NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 277, 23 November 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Two Lots of Immigrants.

Nearly two hundred and fifty immigrants are on board the steamer Athenic, which is expected to arrive at Auckland from London about Friday or Saturday of this week. Of this number, 92 are for Auckland, 83 for Wellington, 39 for Lyttelton, 14 for Dunedin, 16 for Napier, two for Timaru, and three for Gisborne. A smaller batch of new settlers, totalling 89, will arrive at Wellington from London bv the lonic next week.

"Tin-hare" Racing.

Mechanical Hares, Ltd., wanted to lease some Harbour Board land on the eastern reclamation, presumably for the purpose of starting the business that has caused so much discussion at Home and in Australia. The Finance Committee of the Auckland Harbour Board, however, advised the board to reply that it was not prepared to lease the land asked for. The land in question is situated on the reclamation on the far side of Luna Park. Judge Makes a Complaint.

The urgent need of frame 3 in which to display plans and maps which form part of the evidence in Supreme Court cases was commented on by Mr. Justice Reed yesterday. "On many occasions," said his Honor, "I have made representations for frames to be supplied, but nothing seems to happen. It is disgraceful that for lack of a simple appliance costing only a few shillings a jury should be put to this inconvenience." A big map was displayed in Court yesterday, but it was impossible for the orderly to hold it so that it could be clearly seen by the. jury. As his Honor pointed out, a simple light frame with a few drawing pins would make all the difference between discomfort and convenience. Benzine for the A.H.B.

Most people understood that benzine in bulk was cheaper than in case, but the Purchasing Committee of the Auckland Harbour Board has found a supplier who will let it have the case article cheaper. At yesterday's meeting of the board the. Purchasing Committee was given permission to negotiate for 2000 cases, delivery to be spread over eight months. At present the committee's limit is 50 cases. Large quantities are used by the board's fleet of launches. Mr. C. G. Macindoe, the chairman of the committee, in reply to a member's suggestion that it would be cheaper to buy in bulk, said the quotation the committee had received was more favourable, in addition to which the committee could sell the cases for 4d each, and would still have the tin containers. Saving a Tree.

In these days, when the wholesale destruction of native bush associated with the pioneering period has hardly ceased, and a proper appreciation of New Zealand flora is limited, it is refreshing to discover that an Invercargill property-owner is sufficiently an exception to make a pecuniary sacrifice in this respect (says the "Southland limes"). Growing in the section where he was erecting a house was a fine cabbage tree in such a position that it either had to be removed to permit of the erection of the building or unusual steps taken for its preservation. The property-owner rose to the occasion and built the house in the form of a "U," the two wings enclosing the plot in which the cabbage tree will probably long flourish as a tangible tribute to his appreciation of beauty.

Training of Migrants. | The grasp which the visiting Secretary of State for the Dominions has upon the problem of migration was made eviae-t in the masterly ! review which he gave for the benefit of deputations which waited upon him in Auckland. Probably the strongest point which Mr. Amery made was that in respect of male emigrants to the Dominions, who should, as far as possible, be young, and should receive preliminary training in the elements of farm work before leaving Britain, while in the case of female emigrants, th<*se who intended earning their living overseas should be trained for domestic duties. Mr. Amery made? it clear that young women should not be ] encouraged to come out for the purpose of entering the already crowded ranks in shops and offices. He believes that the system of giving preliminary training will be further extended, and that it will help more than anything else to provide the Dominions with the right type of settlers. Suburban Transport. "From the viewpoint of public interest and convenience the position is truly intolerable, and the general feeling of resentment prevailing in Auckland suburbs appears to be fully justified," states the New Lynn Town Board in a letter which has been sent to the Prime Minister anent suburban transport facilities. It is claimed that before the Auckland City Council was constituted the licensing authority for the motor omnibus services, the town districts of New Lynn, Glen Eden and Henderson were well served by bus services inaugurated by private enterprise, but since the services had been taken over and operated by the Auckland City Council there had been a general deterioration in the control, until at the present time the services are inefficient and totally inadequate for the requirements of the districts. It is further pointed out that the inauguration of motor bus services by private enterprise induced many people to establish homes in the outer suburbs. A large number of residents were now .vitally dependent on adequate transport facilities.

Silver Fox Farming. "I bought two silver fox females when I was living in Canada" (writes "Calgary" in the "New Zealand Smallholder"), "as I saw there was money in fox farming, but circumstances changed my destinies. I paid £50 each for these two foxes—a pretty stiff price, but cheap at the money, because their progeny would return me £30 or £40 for each fur. They have from two to four young in a year. They are kept in kennels with a small yard, just as some people keep dogs, and you feed them very much like dogs, too. They like meat and bread, and anything that dogs like. I fancy if they were wild in New Zealand they would keep down the rabbits. They eat about 21b of meat per day. In terms of a 121b bullock's liver at 1/, that is about a shilling a week. But the profit is very great. The fox farmers do not kill their foxes by shooting, as the bullet hole would spoil the skin. They chloroform them, and then kill carefully. It seems to me rather absurd to say that a silver fox industry in New Zealand, as properly carried on, would be a menace to farmers, even on the mainland."

Helping Britain's Trade. "The more we get together and find out our difficulties and problems, th© better rt will be for everybody. Any action taken regarding the prosperity of New Zealand reflects materially on the Old Country." These remarks were made by Mr. L. B. Beale, British Trade Commissioner, when discussing tariff matters at the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation conference, which concluded last evening. The subject under discussion was a remit by the Auckland Association suggesting that the British preferential tariff should be raised from 50 per cent to 75 per cent; as it was not considered high enough. It was also recommended that raw materials, whether British or foreign, required for use of New Zealand- manufacturers, should be admitted free of duty, provided they were not produced in New Zealand. After hearing Mr. Beale and Mr. J. W. Collins, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, the remit was withdrawn, and it was decided to interview the Minister of Customs and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, with a view to ascertaining whether or not articles qualifying for British preferential tariff can be increased above the present 50 per cent. The Ministers will also be asked to invite Mr. Beale to be present. y