General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21710, 18 February 1936, Page 10

General News

■■ i.'-, TP **-. ‘ T > Good Catches of Salmon About 50 salmon were landed at the mouth Of the Rangitata river during the week-end, and several good catches were made at the Rakaia river mouth, fifteen salmon, including two of more than 301b and eight of more than 201b wore caught by Messrs H. B. and E. Millichanip of Tinwald, Ashburton, near the mouth of the Rakaia river. These anglers said that the salmon are running earlier than expected, and are larger than the fish caught last year. The Rangitata river was in excellent order for the salmon run. There were more than 50 rods out and the quinnat landed ranged from 3Jlb to 301b in weight. Mr J. W. Keig caught two of 241b and two of 151b yesterday morning. It is expected that the river will, become discoloured after the rain yesterday, and that this will spoil fishing for several days; ' Unemployment in Victoria “The unemployment situation in Victoria is far better than in New Zealand,” said the Hon. G. L Goudie, M.L.C., Minister for Public Works in the Victorian Government, at Dunedin. “In the last two years the unemployed figures have been reduced from 46,000 to 17,000, and the state of Victoria has approximately the same population as New Zealand/ The larger, number of factories and the improvement in trade no doubt account for these figures. Probably the better tone in trade is reflected, more slowly in New Zealand, but the improvement will come,” he concluded. Eglinton Valley, Not Canyon “The Eglinton Valley is a valley and not a canyon,” commented* Mr A. M. Mac Donald at the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, when the Southland itinerary" of the visiting delegates to the Empire Congress of Federated Chambers of Commerce in October was being discussed. “It has been called the Eglinton Canyon, and that has caused trouble and confusion,” he said. “The Holly ford is the canyon# and the should not be clouded.” Interest in International Affairs “During iny stay in New Zealand I have been struck by the increased interest in international affairs,” Mr E. J. Riches, New Zealand member of the economic section of the International Labour Office, told a representative of “The - Press*’ before his departure from Geraldine yesterday, en route to Geneva. “People everywhere are realising, more than ever before, the importance to them of developments in the world political and economic spheres, and are eager to know what is really happening in the places mentioned in the news, lam convinced that the New Zealand public would appreciate and would make good use of a more adequate service of cable and air mail news dealing with international affairs/' ■ Without a Mayor It is believed that the present is the first occasion on which Christchurch has been without a Mayor for any length of time. The resignation of the Hon, D. G. Sullivan, because of pressure of Ministerial duties, has already taken effect, and there will.be no Mayor until one is elected on March 11, the date of the municipal by-elections. There was a_ similar situation, apparently the only other in the history of the city, when Mr T. E, Taylor died in June, 1911. But there was a meeting of the Christchurch City Council very soon after, and Mr J. J, Dougall was appointed Mayor by the council. Uneasy Europe Unrest in nearly every country visited was observed by Mr H. Brash, a Dunedin barrister,' who returned by the Maunganui, which arrived at Wellington yesterday, after his third world trip. He said everybody on the Continent expected a change in the political, situation. At any rate, he noticed a flag at halfmast on crossing the border from Austria to Hungary, and was told that the flags would always be at half-mast in Hungary so long as she was dismembered. Black flags hanging on Parliament House in Budapest were signs of mourning, tyo hang there while the country was cut off from territory essential for its welfare. Continental people considered there would be war sooner or later* He gathered that Austria was opposed to union with Germany.—Press Association, New Zealand Unprepared Comment, on the general unprfeparedness of the Dominion to resist air 4>nd gas attacks and' on the lack of gas masks, bombproof shelters* and instructors, to train civilians to meet an emergency have been made by Archdeacon G. H. Gavin, who is in charge of the Waikato diocese during the absence of Bishop Cherrington in England. Archdeacon Gavin said that the international situation was most grave, and that the defence deficiency should be seriously considered by the Government, He said that the British Government was taking strong measures to increase armaments, a suite indication that they had an inside knowledge of affairs. Archdeacon Gavin was chaplain with the New Zealand Forces from 1914 to 1918, and was mentioned in dispatches. Holidays With Pay In Agriculture “The subject of holidays with pay for agricultural workers is at present being investigated by the International Labour Office,” Mr E. J. Riches, New Zealand member of the economic section of the International Labour Office, told a representative of “The Press” yesterday. “The 1935 session of the International Labour Conference, adopted by 64 votes to 19 a resolution moved by Mr Holmes, of the British National Union Of Agricultural Workers, requesting the governing body of the International Labour Office to place this question on the agenda of a future session of the conference. The proposal was considered by a recent, meeting of the governing body, and'the International Labour Office has been requested to prepare a report on the subject for submission to its expert committee on agricultural work.” Election Holiday The opinion that the regulation requiring retail premises to observe a half-holiday on the' occasion of a general election was quite unnecessary was expressed in a letter received from the Karangahape Road Business Promotion Society by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. “The matter is always revived at general election time, when it is too late to take steps to amend the legislation,” the society wrote. “After the election, when the immediate necessity tor amendment had disappeared, the matter was dropped- Thus the anomaly was perpetuated whereby factories - and workshops may remain open while retail premises are compelled to close.” The society’s' executive could see-no reasonable objection to placing retail premises in the same category : as factories, involving merely, the obligation to allow the staffs reasonable time in which to vote. * Licensing Laws of New Zealand Although greatly pleased with all he bad seen in New Zealand and with the kindness of the people, Mr W. Grierson, a retired London banker, who is at present'visiting the Dominion, had one .criticism to make when interviewed at Dunedin, about the licensing laws. He considered that 6 o’clock closing was a measure that defeated its own ends. Middleclass and wealthy people could take drink home and entertain their friends there or at their clubs. The poor man was unable to do this. In England, especially in the country, the bar parlours were the centre of social life. Men gathered there, had a pint of beer, and discussed local affairs and politics until closing time. It was a privilege that was rarely abused. • “I don’t want to offend anyone, but I must say I have seen more drunkenness here than in England.” Mr Grierson added. New Zealand House in London That there was, no favouritism of either island at New Zealand House in London was the opinion of an overseas visitor; Colonel T. W. Simpson, at Dunedin. His party did not know that there wa? any rivalry between the two islands mitil. they had. arrived in the Dominion, when two op three email matters Indicated this feeling. In his opinion, New,' Zealand House was not .working for, one of;the islands alone, but for-the benefit of New Zealand ;as a | whole*, j -