General News.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19463, 9 November 1928, Page 10

General News.

Owing to the space occupied by the report of the A. and P. Show, some departures have had to be made in this issue from the usual arrangement of news. Finance and Commerce will be found on page IS, and Shipping, Weather, and Mail Notices on page 8. Despite the fact that it is Carnival Week, the City police are enjoying at present a period almost free from lawbreakers. Last evening the cells of the Christchurch Police Station were empty.

Recent visitors to New Zealand have been puzzled at the fact that aviators upon the permanent staff of the New Zealand Military Forces are not given their flying corns' titles, such as flightlieutenant, and group-captain. The Defence Department- states that this is so because there is no flying corps in New Zealand. The officer-aviators are merely members of the Dominion military forces, and hold their rank in those forces.—Press Service.

A gentleman who resided for some .years at Auckland and is now in one of the southern centres writes of the Christmas Number of the "Weekly Press" as follows:—"Having been so long familiar with other annual publications, I have certainly been biased in their favour, but I' must admit that the Christmas Number of the 'Weekly Press' is this yeai superior to anything I have seen. The photographs are exceptionally well selected, and 1 think the featuring of the Tongariro National Park an excellent advertisement for New Zealand. It is evident that the 'Weekly Press' has been brought to a very high standard."

The question of fostering amateur athletics in districts where the sport is not established was raised again at the last meeting of the Council of the New Zealand* Amateur Athletic Association. Mr G. S Bright stated that since Mr E G Guy's report on observations made during a tour of the Dominion he had discussed with Mr A. M. Hale, of Blenheim, the prospects of forming a club in Marlborough, and was of opinion that a lead from the Council would have gotfd results. It was decided to communicate with Mr Hale, asking him to convene a public meeting in Blenheim to which a member of the Council would be sent. In the event of a decision to form a club arrangements would be made for a party of athletes to compete at the opening sports gathering.

When giving expert evidence in the Wellington Magistrate's Court, SeniorSergeant Dinnie, of the Criminal Registration Branch of the Police Department, was questioned as to how long an impression of a finger could be preserved. He said it depended upon conditions; if exposed to moisture or a few hours' rain an impression would be affected. Certain powder was used on occasions to preserve impressions. He had in his keeping finger impressions on glass that had been made fifteen years»ago, and in some rases no powder had been used to preserve them. They had been carefully kept, however, under abnormal conditions.

"Sydney people congratulate New Zealand on passing the Mental Defectives Bill." This is a message brought back by Dr. Turkington, who returned from Sydney on the Marama. after spending a holiday there. The passing of the Bill in New Zealand she said, had been a great stimulus to the movement in Ne'w South Wales, where a more determined effort was now hemg made to hring in similar legislation there. Svdney people admired the way in which the New Zealand Bill was drawn up. The sixty gentlemen who oomprised the passengers of the Commercial train which, under the guidance of the Railway Department, has jus completed a successful tour of the Auckland province, were all men in charge of large New Zealand firms, or else they were the men who were the firms themselves. None of these drew less than £2OOQ a year. This fact was drawn attention to by Mr A. C. Lunn, expresident of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, at one of the many functions in honour of the party. He said it was noticeable that while each man on the trip drew the salaries qtated none of the businesses concerned had more than £I,GOO OQQ capital. If these men earned their salaries, as he happened to know they did. the salary .paid to Mr H. H. Sterling, as general manager of the New Zealand Railways (£3500 a year), was surely not in proportion to the enormous business controlled by him. in which were invested over £50.000.000. A salary of £50 n 0 or even £IO.OOO would not he a penny too much to Ray for a man qualified to carry the position which Mr Sterling held.

Progressive farmers should make a pojnt of seeing the BoothrDunn grass hprrow at the Show. It is the latest ana best means of pasture rejuvenation, approved "on sight" by praptical farmers. It automatically clears itself of the accumulations whioh clog tho points of other harrows, each tooth or tine works independently, and the teeth or tines may he cheaply and easily renewed! Illustrated pamphlet. Dost free. Booth, Macdonald, and Co., Ltd. _Q