colombo on Saturday for Australia. Sho will call at Fremantle, and reach Mel-bourne about tho end of this month. The Cambrian will, it Is expected, leave Colombo this week on her return to Australia, and will call at Fremantle The Encounter and Prometheus aro under orders to proceed to Melbourne. Tho Psyche arrived at Adelaide yo3torday.

Tho Coast Hospital.-Tho task of dealing with the proposal to transfer the general beds at tho Coast Hospital to tho Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, after having been inquired into by Mr. Hoguo and Mr. Waddell, has now dovolvod upon Mr. W. H. Wood, as Chief Secrotary. Mr. Wood, accompanied by Mr, Ashton, M.L.C., visited tho Coast Hospital yesterday to make himself acquainted with the work of tho institution. It Is probable that ho will pay a visit to tho Royal Prince Alfred Hospital beforo coming to a de-

cision.

Rescue from Drowning.-On Saturday morn-ing last a sailor, while working on tho boat deck of tho etoamor Grantala nt Grafton Wharf, by some means fell overboard. Mr. Ü. Darroch (ohiof officer) and J. Bailoy (boatswain), of Messrs. Huddart, Pnrker, and Co.'s steamer Wimmera, which was lying at tho adjacent wharf, witnessed tho mishap. Both pluckily plunged in without waiting to divest themselves of any of their clothes, nnd succeeded In bringing tho man to tho shoro. Whon rescued the sailor was In an exhaustod eondltlon.

Australia from the "Brum" View PointIn a recent issuo of the Birmingham "Weekly Post" Mr. J. G. Jackson, a nativo of that city, writes from Melbourne his experiences of Ufo in Australia. The lotlor runs:-"It is a great mistake to think, as some people do, that they havo only to get to tho seaport town and thero aro plenty of employers waiting to engago thora. Anyone coming hero must look for his Job, just tho samo as In 'Brum' or else-where, and bo content lo do anything until bo gets into his own particular sphere. Tho colonies aro not all beor and skittles, but this colony wants, and can accominodato, any amount of good mon and womon. We cannot all do well at ilrat. Somo, Uko oursolvcs, havo had to rough it to .gain colonial experience on rough tucker and livo In tents In tho in-terior of tho colony. Wo lived In a tent for 22 months without a day's break In tho time, through the heat of summer, somotlmos 110 degrees In the shade, and cold, frosty, and wet nights in the winter. Wc paid for our experi-ence and gained it. We had yoars of hard, uphill work to do; but I am thankful to say good health and determination to got a shara have pulled us through, I still havo to work hard to keep a family of sovon llttlo onos, but am doing as well as Uto average working man. Tho climate hero is splondtd. Tho food-stuffs are as cheap as lu "Brum," somo Items much cheaper. Clothing is about 30 per cent, dearer, houso rent about 30 por cent, dearer, and wages about Ï5xper cent, more than Bir-mingham."

Tho World's Iron.-Every Inhabitant of the United Kingdom, tho Unitod States, and Gormany requires annually (says "Engineering") about a quartor of a ton of iron, and tho total iron production of last year, gained from 120 million tons of ore, was GO million tons. Many I of the richer mines, show signs of depiction. ,In 1867 the total pig production of the world I was ostimated at 0,000,000 lons, tho propor-tions bolng:-United Kingdom, 50 per cent;

Franco and the Unitod States, each 12.5 par IcoDt. ; and Germany, 6.G per cont. The total production of 1905 was 56,000,000 tons, tho proportions bolng:-United Statos, 42.7 pa." 'cent.; Germany, with Luxemburg, 20 per cent ; Unitod Kingdom, 17.6 por cent.; and Franco, 5.5 per cent. Of tho wholo British ore supply of 1905-14,590,703 tons-7,314,786 tonB of oro was Importod, mostly from Spain. The Ironore fields of Great Britain will probably bo exhausted in a century or two, nnd tho ow.

; look In other countries Is similar. The iron .

oro production of tho United States exceeded in 1905 42 million tons, the bulk from Lake Superior. This oro contains 55 to 60 per cent. of iron, and tho total amount still available In the United Slates Is estimated at 1100 mil-lion tons. In Germany and Luxemburg 2200 million tons of ore are supposed to remain available. The Bilbao ores of Spain have yielded 115 million tons. Tho richest hema-tites aro now exhausted, but tho estimate for tho remaining Iron ores of all Spain is SOO million tons. Tho outlook for the British In-dustry, addB "Engineering," is not altogether depressing. Vast stores remain in China, iVenezucla, Chili, Australia, and South Af-rica, in addition to the countries mentioned, but transport costs will havo to bo reduced. Tbo futuro will bo affected by tho develop-ment of the basic open-heart process of stoel' making, and phosphoric ores, admitting of

this treatment, will doubtless occupy an im-portant place in the manufacture of high

class steel.

Sensitive Chinese Musical Critic-The "Chinese Mail" in a recent issue relates an Incident Illustrative of tho delicate ears of Chinese musical enthusiasts. News was receiyed in Hongkong from Paris that Tin SI Hu, a Chinaman In the servlco of Mme. Vara-desso, the opera Binger, bad tried to commit suicide. He first swallowed arsenic, but an emetic prevented him from dying. Then ho took a largo doso of opium, but again he was thwaTted. Ho mado a third attempt by throw-ing himself from the second floor window. Once moro his luck was out, for h<¡ fell on tho cushions of a passing motor car. and escaped with only a slight Injury. He was taken to tbo polico station, whero bo ex-plained why life had become such a burden to him. "Mme. Varadesso howls too much," ¡bo said, "silo howls all day long, and I want to die to get out of il." Mme. Varadesso expressed sympathy with Tin SI Hu, and pro-mised to send him back to China.

A meeting was held in the Alexandria Town Hall last evening, when addresses were delivered by Mr. .I. R. Dacey, M.L.A., awl Mr. ,1. D. Fitzgerald on

the Local Government Act.

Mr. Walter P. Weeks writes proposing that the Go-vernment should resume the beach frontage and a strip oí land about 10 chains wide at Stanwell Park, includ-ing tile creek immediately south of Stanwell Park station, from the ocean up to and including the Waterfall, for a recreation ground.

Jlr. Robert Thomson suggests that the training of the naval cadd« would bo more efficient if there were n gunboat on which they could receive instruction. Ile also says that the radcts should be allowed to travel to and from places of instruction at reduced

rates.

Wo have received the second annual report of Ihr Immigration League of Australia.