NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Onehunga By-Election. Nominations of candidates for the by-election at Onehunga, rendered necessary by the retirement of Mr. T. S. Lamont, will close at noon to morrow. The election will be held on Thursday, April 12.

A Helping Hand. Ae frequent traveller on the trams serving the Heme Bay district has been an elderly woman who found the conditions of modern transport did not cause her much embarrassment. Upon leaving Herne Bay this week to live in the Mount Eden district she expressed her appreciation of the assistance given her by tram conductors and drivers, in getting on and off trams. She said there were many others like herself who had occasion to be grateful for the thoughtfulness of men on the tramways staff.

American Progress. A blind quest for material success, in which the inital impetus is liable to carry an individual beyond the desired point, is regarded by Professor A. B. Fitt, of the Auckland University College, as the leading feature of American education. In a lecture last evening he said that there might be an ideal beyond, and, judging by the wages ruling in New York —equivalent to a minimum of £300 a year—the pursuit of material ends had achieved something. The real rate of wages was considerably higher than the New Zealand average, and there was a beauty and grandeur in the great centres of American business that showed itself in dignified architecture.

A Bayswater Plaint. Residents of Bayswater, now that the tram-way-motor bus controversy has been relegated to the limbo of things forgotten, complain about bicycle riding on the footpaths. Not that the nuisance was unknown before the buses ran the steam trams off the roads, but lately the practice has been on the increase. To say that boys are the chief offenders is almost superfluous. When this footpath scorching is carried out in the early evening it becomes a real danger, and the culprits would be well advised to keep to the roadways. Otherwise the residents' plaint may possibly reach the ears of the nearest police officer.

Passing of the Horse. A lament that progress had forced him into the unskilled class of workers was voiced recently bv an old employee of the Devonport Borough Council, who used to pride himself upon the appearance of a four-horse team that he used to drive in the borough. He was seen by a former councillor doing pick and shovel work in the vicinity of the waterfront. In the course of an explanation that followed, the old man remarked:

"It nearly broke my heart to have to part with my team, but things have changed, and motors now do all the work. If I didn't do a bit with the pick and shovel I'd get sidetracked." Then, as he drove his pick into the hard clay, he brightened up and chuckled that he was as good as a lot of ' young fellers" yet.

Pride Should Have a Place. In the hurry of Americans to get things done, Professor A. B. Fitt, of Auckland, found on a visit to America last year there was some lack of thoroughness. He saw on many hands signs of uncompleted tasks, and considered that it might be just an indication of the everlasting restlessness of the people. Still, there remained some touches of "'Old England" away in odd corners, and people were to be met who were quite English in life and sentiment. As a whole the Americans were a law-abiding race—even more so that Australians and New Zealanders. There was a noticeable pride in self-achievement, and this provided a lesson for people of our country, giving them reason for more pride in their works and reliance upon themselves and their Dominion.

Government Lands Not Taxable. Every now and again a complaint is macle by some lncftl body in New Zealand regarding tlie loss entailed owing to no rates being paid on land held by the Government. It is interesting to note I»hat similar conditions exist iri the United States. An editorial in the "Timber - man'' states: "There has been a resurrection of the fallacious plea that the Government should cede the national forests and other unalienated mineral and grazing lands to the various States. It will not be done—and should not be done, for good and sufficient reasons. The argument is put forward that the various States, which contain large areas of Government land, are deprived of taxable revenue which thev would enjoy if the lands were held in private hands."

Flax Season Ends. The annual closing down of the Manawatn flaxmills, which ta'kes place almost immediately, and continues until June or July, is likely to accentuate the unemployment problem in the Manawatu district, reports the "Post's" Palmerston North correspondent. Mr. H. A. Seifert. president of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association, stated yesterday that about 500 meu were affected, with an aggregate weekly wage bill of about £2500, representing a loss in wages for the closing down period of about £30,000. The 1927-28 season, said Mr. Seifert, had been a good one for milling operations. Prices, though not high, had been fairly satisfactory. The Dominion production of flax was about 10 per cent higher than last year, being approximately 19,000 tons, of a total value of about £500,000.

Efficient Railway Service. Great credit is due to the staff of the Railway Department for the manner in which the crush of traffic was handled on the trains which carried thousands of people from east and west for the opening of the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway. Nearly 5000 people arrived in Tauranga between 9 and 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning, and when it is understood that rolling stock was limited, the performance will be regarded as a meritorious one. Best of all, the traffic was handled entirely without mishap. It is of interest to again mention that although the Railway Department has supplied officials for the running of trains it will not actually assume responsibility for the maintenance of the new sections of the line for at least three months. Before they formally hand over the line, the contractors (Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Company, Ltd.) and the Public Works Department will make sure that their respective sections are in perfect running order.

Onehunga -Citizens' Fair. The financial result of the Citizens' Fair, ltcld in Jellicoe. Park, Onehunga, on three days in February, was made known last night at a meeting held in the Orphans' Hall, Onehunga. The treasurer, Mr. T. H. Ashe, presented the balance sheet, showing the receipts to have been £443 and expenses £119, leaving a credit balance of £.'{24. The object of the fair was to raise money to pay off the debt of £260 owing on the instruments in use by the Onehunga Citizens' Band, and to erect a war memorial arch over the entrance to Jellicoe Park from Quadrant Road, estimated to cost £150. The Mayor (Mr. W. C. Coldicutt), who presided, stated that the Band Committee had paid the final instalment due on the band instruments, and had received a discount of £20. The band had donated that sum towards the cost of erecting the memorial arch, so that the Citizens' Committee have already £64 in hand towards that object. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A beautiful bouquet was presented to the ladies on the committee by the band through Mr. A. Bovey, bandmaster,! and was received on their behalf by the Mayoress. Eulogistic reference was made to the valuable services rendered by Mr. P. J. Guppy, hon secretary, to whose efforts the success of the fau was largely due. He was the recipient from rhe Mayor and Mayoress of a valuable rug made in New Zealand. It was resolved that the Citizens' Committee should carry on until the archway iff completed.