NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lake Coleridge Falls. The level of Lake Coleridge fell during tin third week in March from 1667..3 ft to 1667.15 ft This was the first fall since the critical stage 11 the power shortage was passed last year. Whei the fall began in February of 1930 the wate was at the overflow lever, 1672 ft. This year th< highest point reached was at least 4ft below thi outlet. It has been noticed that as soon a: the dare become shorter there is a drop in thi level, because of the increasing demand for power Good Friday Pictures. Requests from two theatres for permissior to screen programmes on Good Friday evening were acceded to by the Mount Eden Borough Council last night. Both concerns stated that a substantial proportion of the proceeds would b( devoted to the Napier earthquake relief fund 3 and that, as Anzac Day would fall on a Saturday evening, they would sustain heavy losses through having to close down on two evenings. They were wiiling not to commence their programmes before 8.30 p.m. Power Board's Record. The fact that reductions in charges amounting to over 50 per cent have been made by the Auckland Electric Power Board since its inception was mentioned in a special report presented yesterday by the general manager, Mr. K. H. Bartley. He said it was questionable whether this record could be equalled by any other commodity. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, mentioned that last year the board's concessions totalled £30,000. A plea for the small consumer was made by Mr. T. Bloodworth. "There may have been a 50 per cent average reduction in rates," he said, "but the small consumer has not received anything like that." Christchurch. Milk War. A keen milk war is at present being waged in Ckiistchurch, and there are many complaints of price-cutting. The Christchurch Dairymen's Association has been organised, and small vendors allege that an effort is being made to cut prices to such an extent that they will be forced out of business. They contend that it is in the interesre of the public that they should continue in business, and that their failure would bring about a return to the old price of 6d a quart. The price has recently fallen to 4d a quart, and it is slated that some of the vendors have offered to accept 3d a quart cash. Mr. J. S. Moore, secretary of the association, denies unfair tactics, and says that the organisation is in the interests of vendors generally. Farmers' Need of Roads. "The scheme of the Public Works Departmen in the North this year," said Mr. J. McEnnis, chief engineer of the Department in the North Auckland district, who is stationed at Whangarei, "has been to metal existing roads rather than to make new ones." Roads, he explained, were particularly necessary for the backblock farmers to cart in manure. Without that the land was going and in the absence of roads that were passable in winter it was impossible to get the manure in. "Again," he added, "good winter roads are necessary, because the man on the land has no money to buy manure until May, that is, until after the summer is over, and the fact that Lht roads are good in summer does not help him." Woman States Her Case. A considerable impression was made in the Assessment Court yesterday by a woman aged 84 years, who, owing to the illness of her solicitor, found herself obliged to present her own application for relief from rating on three properties. Though she was frail and walked with the ail of .a stick, she revealed a particularly keen intellect, and presented her case in a voice which could be heard on all sides, which was more than could be said for many of the other objectors. She declared that she was trying to do her best for her mother's estate, and rounded off her plea, which was given sympathetic consideration by Mr. W. R. .McKea'n, S.M., by remarking that "when you get to 84 you are not so young as when you are young." "I am sorrv my solicitor is ill and could not come," she added. Mr. McKean: "You have done very well without him." Shipments of Apples. T'ic first of several large consignments of new season's apples for the English and Continental markets will be dispatched from Auckland by the Tano.i to-morrow. The shipment will consist ot !0,0:x: cases, and it will be followed by others within the next four weeks. A consignment ot about 30,000 cases is also to be dispatched to Montevideo by the Matakana early in April. The secretary of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation. Mr. F. L. Howell, states that, notwithstanding the imposition of a duty of approximately 32 per cent on New Zealand apples entering the Argentine, and the consequent withdrawal of the Government guarantee, arrangements have been made abroad for overcoming the duty. A few days after the departure of the Matakana, the Cornwall will take another large shipment of apples to England. Earthquakes and Schools. Speaking of earthquakes in relation to school buildings, the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore. said in Wellington that there was no reason for alarm in New Zealand. It was not the severity of the shake that caused the damage and loss of life in Hawke's Bay, but faulty dcfcign, faulty workmanship and faulty material used for building. Not one properly reinforce.l building or wooden house was completely destroyed. With the exception of those killed in the stone chapel of the Roman Catholic seminary at Grcenmeadows, practically every death was due to the falling of bricks. The lesson was thai, if we built wisely there would be no danger to human life. History disci wed that since the advent of the pakeha there had not been m earthquake in New Zealand sufficient to destroy a faithfully-constructed wooden or reinforced concrete building. Fire Station Deserted? The allegation that on a recent occasion a call was received by the Mount Eden Fire Brigade and there was no one at the station to answer it was made by Mr. Mills at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. Mr. Mills said that on that occasion the brigadesmen went to Devonport, leaving one man in charge. A call came through, and the one man went out with an engine to answer it. While he was away there was another fire alarm, and there was nobody at the station. Fortunately, one member (>f the brigade, who had evidently missed the boat to Devonport, returned shortly after. He requisitioned a taxi, and took a hose to th.j scene of the second fire. Mr. Mills said he was amazed that such a situation should arise at the station. It was decided to ask the chairman ot the fire brigade committee to make a report to the next meeting of the council. " Slumps Made by Man." Speaking at the openlilg of the remodelled Wiidostcwn School, the Minister of Education, the ; Hon. H. Atmore, said the importance of education ; was being more generally recognised in view of the fact that the present population of the world had more complex problems to face. He believed '• that the present slumps throughout the various ' countiies were man-made. If that were so, it I was necessary to have more highly developed < intellects, and for everyone to be animated by i higher ideals,, so that they should give better ' service. He pointed out that there were two constant factors, the first that the nineteen him- i dred million people in the world to-day presented i an assured market for commodities, and the i second that there was practically an assured supply of commodities for the use of the people ; of the world. With these two facts before one, : it was readily seen that the slumps or tlepreg- < Bions, which appeared to have an almost regular ] periodicity, must be inau-made, either through i ignorance or design* ..._.., ~ . , !