LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10131, 7 June 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The North Canterbury Provincial Conferences of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will have nothing to do with the formation of a farmers’ political party in New Zealand. This was unanimously canned almost without discussion.

In the course of his presidential address before the Dunedin Farmers’ Union Conference, Mr E. H. Murney (states the “Star”), ' said that the wages paid to those employed in New Zealand in the textilewndustry amounted to about £1,300,000. He contended that if*the,peopleiof New Zealand paid these workers for doing nothing they would be making a saving of £59.000 per annum by purchasing imported goods, providing the latter were admitted duty free.

“ Why should I pay 5s a week for her to drink ?” was the retort of a man in the Auckland Court (states the Star), when Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., suggested that the sum mentioned should be paid as maintenance. “ She was never like a mother to me— I’ve never been with her since I was four years old,” he added, with a touch of bitterness. “Never mind, she is your mother, you .know,” replied the Magistrate, “and it’s better that you should pay it than that it be passed on to the public. Five shillings a week wori’t hurt you, even though you earn only £4 10s, pay ‘3os rent, ana have a wife and child to support. You’ll just have to deny yourself.”

There is a continued leakage or disappearance of coin in the Dominion, especially of gold, -(remarks the “Mercantile Gazette”). This is going on all the time, but to what extent is pro'bably little known except to bankers, and, therefore, some particulars on this subject may be of interest to many of our readers. For many years past it has been illegal to melt down sovereigns, but no doubt a fair amount of it is done. It was only as recently as 1916 that the Federal Government of Australia issued a proclamation prohibiting this practice. Jewellers, dentists, and others find in the sovereign well-refined gold in a handy form for making articles of jewellery, dental work, etc.

The Wanganui “Herald” is calling for a thorough investigation of the affairs of the local hospital, by a committee of experienced business men. The hospital is a well-endowed institution, receiving rents from valuable city properties, which should materially assist in "keeping down the cost of upkeep. For the year ended March 31, 1923, the income from rents, interests and dividends was £1647, while New Plymouth derived only £73 from this source. The cost per occupied bed was £205, against £237 at New Plymouth, but the Wanganui Hospital had an average of 139 occupied beds against only 81 at New Plymouth. At Wanganui the fees received per occupied bed amounted to £3l, while at New Plymouth nearly £B2 was collected.

Chevrolet Oars.—Acting on instructions from the N.Z. Agents, G. H. Carson, the local Agent, announces a reduction in price of Chevrolet Cars. The new price for the Chevrolet with standard equipment is £233. Althoiigh the output of Chevrolet Cara is over 3000 per day and the factories are working three shifts daily the makers cannot keep pace with the demand. The Chevrolet is no doubt the leader for value in its price class. It has several features which are accepted by leading designers as being of the best. A full description of the specifications is contained in the makers catalogue, which will be posted to any address on application to l G. H. Carson, District Agent, Tancred Street.—Advt. N.S.W. CRICKET TEAM. The Sydney players were not long in realising the value of Q-to 1 for shin soreness and Fluenzd as a throat gar gle and mouth wash.

An exceptionally good yield of potatoes has been obtained by Mr J. O’Connell, of Ilakaia. The season has been a poor one for tubers, but in spite of this fact Mr O’Connell states he has secured 236 bags from 1J acres of Endurance and Dakota Reds. This works out at about 15 tons to the acre.

Satisfactory entries have been received for the Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society’s winter show. Intending exhibitors from places between Rangiora and Timaru have forwarded particulars. The entries were to have closed last night but have been extended to Tuesday next. One of the entrants is the well-known exhibitor of dogs, Dr. MeKillop, of Seaeliff.

The erection of the Hampstead memorial gateway and fence has been postponed until after the winter. The committee recently accepted a tender for its erection, and has now- decided that, owing to the probability of trouble in the proper setting of the concrete during the winter months, a postponement be made until September. The work is estimated to take from three to four weeks to complete.

Reference to the rapid passing of the veterans was made by Captain James Stichbury in a speech, at the annual luncheon at the Auckland Town Hall (states the “Herald”). During the past year, he said no fewer than 79 veterans of the Maori War had died in various parts of New Zealand. These were originally 7425 veterans drawing pensions ; the number had now dwindled to 589, and ever more and more rapidly the ranks of the surviving veterans were being depleted.

The annual meeting of the ladies’ branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held at Miss Corbett’s residence yesterday afternoon. Miss Macdonald, organising secretary for Canterbury, was present, and presided over the meeting. She gave- an interesting address on the work of the society. The resignation of Mrs Ruddock as president was received with regret, and Mrs Matthews was unanimously elected to the position of president; Mrs Gallagher to vice-presdent; and Mrs Young to secretary.

The requests of the Borough Council to the State Advances Department for the provision of a loan of £7OOO for the water supply extension to Hampstead have not been entertained by the Department owing to its stated inability to cope with the present volume of business. Upon being asked to do all in his nower to obtain the loan, the member for the district (Hon. W. Nos worthy) has replied confirming the decision of the Department. He has suggested, however, that the Council should apply to the Public Trustee for satisfaction of the loan, as that officer may be in a position to consider the matter.

It is an established fact that Aucklanders are very fond of attending race meetings. More so, perhaps, than people in any other part of the Dominion. For an Aucklander to miss a local meeting almost amounts to a *want of patriotism (says an exchange). An authentic story is told of a woman who had not sufficient cash to enable her to be present. Her credit, However, was gooa ; so she obtained a ham from her provision merchant at a cost of 16s, and immediately disposed of it for . 10s to a neighbour. By this means the woman in question obtained her desire, but whether she was successful in making up the loss on the ham is not recorded.

