NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 80, 5 April 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Examination of Bulls It was mentioned at a meeting of the Ruakura Farm Advisory Committee that it was most peculiar that breeders of repute and actually those who knew the value of examination will import bulls without any certificate of reasonable fertility or examination on arrival. One recently imported bull proved sterile in practice and gave a definitely sterile microscopic picture. Further, some farmers left the examination of their bulls until very late in the season. Profit Motive Profit belonged to the very core of Nature, but the motive which sought to live on the unearned increment and that alone was at the root of most of the trouble in the world to-day, said Archdeacon Bullock, in an address to the Optimists' Club, Wellington, on "What is the Profit Motive?" He traced history and development of the profit motive, and urged that it should not be allowed to dominate to ' the detri-i ment of all else. Service should be made the dominating motive. Increased Ambulance Work A remarkable increase in the number of transfers last month, as compared with the same figures in March, 1942, is shown in the monthly transport report of the St. John Ambulance in Auckland. Altogether, 1802 transfers were made, compared with 859 in the previous Mardß, while the number of miles travelled was 13,806, compared with 11,382 in March, 1942. The district nurses' cars travelled a total mileage of 3131 during the month, compared with 2788 for February of this year. Dirty Streets "The main cause of the disgusting condition of the main streets of Wellington at present is not so much the scarcity of conveniences as the want of a sense of decency of individuals using the streets," said the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, in replying to a deputation of some 20 business men who asked that something be done to improve conditions. "Many individuals," the Mayor continued, "are just too lazy to use the conveniences which exist. The sooner such persons are dc-alt with by their own authorities the better. ■How they get so drunk on the beer which is being provided at the present time I can't imagine. If the military patrols were doing their ' duty such a condition of affairs could not exist. At Bastion Point Taking advantage of the perfect autumn day, hundreds of people 1 most of whom apparently were not at the official opening, made their pilgrimage yesterday afternoon to the Savage Memorial on Bastion Point. A sharp breeze from the south did not detract from enjoyment of the new vistas of harbour and city from the magnificent vantage point. One lad had a great time sailing a model yacht in the pond below the obelisk until stopped by a uniformed official. Conflicting views were expressed by a party who observed the incident. One woman described the lad's action as desecration; her companion retorted that it would have been Mr. Savage's will that the lad, and all the boys and girls of Auckland, should make the utmost use of the area. i

Direction of Women to Work About 200 women in the 21. to 30 years age group have already been , directed by the National Service Department to Wellington to engage in essential industries for war purposes, ■ and they include a number from the : South Island. A total of 345 is required to complete the first group, for whom accommodation is being provided. No Evidence Offered Commenting that American marines called on to give evidence had failed for the third occasion to attend the Court, Senior-Sergeant Paine, in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, before Mr. Goulding, S.M., offered no evidence in a case in which a man whose name was suppressed by order of the Court, was charged with the theft of ten dollars from an American marine. The case was dismissed for want of prosecution. Albatross Colony < Only one albatross chick has been hatched in the nesting ground at the Otago Heads this year. This was expected, as the birds breed only every second year, and five of the six pairs which so far comprise the colony hatched chicks last year. The chick which was hatched this year is now two months old. It is the eleventh to be reared in the area in the past five years. As a result of the measures that have been taken to protect the birds, not one chick has been lost in that period. Abandoned Cars Recent Ministerial statements have indicated that in future abandoned motor vehicles left in the streets and roadways over a considerable time may be confiscated by tJhe local bodies in whose districts' they are abandoned. An amendment to the Motor Vehicles Registration Emergency Regulations gazetted on Thursday now authorises this course, and states that a local authority may seize and remove any motor vehicle in its district if it appears that that vehicle has been abandoned by the owner, and either that it is unregistered or that no license to use it has been issued for the current year. Every precaution is to be taken by local bodies to find and protect the interests of owners of vehicles by the insertion of advertisements in newspapers, etc. When Houses Were Cheap One of the oldest . residents of Onehunga recalls that for about sixty years rents were cheaper in Onehunga than in any other part of Auckland. A prominent builder in his youth took a contract to build six five-roomed houses, labour only, for £30 a house, or £180 for the lot. Those houses still stand and there are no better houses in the district for their age. Before his death the old builder often pointed out to visitors a large house he had built 40 years before, with ten roofs in it, and included in the contract was the erection of up-to-date stables and carriage house. All he got for the i £400—£390 contract price ana £10 extras. A high wooden fence enclosed the large section and that was where the extras came in. Carpenters worked very long hours in those days, when the colony was young and wages small and timber was only 11/ par 100 feet After he had finished at dusk, he would go to his shed and by the light of a tallow candle make the window frames and sashes.