NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Power Board's Progress. Progress made in the Waitemata Electric Power Board area was referred to in a report presented at a meeting of the board yesterday, which stated that there were now 15,311 consumers. There were 4344 ranges in use, and 38S0 water heaters. The chairman, Mr. S. E. Kennings, said that the board's finances were in a very healthy condition. "N.Z. Will Be There." The recruiting song, "New Zealand Will Be There," which has been heard frequently in the past few weeks, is the work of two residents of the Auckland province. They are Mr. Harry Hiscoeks, of Auckland, who wrote the music, and Mrs. Elwyn Keatinge, of Morrinsville, who wrote the lyric. It is stated that the song has been accepted by the authorities as a gift from thein. One for the Farmer. "That is the trouble with the farmers all the time," declared Mr. R. C. Clarke, chairman of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, yesterday, when it was revealed that there had been a poor response to a questionnaire regarding farmers' needs in the wa - of labour." The farmer is a most difficult person to get to solve his problems. He really prefers to talk about his difficulties rather than try to solve them." Trade With Palestine. Negotiations are at present being conducted between New Zealand and Palestine with the object of increasing reciprocal trade. Mr. E. Hirschfield, of Wellington, New Zealand representative for the Foreign Trade Institute of Palestine, who is visiting Auckland, stated that Palestine was arranging to buy large quantities of New Zealand apples, dairy produce if it was available, skins and hides, and meat. It was hoped to establish reciprocal trade and to send out potash and other products. How Efficient is Farming?

A statement contuined in a newspaper letter read by Colonel N. P. Adams at the meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, yesterday, referred to the "highly-scientific" nature of farming, and urged that there was nothing much that the councils could teach farmers on the subject of increasing production. "It is a common mistake to think that farming here is highly scientific and efficient," said Mr. A. Best. "Farming in New Zealand is far from being highly efficient." Help from Jews. Palestine's war effort is a considerable one, according to Mr. E. Hirschfield, of Wellington, New Zealand representative for the Foreign Trade Institute of Palestine, who is visiting Auckland. He stated that Palestine Jews were marslialling thousands of men for the British forces, and were organising supplies and fuel. An offer had been made to guard the Suez Canal, and industry and agriculture had been adapted to war requirements, with the object of supplying the British Army in the Near East. The Jewish air service and the Jewish marine, which had been developed in the last few years, were now rendering good service in the maintpnajiee of communications between the Near East and other countries in the Mediterranean Sea. Devonport's Water. A petition of over 2000 signatures, relating to the borough water supply, will be presented to the Devonport Borough Council at its meeting to-mor-row night. In the petition the signatories express dissatisfaction at the condition of the water now coming through the mains from Lake Pupuke, and ask the council to take immediate action to have the disabilities of had taste, discoloration and offensive odour removed. The opinion is expressed in the petition that the true remedy is to be found in joining up with the city, supply. Messrs. G. N. L. Ktiight and J. P. Kalaugher will present the petition, in company with a representative body of citizens'. Wind Damage in Orchardt. Orchardists in' Hawke's Bay have been harassed by north-westerly gales, which for about four - weeks have swept through the fruitgrowing districts. Taken over the whole district, the losses are considerable. However, most varieties of' fruit have been hanging on exceptionally well, and in consequence the damage cannot yet be described as disastrous. Growers are hopeful that the gales have finished, because the time has now arrived when a bigger proportion of many crops will be susceptible to wind damage. Further heavy winds during the ' next week or two rnight result in widespread havoc. With niid-season varieties.now reaching maturity, large quantities of William Bon Chretien and William Bon of Jersey pears have been brought down in the winds, and it is estimated that 4he losses of these varieties in some orchards have reached about 50 per cent. University Reforms. Reference to university reforms was made at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland University College Council by the president, Mr. W. H. Cocker, who said the Senate had reaffirmed its approval of the principle of entrance to the university by accrediting, and had adopted a detailed scheme, but had expressly stipulated that it should not be brought into operation until certain conditions had been fulfilled, These included the appointment of specialists and liaison officers between the schools and university colleges. It followed that no date could be fixed for the commencement of the scheme, When introduced, it would be limited at first to schools of undoubted suitability, and after experience of the working it would be reviewed. There appeared to be a great deal of misapprehension on these points. The Senate had decided to permit passes in a single subject to count in degree examinations, instead of requiring a minimum of passes in two subjects in any year as at present, Mr. Cocker continued. The change would not come into force until 1941It would not apply to the LL.B. degree or other professional courses. The question of application to the law course had been referred to the council of legal education for report. In reply to a question, Mr. Cocker said that while there were objections to the plan of permitting passes in a single subject it was felt that on the whole it would tend to raise the standard. There would be no incentive to pass students in* subjects in which they had not attained a good standard in order to allow the in to count' a pass in another subject.