“I don’t know how in the world you do it,” remarked Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court when (reports the “Star”) a man stated he had paid £2 10s per week rent, and support a wife and four woung children on a salary of £4 19s 3d. Counsel for the creditor suggested that, since he had taken the house when earning £6 per week, he should have found a cheaper one when his wages were reduced. “That’s all very well,” said the Magistrate, “but I’ve gone into the question of rents pretty closely, and I don’t think it can bedone. Some people with big rents try to eke it out by sub-letting. But here’s the whole trouble —a man paying half

his wages’in rent instead of one say’s pay.”

An adjourned ease in which the police proceeded against Elizabeth Emma Catherall for retaining a child for payment when she was an unlicensed foster-parent, was concluded before Mr E. Page, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday. According to the police, the defendant, in answer to an advertisement, had taken in a young baby. The district agent had reported that defendant’s home was such that she would not have- recommended her to have a license. The Magistrate remarked that something would haye to be imposed. Defendant knew she was doing wrong, and was liable to a fine of £SO, or three months’ imprisonment. She would be fined £lO, and ordered to pay costs. Two months’ time was allowed in which to pay the fine.

A written judgment of importance to motorists was delivered- in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court by Mr Poynton, S.M., in a case in which three- motorists' were charged with leaving ears in the street without lights. It was contended for the defence that the Lights on Vehicles Act, under which the informations were laid, applied only to vehicles being driven along a highway, and not to standing vehicles. A Press Association message states that Mr Poynton held that the section was wide enough to take in all conveyances standing in a street unlighted. It woijjl be straining the Act to say that As long as a car was standing it need not be lighted, and every time it stopped the obligation to keep it lighted ceased. Defendants were convicted and fined 10s each.

If, internationally-speaking, a mandated territory is a kind of “no man’s land,” it does not follow, that It is an alsatia for escaped criminals or individuals who come within the police category of “wanteds.” At any rate, such is to be the future intentions of the Government with regard to Western Samoa for an Order-in-Council gazetted last night provides that' fugitive criminals may be extradited from there. The provisions of the Extraditions Acts of 1870 and 1906, and all treaties with foreign States to which, these Acts have been, or may be, applied by His Majesty, will appbto the territory. The only gleam of hope for those who seek sanctuary from durance yile by flight to Samoa is a clause in the Grder-in-Council which stipulates that a Judge of the High Court of Western Samoa may exercise the power of discharging a criminal when not conveyed within two months out of Western Samoa.

The annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association was opened at Christchurchthis morning by the Deputy-Mayor, the vice-president, Mr D. S. Smith, ’ Auckland, presiding. Forty-6even remits are set down for discussion. .

“There is a mortgage of £2OO on the motor-car, and it’s. only worth £25 now,” said a witness in.the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, when being examined as to his ability to pay a debt. “Oh, you’re a pretty shrewd business man if that’s the case,” retorted Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M. “Why don’t you raise some money on it?” (Daughter.)

At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association Mr C. Speight (chairman), (states the “Star”) asked the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), if he could take steps to have as much as possible of the New Zealand Court at Wembley transferred to the Exhibition to be held in Dunedin next year. It would be a great education for all visitors. Mr Massey replied that the Government had already moved in that direction, and anything that could be done to further the proposal would be done*

Southern newspapers have been heralding the fact that property values in Balclutha. were hardening, and displayed considerable pleasure in the fact that a town section had lately changed hands at £22 10s per foot (states the Napier “Daily Telegraph”)Southerners w,ould get a shock were they desirous of purchasing business allotments in Waipukurau. In this. E regressive centre, which, by the way,, as only been a borough:for 12 years,., a' sale was made recently of a 30-foot, frontage at a price per foot of £66 13s 4d.

Whistling, it seems, has its uses, says “Shirley,” in _ the “Auckland; Star.” For one thing it will stop -Ai. cold if the sufferer practices the art while his affliction is still incipient. This is sad news for women in the. oncoming winter, as we will have to suffer alone, the siffleuse being still a rarity. Another use for whistling is a means to stop snoring—the other person’s snoring, that is. Whistle softly in the same room, and his nasal ebullition will cease. As in New Zealand many rooms are acoustically the same room, this is good news forboarders in crowded apartment places*

Though the trotting meeting ptovides perhaps the greatest attraction to-day, it has not interfered with the carrying out of the competitions in several branches of athletic sports. The Rugby football matches in all grades other than the third have been postponed. The two matches being played on the Showgrounds are between,Technical School and Rakaia, and Methven and High School. A soccer football match between senior teams from the Methven and Ashburton clubs is in progress on the Domain ground. The hockey competitions being continued as follow:—Rakaia A. v. Technical School A, at Ashburton Domain; High School v. Rakaia 8., at Rakaia; and Tinwald v. Technical School 8., at TinwaKL

Thursday night’s Gazette contains regulations relating to the introduction into New Zealand of bees or appliances. In these regulations “appliance” means any hive, frame, combfoundation, or - other thing used in connection with the keeping of bees and the harvesting of their products. The introduction of bees -into New Zealand is prohibited, save with the precedent consent of the Minister £>f Agriculture. Each application for authority to import bees must be made in writing, and must state the name and address of the breeder, and the location of the apiary from which it is proposed to secure such bees. No appliance which has been used in connection with bees shall be introduced into New Zealand : Provided that in connection with bees imported with the consent of the Minister for. Agriculture there may he introduced such’ used appliances as are necessary to serve as containers for such bees.