Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Monday 16 April 1951, page 5


I VOICE OF AMERICA

(BT WAYNE JOHNSON)

NEW YORK, AIR MAIL.

Some of us over here think that our House and Senate members as well as our public would have a better idea of what our foreign and military policies are if, for instance State Secretary Acheson and Defence Secretary Marshall were subjected to floor ques-tioning as in your own Parlia-

ment.

It is true that they do testify before legislative committees, but they don't always satisfy members - or the public - be-cause they are restricted in what they can say. Our Cabi-net members are appointed by the President, usually for nisi term of office, and they are

¡answerable to him.

i If one of your Cabinet pro-, posais is turned down by Par-liament, despite a tight party;

discipline by the majority, a j new election is in order. But j

here, whether legislation sug-gestions come from the White House or from executive depart-ments- or from a memberthey are considered by Congres-sional committees. These in-clude members of both parties By majority vote, they reject or approve and pass the bills on for debate. Congressional com-mittees call Cabinet officers and bureau heads, including the military, for questioning.

In diplomatic issues affecting

relations with other countries,

or on questions involving na-tional security, a British Minis-ter may refuse to answer ques-tions publicly. Often here, the military or State department spokesman will ask that their replies in committee sessions be made in secret hearings or "off the record." What they say in secret usually leaks outside and is often garbled. Sometimes er-roneous interpretations result among the members or in the Press.

It seems as though we could do with less of the oIT-therecord stuff, and then our people could at least know something of what the Govern-ment is doing.

If our populace had anything to say about it, we'd be getting out of Korea right now. At any rate, that's what another poll of our public opinion has just re-vealed. Seven out of 10 are in favour of our leaving that land of bitter memories.

THE A-BOMB

Further voting in this poll showed that 80 per cent of Am-ericans are against dropping the A-bomb just now, but for keep-ing it as a war weapon. Fiftyeight per cent are . against sending substantial aid to for-eign countries (42 per cent be-ing favourable). Sixty-five per cent are against sending for-eign troops to Europe (35 for lt).

There are 73 per cent of us against admitting China to the United Nations with 27 per cent for the idea. Eighty-five out of every hundred of us want for-eign nations to supply the bulk of United Nations' troops. Only 16 per cent oppose this. Sixtythree per cent of us would simply defend outlying bases and keep our armies at home.

Now for a word on sport. There is a new one that is gaining real national popularity right now, and it is a rough bouse variety of roller-skating called the Roller Derby. This derby, which blossomed from Its early status as a type of en-durance contest to its present intricately scored game is part of a national derby league, comprised of men's and girls* teams. Each of the men's teams has a companion girls' team. The girls, who take their spills on the banked masonite track and so acquire some bumps, bruises and floor burns, the same as the men get, are apt to become even rougher in this game than are the boys.

A Roller Derby team -male or female-is composed of five

skaters. Men's teams are

I matched with male foes and

girls* against girls. The game gets under way with the two rival teams skating somewhat nonchalantly around in a bunch over the track.

Suddenly the fun begins . . . when a "jam" gets under way. This occurs when one, two or three skaters break away from the pack in an effort to "lap" the others. Object of the game is to pass as many of the skaters in the tail-end of the pack as possible. A single point is scored when one rival is lapped, and grand slam is scored when a skater laps all five skaters in the opposing

team.

A skater out to lap the field is called a "jammer." The "mayhem" when rivals try to block the "jammer." A legal block is with body and shoul-der, which makes for some first-class upsets when skaters sometimes reach a speed of 35 miles per hour! Injuries are frequent and blocked - out skaters often pitch headlong over the outside track rail into the laps of ringside spectators.

Lots of fun . . . lots of shrieking from the fans . . .

especially when tempers flare : and fists fly on the tracks. Great sport!

TIN RESTRICTIONS

The United States Govern-!

ment has ordered drastic re-strictions in civilian use of tinincluding 10 per cent cut in the amount that can be used for beer cans. This order Is de-signed, of course, to ensure enough supplies for military and essential civilian needs.

The effect will be to cut the civilian use of the scarce metal -all of which must be import-ed from the Far East, South America and Africa-by about one-third. Tin consumption of all kinds is now running close to 14,000 tons a month.

The order will put many dry foods like coffee and chocolate back into "black plate" cans that were used widely during World War TL. Black plate is uncoated steel, but when a coat of lacquer is applied it makes the can practically indistin-guishable from a tin-plated

can.

The beer-can cutback goes into effect immediately, and this all ties up with current ef-forts on the part of our boards of health to encourage the use of paper containers for drinking the amber fluid.

We like our beer in various ways. The proper container is an earthen mug, pre-chilled and beaded with sweat. Next comes the glass. And, in certain social circles, a large -tin paiL

Until now paper cups have been considered useful only at sporting -events where over-wrought spectators might so far forget themselves as to throw bottles at the referee. A paper cup lacks both the carry and the stunning power of the cus-tomary container.

Some of our high powered beer drinkers are not any too enthusiastic about sipping their brew from paper cups. "It just doesn't taste the same" they complain. And another thing, in the discussion on politics, inter-national events, big sporting moments and the like, paper cups are not satisfactory. With a glass or a mug you can beat out your points with satisfying thumps on the bar. A paper cup only makes a weak-sound-ing "thock." But the way I look at it is that paper cups are fine . . . with beer in them!