ON THE ULIMAROA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 8

ON THE ULIMAROA.

PASSENGERS' BUSINESS.

STEAMERS TOR THE EAST.

GEAMOPHONE EE COED

EESTEICTIONS.

With 173 passengers the Huddart Parker Co.'s Ulimaroa arrived in the stream at Auckland shortly before 8 o'clock this morning. Most of the travellers were returning New Zealanders, but some of them had come from various parts of the British Empire. The Ulimaroa was the first intercolonial steamer for weeks which lias not brought Asiatics or Chinese to this country. Neither had she any stowaways'aboard. The vessel will return to Sydney from Auckland on Friday next.

Steamers for the East. .As a purchaser of Union - Company steamers for the Eastern trade, Mr. S. T. Williamson, of Williamson's Shipping Line, Hongkong, is making his fourth trip to New, Zealand within'three years. During -that .period he has purchased five steamers .from .the Union Co., the last being, tlie Kaino. Other ships were the Koromiko—the well-known turret ship, which .was a. familiar object round the New.Zealand, coasts for many years —the Kittawa, Kaipoi and Kaitangata. Among .his most recent purchases was the A.U.S.N., Co.'s. steamer Tay. Questioned concerning the running of these steamers, Mr. Williamson said they were well adapted for the Eastern trade in which they were engaged. His firm, on landing the vessels out East, gave them a thorough overhaul, and refitted them throughout. "I am on the look-out for some more steamers," he said, gazing towards' Hobson Bay, where five Union Co. steamers have been lying at anchor for some months on account of the depression in trade. "Things are fairly quiet, out. there at the British Crown Colonies," he continued, "but X am optimistic enough to think they will brighten up considerably. The rate of exchange at present is bad, on account of the depreciation in silver." Mr. Williamson went on to say that the disturbances further up the Chinese c6ast had affected trade relationships to a. considerable extent. Despite that fact Hongkong, being a British colony, was fairly prosperous. . '

• Restricted Gramophone Playing. That there is evidence of restrictions being placed on broadcasting companies playing gramophone records, was vouched for by remarks made by Mr. J.' Emanuel,-of Auckland, who has been attending the conference of manufacturers and representatives of copywriters of gramophone records. As. a result it has already been decided to restrict the playing through some of the A and B class stations in Australia. "This will naturally give a considerable amount of work to musical artists who have been unemployed. The idea behind the" scheme is to restrict the playing of records to once in a given time. By this means the broadcasting companies will have to flook to human 'talent to supply their' 'wants in future." Mr. Emanuel said ithat further conferences would be held in New Zealand with the. idea -of preventing the free use of records on this side of the.Tasman. In England gramophone records were limited to one hour a day, and that in. the morning session, Mr. Hal. Shepherd, one of- the leading Stock Exchange business men in Australia, and a director of several companies, had recently been appointed chairman of directors of the Vocalion Co. (Australia) Limited, and he was working in the direction indicated. ■

Taking Things Philosophically,

"There is 110 doubt that Australia has been 'joyriding to bankruptcy,'" said Mr. J. Stewart, publicity expert, who returned after an absence of two and a half years from this country. "Australia Joyriding to Bankruptcy," is the title of a book,. published by Mr. Stewart's firm, every copy of which has been sold. Mr. Stewart said that it appeared to him that Australia had ignored, if not all, most of the economic laws. "Perhaps you have heard some talk of Australia repudiating her debts," he said. "Take no notice of it at all. The people who say that don't know what they are talking- about, and nobody is taking any notice of them. Australia is getting doyrn: to work. Her people are taking things philosophically'because they have realised that they have to get their shoulders \to the wheel.

"Those. men who are in employment have received intimation of reduction in their wages without a murmur. Of course some will grouse, but they are soon talked down by the more level; headed in the unions. As an instance, Ave went through our factory and told over 2000 employees that their wages would have to be reduced, and there was not a complaint." Speaking generally, Mr.. Stewart said that there were "vacant shops galore in the main streets of Sydney." In one arcade the owners were allowing tenants shops rent-free, to endeavour, to get other tenants for the many vacant premises contained therein.

Mr. D, It. W. Newlands was in Sydney nine days, and is glad to be back. He tells the usual tale of Australia's depression.

Another New Zealander, who. camo back from % holiday,in Australia, is Mr. M. L. Gleeson, a Napier solicitor. He was accompanied by his wife, and by their his wife.