1947-08-08 — Page 9

Finelyb71

LABOUR VIEWS PARLIAMENT

–By ERNEST THURTLE

Labour M.P. for Shoreditch

IG BEN chimes to us at midnight, but our thoughts at Westminster tend to be more concentrated on Mr Morrison's clock, 'due

to strike the twelfth hour before long.

That hour, presumably, will be when we are left with no more dollars to buy what we want from America,

A blenk prospect, indeed. Yet we must preserve a sense of proportion.

That, I feel, in hardly what Sir Stafford Cripps in doing when he defends his newsprint cut as a serious measure directed against dollar bankruptcy.

So paltry a saving (said to be one four- hundredth part of what is required), which will bring many undesirable consequences to a de- mocracy in its train, hardly bears the stamp of an ice-cold legal brain.

The historic Mrs Partington, who gallantly sought to push back the Atlantic Ocean with her mop, scoms to have found in our excellent Sir Stafford a disciple in futile defensive action.

O.

GREAT interest, reflected in a full House, was aroused by the Privilege debate arising out of the W. J. Brown case.

The member for Rugby is certainly one of the ablest debaters in Parliament (I would put him among the first six); and he was at his forensic best in defending his personal position in this discussion.

Nevertheless, it must be said that, on the broad issue which emerged, namely, whether or not a member should enter into an agreement such as Mr Brown had concluded with the Civil Service Clerical Association, he failed completely to carry the House with him.

Indeed, although that agreement may have been entered into In good faith by both sides, there doubt that is nuture surprised and shocked the House as a whole.

Members felt that, as the agres- ment was probably he first, so it should be the last of its kind, and they put Win ylew accordingly,

ccord

RAMED on the white- washed wall of a British officers' mess I found this hand-scribbled and unsigned versn

"Perching

and

droughts

raging flood.

Mouths of dust

and

days

of mud,

Mixed moleny and blood--

That's Waziristan."

It may not have been great poetry, but it was a neat sum ming up of outpost duty on the North-West Frontier.

The mess faced north towards a strip of parched plain quiver- ing in the heat, Beyond the ORD LATHAM is censing to be plain crouched the forbidding

leader of the London County Council, and his going will teavsbarrier of rocky mountains of

a big gun at County Hall,

tribal territory, stretching away

The square,

It is more than seven years since to Afghanistan.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1947.

THARE

SURVEYING THE SITE

Good-bye to

the world's best spot

for a scrap

by SYDNEY SMITH

[Copyright in all Countries)

are

of these Arc stolen British Army issues, but most miraculously made imitations, turned out on the bicycle- driven lathes in the primitive cave factories of the mountain

pusses.

The Guilds Of The City Of London: No. 4

Watching London's Fish Market

By BARRY PEAK -

at the

HE Fishmongers' Company, abread have to be examined by the

one of the 12 Great Livery Company's bacteriologist Companies of the City of London beraiery. Should samples London, has been in existence examined not come up to standards required, ale is prohibited and for over 700 years, and it is enquiries instituted of the source of still largely concerned with supply.

This waters on food does much in Britain's fishing industry.

guarding against the spreading of

1

the first

and other According to tradition,

dinenses. The Royal Charter was granted to the benefits from this sensible control flohmongers by King Edward

nra felt throughout the whole of the (1272), but the Fishmongers were United

provincial Kingdom, DA a strongly organised community long medical ofeers of health keep in before this date. This and succeed constant touch with the Company, Charters, issued by Edward 11 In recent years the Company has and Edward III, did much to put endeavoured to stop the pallation of power

In the hands of the rivers and has set up a body known Flotunongers-they were

tion.

virtually

given a monopoly. The Charters as the Central for Rivers Protec-

ovided that no fish could be sold

In keeping with other Companies in London except by the "Mystery" of the City of London, the Fish- of Fishmongers. It was also ruled mongers do much work of an eduga- that the Wardens of the Company tional and charitable nature, and s were to control the buying and the

major proportion of the funds are selling of fish and to ensure

that bet as de for this purpose. only good quality fish was offered for Gresham's, famous schcol, beiongs sale. This did much to safeguard to the Company and is maintained the public and was an important hy it as well as almshouses. There service. ns fish was one of the chief are also many scholarchips to necessities of life in the Middle Ages, universites and schools, and large

A further nine Charters were issued to the Company between the reigns of Richard II and James 1 which formally Incorporated the Company and laid down the rules governing its activities with regard to trade.

