OCCASIONAL NOTE

The fact that the recent strike of the NorthEastern Railway men in England was due, in part at least, to dissatisfaction on the part of the men with the rules for testing eyesight has once more drawn public attention to the desirability of having this matter finally settled, or at least of having a uniform standard that would apply to all alike – a national eyesight test. From time to time there has been trouble with the men of the mercantile marine from the same cause. The men are apt to suspect that the test is sometimes applied in an arbitrary way in order to find a pretext for getting rid of a man who is physically quite fit for his work. It is obvious that in many other employments as well as on the railway and on board ship good eyesight is essential for the safety of the workman himself as well as for that of the public, and the request for a recognised and uniform system of testing seems reasonable. So the Board of Trade has now intimated that it is going to establish a national eyesight test although the details of the scheme have not yet been published. There is a British Council of Ophthalmology, the product of the union of the several ophthalmological societies or sections of societies in the United Kingdom, so there should be no difficulty in getting expert advice on the subject.

BOMBAY S CHIEF JUSTICE

BOMBAY, AUG 23

For the first time the Chief Justice, Sir Norman McLeod, paid a visit of inspection to the Esplanade Presidency Magistrate’s Court today. Replying to a welcome on behalf of the bar, Sir Norman said he realised that if the Chief Justice and the other judges of the High Court interested themselves in the work of the subordinate judiciary by personal visits, it would not only be beneficial but would accord considerable encouragement to the bar also. Mr. Aston, Chief Presidency Magistrate, welcomed His Lordship and expressed the hope that the High Court Judges would follow his example.

COLLAPSE OF A GIANT AIRPLANE

A shocking aviation disaster is reported, a new Caproni passenger triplane having been destroyed, and 14 persons, including five well-known Milanese journalists, killed. The aerial liner made a trial trip to Venice. While the machine was passing over Verona on the return journey, and was at a height of about 1,000 metres, onlookers saw the wings of the machine flutter suddenly, and the leviathan began to fall. The wings collapsed, and the passengers were seen to be in a state of terror. Several jumped out, two making a fatal leap while they were arm-in-arm. One passenger fell into a canal, and an onlooker plunged into the water immediately but he failed to save the man. The designers of the machine are unable to account for the accident. Captains Ridolfi and Resnati, the aviators, were among the most daring airmen in the Italian army.

NON-BRAHMINS & REFORMS BILL COMMITTEE

MADRAS, AUG 23

The following cablegram has been sent today by the South Indian Liberal Federation to Lord Selborne, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Prime Minister and others: “Southern India NonBrahmin resent the Committee’s highhanded refusal to hear their representatives deputed at great expense, while disproportionately numerous Brahmins, proBrahmins and agitators have been heard.” PUNJAB TRIALS Judgments were delivered today by the Special Tribunal in the supplementary Amritsar conspiracy case and the Kundian riot case. In the Amritsar case Brij Gopi Nath was sentenced to transportation for life with forfeiture of property, and Durgadas to three years’ rigorous imprisonment. In the Kundian case Viswa Mitra was sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment, Kishen Chand to nine months’, Gobind Lal Karim, Barkhat, Shiv Ram Das to six months’ each, and Muhammad Ali to three months. Two were acquitted.

BRITISH GUIANA

MONTREAL, AUG 23

In the course of an interview respecting the statement that the Imperial Government was looking to Canada to develop the West Indies Mr. Macaulay, president of the Canada-West Indies League, said that British Guiana had tremendous resources. It was estimated that sugar production could be increased from 105,000 to 2,500,000 tons which was more than enough to supply the whole Empire. Rice, timber, rubber and tobacco had also enormous possibilities. The United States was negotiating for the acquisition of Dutch Guiana, and if it got it would make it into a hive of industry and prosperity. Consequently British Guiana should not remain undeveloped merely because it was British. Mr. Macaulay said he was of opinion that the Government of British Guiana had already applied to begin negotiations with Canada.