Trees and Power Wires. When u. report presented at a meetj ing of the Waitemata Electric Power [ Board yesterday afternoon mentioned that in one area there had been a power interruption caused by' a line being broken by a tree, Mr. W. B. Darlow said that it proved the necessity of cutting trees back when they were near main power lines. Good Customer of State. Commenting on the financial summary covering nine months' operations placed before the Auckland Electric Power Board yesterday afternoon, the chairman, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, said that the board must be one of the Government's best customers. Power purchased during the period amounted to £257,90(5, and by the end of the year the total would be between £3(50,000 and £370,000. Cavalry in Action. Yesterday's perrect weather found members of the Divisional Cavalry from Papakura operating on a route from the camp to Mellon's Bay, Howick. The mechanised squadron of the unit, which is commanded by Major A. J. Nicholl, exercised as an advance guard. It was then organised with a vanguard of two Bren gun carriers and a main guard I troop of three heavy lorries, representing light tanks. After a series of similar manoeuvres the men arrived at the beach in good order, and later carried out infantry exercises in difficult,, gorsecovered country. University Register. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research lias advised the Auckland University College Council that it desires to obtain a register of members of the staff and graduates possessing scientific and technical qualifications and who might be of service in a national emergency. It was reported that 150 cards had been forwarded for completion, and that filling in the details on the card had no effect on offers of, or acceptance for, any alternative form of national service. The cards had been given to professors to distribute to graduates they considered can be of service.

Power Board's Surplus. I "There is no doubt that the position is satisfactory, and that every indication points to our estimates at the close of the year being better than has been anticipated," stated the general manager of the Auckland Electric Power Board, Mr. R. H. Bartley, in a statement to the board yesterday covering nine months' working. A surplus for the period of £38,374 was disclosed, and although this was lower than the corresponding amount of £52,495 for the previous year, it was pointed out that substantial charges bad been made against the revenue in order to create a fund to meet the exchange costs and also to provide against a slight deficiency in the sinking funds as a result of a fall in interest earned. Auckland "Indian " How he had been initiated as a Red Indian, with the high-sounding name of "Strange Pine," was described in a Rotary Club luncheon address yesterday by Mr. V. F. Fisher, ethnologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, who recently returned from the United States. "It took place at a museum which catered for children's work. This class was studying Indian lore, and, with appropriate native ceremony, I was initiated by one of the children," he said. "It was explained that I was to be 'strange' because I was from far across the seas, and 'pine' because I was tall; which seemed to me. to be an exaggeration. But there was more to it than that, for through the ceremony the Children were able to receive excellent instruction in the atmosphere and traditions of Indian life."

Trout Cetchet at Taapo. . With very few anglers in tire Taupo district, fishing is. rather quiet. Until yesterday there' has been a strong southerly wind. 'Master U. Wardejl, of Hamilton, fishing at the mouth of the Waitahanui, landed the heaviest fish so far this season- It weighed just on 111b, and took an hour to land. A Maori, Mr. Kapua, also at the mouth, landed a fisli of 101b. Mr. J. Longstaff and Mr. A. Morris, of Hastings, fishing in the Waitahanui River, took 16 'fish over tlie week-end. The best weighed 71b. Also in the river Mr. A. Bow, of Auckland, landed eight .fish, including one just .under. 71b. Mrs. Bow took four, the heaviest beinj£ 61b. >Mr. F. fiox, of Aucklinid, took five figh froiii"' Wall's Pool. *■ Mr. T. Drake, ~of Wanganui, camped at the Four-Mile Bay, lias been averaging four fish a day, weighing up to 7ilb. Mr. Ashby, of Auckland, also at the Four-Mile Bay, took five fitsh, including one of 7Jlb.