.

·

Era Of Expansion

cums of money have been and are being spent on technical education.

Thames Race

TIE Fishmongers' Cimpany have also acted as Trusees of the Thames Rice known as "Doggett's Cant and Badge”. This traditional sporting event was instituted in 1715

Thomas Doggett, a famous come inn. The race was to commemorate

of George

1 to the the Accession throne, and in his will, Doggett left

and instructions that the money and should continue perpetually.. is the oldest known sport ng event open to young watermen, who may compete when they complete their Articles of Apprenticeship and are Freedom of the Water- men's Company.

Although their tradition survives.

race

Tala

the Fishmongers Hall was destroyed

THE 14th century was an era of

pansion and saw the wealth and influence of the Fishmongers increase good, for enormously. Trade was the

held

ecmplete Company monopoly and exercised its power So far the tribes have been by taking a prominent part in City affairs. At this time there was much

over the prevented from making a major strife

of question sweep on to the plains by the monopolies. On one tide were the given the

Guilds, holding mono- Victualling vigilance of British forces, by polles and hended by the an annual wheat subsidy and Fishmongers, and on the other side were the Craft Gulida who wanted cash gift of £250,000 a year, free trade in food, but not in the during World War II. in aerial tombardment, as were many fine and by the well-paid employ-goods they themselves manufactured buildings which once graced the City

In 1381. Sir William ment of their young

Walworth, of London. King George VI and the Prime Warden of the Fish- Duke of Gloucester are members of Frontier police and soldiers. mongers' Company; slew Wat Tyler, the Worshipful Company of Fish-

mongers, he Tyler So they have only raided the the leader of the Peasants' Rebellion.

in Smithfield Market, when plains in small forces, when the threatened the life of the young wheat subsidy has been a little King (Richard II). Two years later Free of Londen and leader of the

party, persuaded Common. with their own feuds ...or declare that the Fishmongern had no for any other reason.

men as

the

NEXT WEEK

The fiery Pathans have ac- there may be hopes for a late, or the cash slow, in arriv/John of Northampton, Lord Mayor The Goldsmith's Company

he followed Mr Herbert Morrison squat watch-tower of the out- cepted all the heat constitu- brisker life. And in the onerous taste of controlling

administrative machine of the last, was pitted with marks tional paraphernalia of

the

County of London.

It says much for his quality that he leaves this machine as cleient and as well disciplined as it was when he first took over.

some half a century old, where

This was a North-West Fron- tier fort, the almost theatrically exile of nearly four no generations of Englishmen.

Apparently the retiring lender wants a rest. and he certainly is entitled to one.

Moreover, he has many important (grim

which will private interesta doubt claim his attention.

Yet I confess I should be surprised

the too.

death,

We arc

Two areas the bullets of tribesmen long West ballot boxes, super- since dead and revenged had vising officers; and regulations wasted themselves.

which even specifically banned THIS is the land such well-established customs

leaving, the best and most regular training ground for a as the sale of votes..

Soon the old Pathan regulars, good scrap that British officers who carry folded among their and men have ever had. It "hits" the fuded testimonials hns cost us lives and paid us Without knives of loyalty and the tattered

watched and ministrator were lett Indefinitely to pursue It's private affairs unless heON, like hundreds of other Mutiny medal ribbons of their only this — a

and grandfathers, will go off home warded gateway to India. stone built forts along the to their villages in the distant tribal border, it will belong to the forces of a free Dominion. The Frontier's 98 years of as- sociation with British soldiers, closer than thish soldiers, part of India, is ending.

If

50 experienced and able an ad-

puts up a very determined resistance

to those who would have him do

olherwise.

•

Minister, in

T, the third reader dobute closing ended

Indian Independence Bill.

a memorable chapter of parliament- ary history.

