NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Grafton Bridge Stands Test. Nearly twelve months after the completion ~f the Grafton Bridge reconstruction the i-i' ,- lv '. n? excellent results for traffic. Hie interlocking steel expansion joints and till" <\\ [in iision bearing plates under the ends lit the girders have tilled every requirement. I lie elimination of bumping at the joints has not only reduce,l noise hut ia ß also minimised t ll' St I mil nil the various sections of the Struct lire. The cost of £21.800 involved in iaii\mg out the bipr scheme was the first substantial outlay since the bridge was opened in 1010.

Duties on Fruit Tree Sprays. A reduction in the duties efn oil sprnvs for fruit trees -was urged at the. annual meeting nf the Auckland Citrus Growers' Association yesterday, and the association decided to make representations to the Government. The addition to tlie cost. ..f iniftorted sprays was regarded as an unfair burden on producers. Members took the view that the Government ■should assist and encourage the citrus industry tn develop iu every way possible, and particularly, by the more effective control of pests.

North Shore Water. Despite opposition from the Takanuna di'le.jatesi. Mr. .1. tiuiniven and .Mr. H. M. ills, tlie Nurt li Shore Water Hoard decided \ esterda v afternoon to request the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hrtii. W. K. I'airy. to older that the conference on the whole question of water supply to the Xorth Shore should be proceeded with. Mr. (iiiiniven contended that nothing would be grained l.v a confereiK e until t lie local bodies had ajrrped upon the source of supply. Takapuna interests favoured a supply from the citv. whereas Devonport still favoured Lake Pupuke. Sweets in Demand. Colder weather has brought with it an increase in the. consumption of sweets in Auckland, and the manufacture of trtl classes of confectionery has. had to be speeded up. Since Kaster prixluction has been at full strength,' said a leading confectionerv manufacturer to-day. ''Our biggest difficulty is a shortage of lalxiiir, and we have had to work iiijj lit shifts for several months past." He added that the summer sales of confectionerv in January. February and early .March had lieeu above the seasonal average, due apparently to the lower summer temperatures this \ear. and the manufacturers had been as l.usv as during la>t winter. For a few weeks before Faster there wae a lull, hut this was of brief duration.

Hoars of Tobacconists. I rider the more difficult, trading conditions brought about hy the ban on imported cigarettes. rota iters iti Auckland consider the* are entitled <0 greater protection against the sale of cigarettes by individuals who are not recognised tobacconists. A leading city retailer stated to-day that when tlie Shops and Offices Act was under consideration dining the coining session of Parliament, the hours of tobacconists would probably be fixed on a uniform basis. At the same time the fiovernnient should eliminate irregular traders, who did not observe a weekly half-holida v and «old cignrettcs on Sundays. The Labour Department, was keeping a more vigilant lookout, but the position at present was not satisfactory, he said.

Chinese mud Awards. Kvidence nnd argument, were being heard in the Supreme Court yesterday as to the which could be made of certain land, with a view to assessing its saleable value. Witnesses agreed that one part of the area was eminently suitable for a market garden, but that portion was too rough for that, while yet capable of good use for citrus growing. Counsel on one side indicated that profits in such industry would be restricted by the operation of industrial awards—one for market garden employees and another for workers in orchards. "You don't mean to tell me that the Chinese work a 40-hour week, do you?" commented Mr. Justice C'allan. "Xo. sir." replied rounsel, "they operate communally, which puts them outside the scope of awards, like white market gardeners 1 who have families who assist in the work of the garden." He added that this restricted the profitable use of the property for this purpose to gardeners with families to assist them. But. he added, the Chinese had used this area for many years and had given it up. possibly for the reason that it was worked out.

Reqafrement of Travellers. Attention lias been drawn by the Commissioner of Taxes to the requirement, of travellers leaving the Dominion to obtain clearance certificates under the provisions of tlie Social Security Act. Every person who is leaving Xew Zealand, either permanently or temporarily, is required, before departure, to obtain a clearance certificate. This certificate must be obtained by all persons, whether they are in receipt of income or not. Application for a certificate should be made to the Commissioner of Taxes. Wellington, not earlier than thirty days, and. if possible, not Inter than fifteen days before the intended date of departure from Xew Zealand. Application forms, with instructions, are available at all shipping offices.

