NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 68, 20 March 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Consulting Industry. In "The Post" leading article yesterday in a reference to the Government's consultation with industry, a statement made at Te Mata by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) was incorrectly attributed to the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone). Mr. Martin described the guaranteed prices plan as "the best secret that has ever been kept in this country," and said, regarding complaints that the industry had not been consulted: "If those who are complaining had followed my suggestion and visited us in Wellington, or made representations in writing, they, too, would have been considered." Mr. Langstone has not made reference to this question. "Motorists are Intelligent." Supporting a contention by Councillor W. F. Hornig at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening that motorists should not be allowed to drive along the road formed at the top of the new protective works, a councillor said that there was only room for one car at a time, and he asked what would happen if two cars met in the middle. "Motorists are intelligent people; they would know what to do," remarked Councillor M. Magill. "If they are not intelligent when they start driving they soon become intelligent." Councillor S. G. Shearer thought that motorists should be encouraged, as they would help the filling behind the face of the wall to settle down. On a vote being taken it was decided not to allow motorists on the wall. Butterfly Reserve. Reporting on the Butterfly Reserve to the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening, the borough engineer (Mr. W. J. Frethey) stated that the bush kiosk had been erected and further improvements were being made. A new bridge had been constructed and paths laid out to suit the locality. Favourable comments had been made regarding the suitability of the building. Storm damage was fairly extensive along the bush tracks, several large trees being uprooted. Relief workers were engaged in improving the shape and grades of tracks. The provision of refreshments was proving popular at the weekends. The chairman of the reserves committee (Councillor D. Bowie) said that a lady visitor to the spot was so enthusiastic about what was' being done that she donated £10 10s towards further improvements. Shortage of House Surgeons. "There is a great shortage of house surgeons in New Zealand," said the chairman, Mr. W. G. Broderick, at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board. "I understand that the Auckland board has an officer over in Australia looking for house surgeons." Smoking on Ferry Steamers. A protest against the habit of passengers smoking on parts of the ferry steamers not set aside for! that purpose was made by Councillor S. G. Shearer at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening. Councillor Shearer said that the staff of the steamers drew the passengers' attention to the notices prohibiting smoking, but they only laughed at them. The Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) said that the council was unanimously in favour of prosecuting offenders. On the motion of Councillor C. H. Andrews it was decided to empower the Town Clerk to take immediate action against offenders. Waikaremoana Rising. Waikaremoana at present is in a high condition, and is still rising, although now very slowly. This is unusual, for in past years at this period of the year the lake is at its lowest, states the "Poverty Bay Herald." This reversal of the lake's condition is brought about by the unusual continuous wet weather experienced, and it will be some considerable time before any decrease in the lake will take place. A Fruitless Search. An historic bottle believed to have been buried in Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, is still. undiscovered, and Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, C.M.G., has returned to Wellington a disappointed man, but also with the firm res.-vlve to try again. During his visit there on H.M.S. Dunedin very bad weather was struck and only twice in four days was Mr. Buick able to go ashore to look for the bottle which contains the proclamation made by the commander of H.M.S. Herald, Captain Nias, when he took possession of Stewart Island, in June, 1840. The Herald's log gives the bearings of the position where the bottle was deposited, but some doubt exists as to whether these bearings are true or magnetic. Names in the locality, too, have been changed, and descriptions are vague and indefinite. Topographical changes have also taken place during the ninety-six years which have elapsed since the bottle was deposited, hence the difficulties in location are very great. Mr. Buick says that his next search will not be in March: both times he has been there to search have been in March, and it has rained too much. But even if he has not as yet found the bottle, he has acquired other valuable historical information as the result of his trips, ' J

Twis in City. For several weeks luis have visited a garden in Everton Terrace two or three days in the week, the attraction apparently being the flowering gums from'which they secure food. It is unusual for tuis to be seen constantly in the heart of the city, but the situation of this garden, which is near Kelburn Park, where there is a belt o£ trees and the remains of a small stream, may have kept them in the vicinity. . The increasing frequency with which tuis seem to be visiting closely-populated areas is perhaps due to the lack of molestation which has followed campaigns by interested societies, but the fact that they show preference for certain gardens is a little harder to explain. Probably it is because it is only in gardens that • the honey-bearing flowering trees they favour are to be found, but there is no doubt that these birds are particularly quick to recognise any sort of sanctuary, and become very tame when they feel that they are safe. Shifting: Power Poles. Reporting on the manner in which the Hutt River was eating in towards the road at one portion of the Taita Gorge,, the engineer and general manager (Mr. E. F. Hollands) stated at the meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board- yesterday afternoon that it had been necessary to shift nine power poles in two years. The poles were now erected one and a half chains nearer the road than they used to be. No Permit for Pictures. A request for a permit for the screening of pictures on Good Friday and Anzac Day was refused by the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening. The Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) stated that this action was in line with what was being done in other parts of the Hutt Valley. Trade with Sweden. In the course of an address to members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday Mr. G. M. Lindergren, secretary of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for Australia and New Zealand, explained that almost all Swedish exports to New Zealand came straight to the Dominion, whereas only a small percentage of New Zealand exports to Sweden go there direct. There was room for a larger direct trade from New Zealand to Sweden in apples, ho said. Direct trade would eliminate the added expense of trade through London. There was room for improvement, also, in the Dominion's trade to Sweden in tallow, fat, hides, skins, and wool. Mr. Lindergren said he would be glad to assist business men to promote direct trade between- the two countries. Sub-normal Children. "There is a crying need in the North Island for a home for the sub-normal children, and also the mentally defec-1 tive child, a home similar' to the home in Templeton, out of Christchurch," wrote the Rev. Mary M. Dreaver, of Auckland, to the annual conference of the Federation of New Zealand Justices' Associations, which discussed her letter yesterday afternoon. "The little ones so afflicted should not be confined with adult mentally sick, as there is a constant danger in the contact, with an added responsibility to the staff. Picture the little boys mixing with the criminal perverts. There are about nineteen of these children in Avondale alone, and the objection of the parents to the removal of the children to the South Island is perfectly natural. Therefore, it is a reasonable request that a home be built somewhere near Taihape." The letter also urged the immediate necessity for action in regard to the continuous influx of criminal lunatics into the mental hospitals, to the detriment of the mentally sick. The federation supported the request, which will be forwarded to the Minister concerned. •