He must have fell that this final act of conceding India her indepen- dence was a far cry from the day, in 1928, when he landed in Bombiy of

lonely brown

mud

hills

+

Excitement

NLY ten percent of thei have a vote. Some of the rest may be puzzled by the new Most The strong traditions and loyalty asked of tiem,

the are beginning to realise that.. loyalties shared between British and their Pathan allies with the re-entry of the Fron- becomes a short closed chapter tier into the open political m the Frontier's thousand years market, in which Afghanistan as a member of the Simon Com of changing loyalties and rebel has hurriedly staked į claim, mission and found, by

the rosier days of scheming, Kreeting, a mass of banners with the lions.

tribal raids, looting and kidnap dimple slogan: Simon vo back!

I understand that since

The strangest thing Desuming

about ping, are on their way back. office two years ago the P.M. this latest political transforma- The tribesman looks

.on this made the settlement of the Indian tion of the Frontier is that it future not with gloom but with

matter for his problem a

eye. When speclul concern and initiative, and has begun, for the first time in a gleam in his

stub has worked untiringly to bring it history, without the final votes those troublesome and about.

of the knife and gun and sword. born infidels are gone

way

own

It is not surprising, therefore, that he derived immense personni satisfaction from witnessing the passage of a measure by which the great continent moves peacefully from tutelage to freedom.

PRACTICAL MEMORIAL

BY THE WAY.

by Beachcomber

OES anything exist?

NISTAN

*Peshawar Waziristen Baluchistan “NORTH

EWEST FRONTIER

INDIA

Gateway to 'India.

ing, or when they grew boredell of the City of London to

To Pakistan

right to menopalise the fish trade. This decision was futer confirmed by Parliament, but was revoked by Richard II in 1300 when he granted

restored all their privileges.

NOW this Province, which, a new Charter to the Company and

Inspecting Fish

EINSTEIN ON

ATOM DANGER

apart from the annual pay-

Prof. Albert Einstein, writ- off to the tribal territory, needs

ing in the Hiroshima anniver- feeding and subsidising at a

INDER the Royal Charter of James Bary edition of the Washington rate of £1,200,000 a year, will

1, the Company's Officials (known Post, said that two years after belong to and must be con- as "Fishmelers") still examine all

Dal entering London's markets. In Hirosima the world has, not trolled by the new unknown these postwar days the daily fish even made a start towards pro- "quantity, Pakistan. The Fron-apply that goes through-Bil'ngsgate

Market amounts to from 400 to 800 tecting civilisation-- tier forces will be handed over

tons,

atomic war. to Indian officers.

1030.

ነ

-from-an--

WOU

It is the right of the "ishmeters"

He said no nation would renounce to condemn any flah they consider Afghanistan has begun stir-

to be unit for sale. Should the the atomic bomb "as long as it is ring the imagination of ambi- Company learn of fish being sold to being prepared for a possible future tious tribal leaders with ideas the public, action is taken by the war," and therefore the only "total legal proceedings solution" is a world government." Company and Until of a breakaway,

and initiated against the offenders under, not even the United Nations, he said, unless Pakistan can prove its the Public Health (London) Act (is an efttelive step in that direction.

Elaston placed upon the United economic, political and military

as possessor of the bomb, soundness, the tribes will be Another sidel ght of the Company's Statca,

work is concerned with Britain's responsibly or inluating

conto.. He said the, U. S. must likely to enjoy their nuisance salmon and freshwater fisheries and

"act in suca a'

that its value-and loot more than the importaton of salmon and other The Frontier Province is they have done for almost 100 ching and marketing during the

fish from abroad. Illegal methods of discations of solving the problem en

a super-haional basis are manifest- beyond doubt." roughly divided into two areas.

scarons" close

have resulted 'The 10,000 square, miles

offenders being prosecuted by the David E. Lilienthal, chairman of Company..

the Atomic Energy Commission, southern half running up to

The Company is also interested in disclosed that the Commission plans. the foothills has a population of

the marketing of shellfish. Samples large additions" the United 3,000,000, and is governed like

of oysters, mussels and other forms States multi-million dollar alomic of shellish coming to London from plant. He said $500,000,000 would any other Province.

other parts of Britain and from be spent this year-United Press.

North of it runs tribal terri- tory, including North and South Waziristan, 24,000 square miles

years.

Out on the plains tie herds- man carries his gun, and often a dagger slung down the back of his neck, handy to knife an argumentative neighbour.

