NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Birkenhead Relief Work. _ The local certifying officer, Mr. ,C. B. Mcleaac, advised the Birkenhead Borough Council last night of approval of continuation of the subsidy of £4 per week for five men for 17 weeks on work at Oeborne Park, and also continuation of 100 per cent subsidy for 17 men for 17 weeks on other works, an additional sum of £1689 being allotted. Adam's Boundary. The antiquity of the profession of surveying was referred to at last night's smoke concert held to entertain delegates to the conference of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, when the president of the institute, *£ r " Stf 6 Griereon > said, "The first book of the Bible mentions that there was a boundary beyond which Adam was cast out and we naturally assume that that bounderv had been, properly defined." There was a general burst of .laughter when the speaker added that the Devil may have been the surveyor responsible. * * Worth Framing." ■ "This appears to be- worthy of framing I and hanging in the council eha'mbers," commented Mr. I. J. Goklstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, at last night's meeting of the council, when a complimentary letter was received from a local resident, owner of Rcvenil borough properties. Tt read in part: "I have much pleasure in sending )n y cheque for municipal rates. I would liavo sent it even if no rebate of 2J per cent was allowed for prompt payment, to your efficiently-run borough." It was decided to thank the writer, members being obviously of opinion that the letter was a welcome change from the usual. Only a Barter Arrangement. "Though graced by the name of a bilateral trade agreement, our trade treaty with Germany i« nothing more or less than* an arrangement for barter," Mr. Gainor Jackson informed members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He was referring generally to Germany's manipulation of her economic resources and of her currency. Of the former, he said the aim was for self-sufficiency. Much was being done to that end. but the fact remained that of 34 commodities essential for that sufficiency, Germany had only two and part of a furtW six. He said that the bread the people ate v.-n« adulterated to the extent of 45 per cent with potatoes and turnips. Footprints in the Sand. Amateur detectives whose way home takes them past the headquarter* 'of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in St. Mary's Bay seemed to detect something sinister about two sets of deep footprints in the mud and sand of the foreshore. The tracks could be seen clearly from the footbridse which leads to Jacob's Ladder when yesterday afternoon'* low tide left a wide, stretch of muddy beach clear of water, smooth and undisturbed— except for those footprints. Imaginative Aucklunders with their minds buzzing with rumours of. war in Europe might have seen somethiiur ominous .in those tracks so close to the R.N.V.R. shed*. Indeed, one man was observed to spend some considerable time examining them from the bridge. After a while, however, he continued on his way, his curiosity evidently satisfied. Help to Keep Democracy.

"The struggle in Europe to-day is one between capitalism and proletarianism, and results in slavery for the people in a number of countries. We who belong to the great English-speaking nations. Great Britain and the United States of America, live in practically the only countries in which liberty still exists," said. Mr. R. A. Lippincott. in replying to the toast of "Allied Professions" at the Xew Zealand Institute of Surveyors' smoke concert at Newmarket last evening. "Those of ue here to-nisrht are in a privileged and unusual position," he added. "Because of our status and education as professional men, we are able to comprehend the rights of the 'capitalist. At the same time we are on the side of Labour, because we produce things with our own hands." Mr. Lippincott concluded with an appeal to his listeners to assist in upholding athe cause of liberty by guiding public opinion into the right channels. When the Warbler Nests. To-day. September 1, Is commonly regarded as the calendar ending of winter and the opening of spring. The seasons, of course, do not take any particular notice of euch popular conceptions, and with the rain falling heavily to-day such an idea is being greeted witn a meteorological "razz." .The grey warbler, however, known to the Maoris a*B riroriro, doesn't need to know the date. While the human denizen of the Dominion is still buttoning his overcoat tightly and looking for a break in the rain to cross the street, this aerial weather prophet is sometimes gathering the sticks to make a home for the projected family. And. to those who know, this means that spring is coming. Aβ a stimulus to optimism, therefore, comee the news that a correspondent has informed . the Dominion Museum that * half-built prrey warbler's nest was observed at Levin in the middle of July. The normal nesting time of the prey warbler is from the end of August, the bird , being the first to nest in eprinjr. In Maori lore this meane an early spring.