Shooting Season Prospects. Prospects for the shooting season in the WaMcato appear to be pood, as reports indicate that both duck aud pheasants are very plentiful. In some districts it 16 reported that more ducks than last year have beon seen, although, owing to the absence of rain, they are confined mainly to the large lakes ' and rivers. Lnless rain is experienced before the sea-son commences, the birds will probably remain in these localities and will not be found on the marshlands. Largely through • the liberation of 4000 birds by the* Auckland Acclimatisation Society and the good breeding season, large numbers of pheasants are re- ' ported throughout the district. It was stated that because of the late harvesting this season on farms in the Waikato, fewer nests in the frrass were destroyed, and the young birds have had a better opportunity of reaching maturity. There is some doubt as to whether <|uail are as plentiful as in past ( seasons, and reports indicate that there is a possibility of a scarcity. ) The American Viewpoint. ■, An American tourist in Xcw Zealand lias . brought news of the participation of the Xew Zealand biographer Hector Bolitho in the burying of a "time capsule"' in Xew York [ C it\. It is intended, explained the tourist, that this shall be opened at some date thousands of years ahead. Buried under the foundations of a Xew York store, the capsule contains a model of the Xew York World Fair, a telegram from Alls. Franklin I). Roose\elt. copies of advertisements showing contrasting styles of 1 !>]!) and a copy of one of Mr. Bolithos books, and a note to' the future finders explaining wluit it all Vneans. Though the American tourist has been in New Zealand only a. few weeks, he suggested jo a "Star" reporter that we bury a. capsule in 1!M0 containing a record of the Social Security Acl. a n account of how Xew Zealand "put its running shoes on," and how we built a nation. Billeting of Centenary Actors. During the six months of the Inhibition it is expected that at, least I.VOIIO children from the primary schools of the Dominion will visit Wellington to take part in "live display s at the exhibition. 'I he problem of billeting these children is at present en:>a< T m™ the attention of a special acconmiodation subcommittee of the education court committee. At a meeting of the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation the chairman, Air. 1.. AfilJet". who is a member of the accommodation sub-committee, made an apI»eal to school committees, parents and householders to assist in the billeting of children. He said ref]uc*t s had alreadv been received from Invercargill. Wanganui and ('hristchurch for information as to what accommodat ion would l>e available. "We feel there are manv householders with no children of their own who would be only too willing to take a child for such a short period." Mr. Miller. "We feel we can obtain the cooperation of all parents and school committees to get us out of a very difficult situation indeed." Lively Haka Party. Among the most energetic of the manv lively people at Dnnedin during the Easter inter- \aisity tournament were the score or so brazen-voiced Ota go medical students, who made up the official haka party. Effectively costumed in white coats, red kilts with hats to match, and Otago football jerseys, tlicv were at the station to meet the visitors when the.v arrived, and were very much in evidence right up to the end of the tournament. Their presence was always welcomed by the spectators. for they could always provide amusement during any delays in the organised programme. When on the march, they formed up iti set formation. Ihe leader, carrying the Otago colours, was followed by two stalwarts reverently bearing a small decorated kei;: two fierce-faced pipers came next, and thev were followed by the main bodv in strict. *tep. Whenever an attack appeared imminent, the students—very wisely—removed kilts, caps and coats, and were then in serviceable battle array, football jerseys and shorts allowing ' free play to bony fists. Facilities for Thrift. "The trustee savings bank movement is not peculiar to Xew Zealand, nor even to the ! English-speaking races, but has extended throughout the world, and has come to be looked upon as one of the finest developments ! in civilisation in the last century and a quar- * ter." states the ftlst report to'the board of ' trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank, presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the Itoard by the president, Air. Oliver Nicholson. "I he aim has always been to improve the facilities for thrift and to increase the < recognition of the importance of wise saving < and wise sending, of self-help and indepen- 1 dence. As trustee savings banks are not con- ' ducted for private profit, their sole concern Jis to offer to the public the best service and 1 the most convenient and remunerative method t of saving, compatible with sound administration and the greatest possible degree of ' security." The report further stated that thrift clubs and school banks continued to r increase, and were serving a, very useful pur- - pose in the younger life of the city. The li bank was greatly indebted to. and freely f acknowledged, the assistance and enthusiasm t of the voluntary collectors, including head- s masters and teachers. e