On the craggy points of the mountains each watching tribes-

of barren rugged mountains, man has every inch of the road the forbidden fastness of 2,500,- below ranged for his rifle.

war

In

Memories against the swift and ruthless sorties of the tribal hunters ONE by one the flag of Islam. and kidnappers.

000 tribesmen. It is along the every mountain stronghold, the boundaries of this never sub- Pira, Fakirs and Mullahs are a Director said: "Why not try Din the hope of answering a orces garrisoned in Moslem brothers

pouring water into a basin? They dued tribal area. that British preparing to bargain with their and new this question, Dr Strabismus in out of tunnel. Stick to the (Whom God. ' Preserve) of Redgulls, boys in the unsolicited their isolated little. forts have masters. Dorset Utrecht may go to Brazil to advice of yours folthfully, Vern waged a steady guerilla. Like Hongkong,

observe the eclipse of the sun. Flobb. County has found R practical

The Doctor is long suspected way to honour its war dead and that, neither time nor space is any-n passing simultaneously.. to help their thing but a name. for something

ISTENING to a tale about an which is aint really there, and it in elephant, revisinbored my dependants.

celipe. own favourite. Re-his opinion that the Sponsored by the

treated as outside the space-con- giment, which is appealing for a tinuum, cannot possibly be said to hillside. It missed in footing, An elephant was walking along the war meinorial wil canes house in every town and rural-is-occur in time,

rolled Into there trict in the county: These will be light position-possibili- fully. The first thing it saw when i Scout regiments, a tough militia

it sat up was a mouse," any," four-dimensional geometry

infinite gravitational Fald the elephant,

County

allotted to widows, with children of

men killed in action, disabled ex- tira)

men kille

an

(uccording to

· Lagérung.

Are

Apart from rogalar Indian Army units under British off cera, posted to Frontier duty, eight permanent "you do look of 18,700 men under British officers, whose whole-time job has always been to keep the tribes in order.

Servicemen, atd. In special e:sts, to assumes

field which precludes its own exis- mall." "I know, waid the mouse.

war rehtrans themselves.

Ownership of the houses w be tenen a priori. This is known as vested in the local authorities, and Spegell's Law, and the tenants, who will be selected by chan-experience. tha County Regimental Committee,

will pay low rents well within their Sound effects

"I've been "

ol the manin for speed.

Not

only, has there been no match played Luton, in Bedfordshire, has aleo FOR a highbrow dio viny it

decided that practical help to the

is replacing the Union Jack over the sunbaked outposts where Englishmen found that mixed monotony and blood." -

The land with the highest proportion of gunmen in the world has peacefully voted the Sahibs out.

ono

strange

nimiishes all Dynamic chess

Maybe it will accept its new loyalty with a little old- POR a long time cheas has resist-

500,000 fighters fashioned skirmishing in the between opponents. Dying a 500 THE tribesmen, all Moslems, next year. If that is so, you was necessary to make the sound miles an hour, but even the speed and for the moment sup- can be sure of Ilving will best commemorate the of water being poured into a basin of the moves has been left to the porters of Pakistan, could put thing. In Cheltenham, Tun-

dead. A memorial fund has The officials tried trickling mulberry players. But now I read of "lightning

the first Jules through a strainer. They then chose," with the intervals between half a million sharpshooting the Malvern Hills there will be bridge Wel's. Harrogato and therefore been siarted, £30,000 of which will be used for flung pellets of cotton-wool at n grants to ex-Servicemen

What about stationing each the pinins at any time. Their with an uncontrollable nostalgia women, and their dependants In with his thumb, swirled a lot of Everything brisk and stupid. Atta disablement or diniculty, The satin pompons round a

saucepan, player 100 yards from the board, stock of arms is reported off, as the word goes around second£50,000 will build a now treathed in ferks through a paper and then firing a pistol? The cially as 1,000,000 rifles. Many "The Frontler's at it again."

| teumpet-all to no purpose. Finally man to seize a piece wins. wing for Luton's hospital

war

Lin

and screen, got a nen to flip his chook moves restricted to ten seconds.fanatical fighters' down on to some hearts which will beat!

In

manner

to

DAVID LANGDON CARTOON

PUBLIC BAR

"Wassanietter, Frod? No milk at ‘ome