Year's Bankruptcies. Since the beginning of the year 24 petitions in bankruptcy have been filed in Auckland, compared with 21 in the corresponding eight months of 1937. The number of petitions in August was four, as against seven in the same month last year. Among the latest to file are a cabinetmaker, a farm hand and a barman. Queen Street Crash. When a traffic crash occurs a crowd seems to gather from nowhere, and. last night was no exception. Theatre-goers gathered in force round two cars that came into collision at the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets shortly before *eight o'clock. There was a loud crash, but no one was injured, and both vehicles were driven off some 25 jninutes later. They were only slightly damaged. Tram traffic was not affected. The crowd, hwever, did not disperse until both cars had gone. Motor Accidents at Night. There were 91 motor accidents in New Zealand from April to July last, and 95 perr sons were killed, according to a report presented to the, New Zealand Road Safety Council. Of t\& total of 91 accidents 50 occurred in the dark. There were 28 pedestrians killed during the four' months, and 19 were killed at night. The report states that of the 50 accidents that occurred in the dark 30 were on city or borough streets and 20 on county highways. "This exemplifies the extent to which lack of ability to see affects the accident rate at night," the report continues. "Tt points to the need for the provision of a much better standard of street lighting and to the need for the proper adjustment and control of vi-hiclp lights to give adequate vision without dazzling other road users."

Auckland's Lambing Season. Pastoralists and representatives of the meat industry in the Auckland province are now able to form fairly complete estimates of the results of the current lambing season, and according to those most closely in touch with the position the season will be one of the worst on record. Mortality among early lambs has been exceptionally high, and the percentage of breeding from ewes abnormally low. In the Waikato probably the number of lambs reared will not be more than r>o to 00 per cent of the flocks. This position represents the aftermath of the eczema outbreok of last autumn, the effects of which are expected to be felt for several seasons. Farmers are hoping for improved results from lato lambs, but the indications are not regarded as very favourable. Tt is said that as breeding time approaches ewes in lamb feed in isolation, but at present many of the ewes in the paddocks are to be seen in groups, which is not an encouraging sign. In contrast with last season, when the percentage of lambs from flocks was in some instances over 100. and the average was between 00 and 100, t'ie latest results show a severe setback to tho industry. Adult Education. In a letter read at tho meeting of the Birkfiihead Boroutrli Council last night, the secretary of the Workers' Educational Association, the Hon. Bernards Martin, M.L.C., pointed out tint the -association is one of the few bodies in Xew Zealand which" sets out with the definite "object of keeping the minds of the people active after they have left school. It does th:e by bringing- grown-ups, with their varied experience and differing outlooks, into groups where they can freely discuss economic, political and social problems, and learn to appreciate, such things as music, art and literature under expert guidance. Throughout its history the j Workers' Educational Association had received considerable support from public funds, both central and local. During the period 1032-3.") the Government, while expressing continued appreciation of its work, withdrew the annual grant on the grounds of economy. While the Government had recently shown its approval of the work by restoring substantial assistance, the association still desired the support of local bodies for at least two reasons—present finances did not enable the association to meet the demand for adult education at all adequately, and local support definitely increased local interest in the work. No Confidence?

Buyers did not bid at Blenheim on Tuesday when one of the finest stations of its kind in the South Island, the Benmore Estate of the late Mr. Freeborn Parsons, was offered at auction. Comprising one of the richest parts of the old Flaxbourne Estate and covered mostly with English grasses and tussock, it is a leasehold block of approximately 3550 acres and two freehold sections of 740"and 82 acres respectively. The regular carrying capacity is put down at 3200 ewes, 2000 dry sheep, 80 breeding cows and 2000 run cattle. All the necessary out-buildinge are on the property, which was offered for sale in one lot. "When no bids at all are offered for what mu«t>be one of the best grazing propositions that we have ever handled, lack of confidence on the part of buyers is clearly shown," said Mr. H. S. Lawrence, manager , of Dalpety and Company, Ltd.. at Christchurch. "The results of the auction plainly reveal the feeling of uncertainty which pervades the- market." The causes of the failure to sell the property were given as bein? the steep rise in the cost of labour and in overhead costs, such as rates and taxes. Before anyone bought a farm to-day, Mr. Lawrence said, he always inquired as to the amount of land tax that had to be paid.