Logo

Logo

100 Years Ago | 22 July 1918

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world

100 Years Ago | 22 July 1918

SOLDIERS AND SWIMMING BATHS

To The Editor Of The Statesman
SIR, – It has doubtless occurred to many other people besides the large number of soldiers on leave at the present time in Calcutta that apparently no move has been made up to now to extend the hospitality of the swimming baths to these furlough men.

During the hot weather this neglect strikes one even rather more forcibly and one wonders whether the omission is due to apathy or want of initiative on the part of those concerned in the management of the baths, or whether it is purely due to motives of selfishness.

Advertisement

Everyone knows that the British soldier is fond of swimming and, I feel sure that if a free invitation cannot be given to them to attend the baths on certain fixed hours daily, the soldiers would undoubtedly be only too willing to pay a small charge sufficient to cover the expense of washing towels, etc.

There can be no question whatever that if the soldiers had the entrée to the baths, as suggested, they would greatly appreciate the opportunity given to them to have a swim.
BENGAL CLUB.
Calcutta.

TEA AGENTS AND THE I.A.R.O.

To The Editor Of The Statesman
SIR, – While the Government of India have been recently urging all fit Europeans in India, under 35 years of age, to join the Reserve of Officers, and the Chief Commissioner of Assam has called upon the captains of the tea industry to support this with all their influence, the tea agents in Calcutta passively or actively discourage any such action.

Throughout the tea districts meetings have been held and the younger planters have responded to a man, but they cannot go unless they are prepared to lose their billets altogether, as well as the commissions and bonuses due to them on the season’s working.

Unless the Agency houses take this action at once they will find, with this urgent need of young men for the fighting forces of the Empire, that the men will join in such large numbers without leave that there will be a great danger of many gardens being without a European at all.

This can be avoided if the Agents will work in conjunction with their garden managers, as many firms are doing at present.
PLANTER.
Assam.

ANGLO-INDIAN UNITY

To The Editor Of The Statesman
SIR, – The correspondence in The Statesman gives clear evidence that a definite desire is now growing in Anglo-Indians for the gathering together of all organisations representing the community in one bond.

I happen to belong to both the bodies here in Bengal, the League and the Association, and I agree with Mr. J.M. Mendes that no effort must be spared to bring about a very desirable state of things.

It is not as your correspondent Mr. G. Macraw asserts, that the election of new office-bearers stands in the way; every honest worker for the welfare of the community must feel it as the least thing that bars the way to the unity of the two bodies.

There are far more formidable questions, such as: How can a so-called political body, such as the Anglo-Indian Association of Calcutta, unite with the League Branch in Bengal, when the League has publicly declared itself a non-political body?
H.W.B. MORENO.
Wellesley Street, Calcutta.

Advertisement