NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Geysers Active at "Whaka." A Rotorua correspondent states that unusual activity has been observed in the geyser area at Whakarewarewa during the past week. On Thursday the Polmtu Geyser gave three magnificent displays, one "shot" rising to about lOOfi. The Cauldron, which always precedes Polnitu, also was very active, sending largo volumes of water and steam to a height of 20ft and oyer. There were two fine shots yesterday. The Waikorohihi, a smaller geyser which lies in between the old Wairoa geyser and Polmtu, has also been unusually active, playing for three weeks past. It has not done this for years. "Unnecessary Expense" to Motorists. A protest against the annual issue of motor registration plates was made at a recent meeting of the Waitomo County Council, and a resolution to that effect was forwarded to the Government, stating that the annual renewal caused unnecessary expense to the motorist. Mr. C. -It. Wilson advocated the adoption of ■ the system in vogue in England, whereby the same number plate is retained each year and a paper disc pasted in the windscreen to indicate reregistration. The suggested change was unanimously approved. :

Winter Show Exhibits. At a meeting of the joint executive of the Auckland Winter Exhibition a letter was received from the Agricultural Department stating that on account of the economic depression it had been decided not to make an exhibit at this year's show. To date no entries have been received in the district courts section. Negotiations are in train, however, with two districts with possible successful results. An exhibit of interest will be that staged by the Model Engineers* Society, for which purpose the committee has donated'£63 towards expenses. It has been decided to accept any novelties forwarded for exhibition purposes only this year.

Faults of Witnesses. "It is amazing how healthy young New Zealanders speak in a court of law," said Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court yesterday. His Honor asked a youth to "open his mouth" and speak up, and added: "Soft speaking may be an indication that there is a good deal of reverence in Court, but witnesses ought to speak clearly." Another witness, an elderly man, spoke at a rate which made it impossible for the judge's associate to take down all he said, and his Honor, after several times checking him, said severely: "Will you please answer the questions and don't go on with these meanderings. Wc don't want speeches."

Maoris and Unemployment. Willingness to co-operate with any movement to relieve distress among unemployed women was expressed at a meeting of the Akarana Maori Association. It was decided to write to the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, pointing out that, unfortunately, the unemployed problem affected quite a number of Maori women and girls in and about the city, and offering representation of the Maori race at the conference that the Mayor is convening to discuss the Unemployment Board's proposals in connection with the matter. Two women were chosen to attend the conference should the association's proposal be acceptable.

"The Winterless .North." "We always refer people to Colonel Bell about that," said a careful and non-committal witness at the recent Compensation Court in Kaitaia, when his Honor questioned him regarding the existence of "The Winterless North. He really might have gone further and referred his Honor to our Governors-General for, says tnc "North Auckland Times" (Dargaville), during the past ten years three Governors-Genera, accompanied bv their wives, have paid, official visits to the district, and during each one perfect weather has prevailed. Lord Jellicoe s visit took place in the spring, Sir Chas. Fergusson s in the late summer, and the recent visit by Lord and Lady Bledisloe was being made in what in most parts of the Dominion is accepted as the first month of winter." Loyal Canada. Canada's loyalty to the British Empire was stressed by Mr" J. M. Thompson, director of a large manufacturing firm in the sister Dominion, who addressed members of the Auckland Creditmen's Club at their luncheon meeting. He said he had found that a great many people in New Zealand had an idea that Canada was somewhat under the influence of the United States, but he could assure them that Canada, as long as the Empire lasted, would never become a part of the States. Although the population of the States was twelve times that of Canada, her investments in the Dominion were three times as great as Canadian investments in the United States. There were 3,000,000 FrenchCanadians who realised that they had greater freedom than they would have under American rule. The United Empire Loyalists, the backbone of Ontario, were the descendants of those people, who, defeated during the War of Independence, crossed the border into Canada rather than live under the Republic. There was no doubt whatever that the great body of Canadianborn people realised they were better off at present than they would be under the United States.

The Yellow Peril. The depression has hit the cabbage and carrot trade in Taihape, and the local Celestials are right after business, states a correspondent. In light delivery vans they trundle garden produce around the countryside. A local service car driver witnessed, on Thursday morning, a parallel to the tea clippers homeward-bound or "how we carried the good news from Ghent to Aix." It was on the live-mile straight to Utiku, when the vans of two rival firms were observed proceeding "flat out." With Oriental simplicity the machine in advance kept to the middle of the road, with the pursuing auto agitatedly klaxoning in the rear. A wide portion of the road came along, metal strip in centre, clay on side, and frenzicdly tooting, Xo. 2 pulled out to pass. A fall in vegetables followed as .1 natural sequence, as with frantically churning wheels the van slithered to rest in the drain. When the smoke cleared, a much wiser Chinaman was discovered stolidly at rest in a foot of mud, and garnished with vegetables. No. 1 got the business —he didn't even stop. Education Economy Criticised. Economies in education were discussed at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Federation last night, many members expressing concern. It was stated that apparently the Government had decided to reduce the education vote by £500.000 or more. If such a policy were put into operation a grave injury would be inflicted on boys and girls of this generation, and its effects would be reflected in lower national efficiency in the years to come. The economies which had been brought about j were only "cheese-paring" compared with what ' was forecast. Eeferring to the secondary system, speakers said if it were curtailed boys and girls leaving school would find it very difficult to obtain° employment. It was decided to urge upon the Prime Minister the need for great care in curtailing expenditure on education, in view of possible "injury to. the rising generation, and detriment to the efficiency of the country. On the motion of Mr. G. J. Park it was also decided to urge that any committee set up to consider curtailments in education should be sufficiently representative of experienced educationists. Another resolution was carried pointing out that "cuts" already imposed had had a detrimental effect upon children. '