General News .

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 10

General News .

“The Wife in the Background” “When I see a man reach a great position, I am always inclined to look over his shoulder to see what is the driving force behind him,” remarked Sir Thomas Wilford, formerly New Zealand High Commissioner in London, at the civic reception to the delegates to the congress of the Empire Chambers of Commerce yesterday, when paying a tribute to the work of Lord Elibank. “Some men reach the high places in spite of their wives, but the man who has achieved greatness usually owes a great deal to the help of the wife in the background—-whose advice he pooh-poohs and then follows,” said Sir Thomas, amid laughter. He added that Lady Elibank had been a great helper in her husband’s many activities in Great Britain. Rearmament and Wealth “Rearmament in England is indirectly an invisible method of widening the distribution of wealth throughout the nation,” said Mr lan Bowater, a director of the British newsprint manufacturing firms of Bowaters and Edward Lloyds, in an interview in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Bowater j said that rearmament activities had transferred money from the taxpayers to the artisan class, so that the latter had received quite a considerable amount of wealth. “Undoubtedly it has been the cause of a great deal of employment, with the immediate result that instead of causing hardship by increased taxation it has had the effect of greater spending power and consequently an upward movement in trade,” said Mr Bowater. It is equa. y obvious that this method of wealth distribution must ultimately reach the line of diminish g return.” Miners Learn Agriculture Some details of an interesting scheme for alleviating unemployment in Wales were giv last evening by Mr J. Emlyn Jones, a representative of the Welsh Chambers of Commence, to a meeting of Welsh residents of Christchurch held in the Young Men’s Christian Association building. Mr Jones said that in the Vale ot Glamorgan 1000 acres had been put aside to teach volunteer married miners the principles of agriculture. This project is being earned out in the hope that the miners will some time be able to become settlers in a Dominion under any future Imperial migration, scheme. Signs for Otira Gorge Road To let motorists know the condition of the Otira Gorge road, two signs are to be placed on the road. One will be placed at Arthurs Pass and the other at the Otira end, and they will be wot'ded “Otii'a Gorge Road Open on one side, and ‘‘Otira Gorge Road Closed on the other. The Public Works Department roadmen w r ill turn the signs as required. Marine Light for Milford Sound Advice has been received in Invercargill that the erection of a light at the entrance to Milford Sound has been favourably considered by the Marine Department, which is calling tenders soon for a light to be erected on St. Anne s Head at the southern entrance to the Sound. It is expected that the light will be in operation before the summer of 1937. Italian Threat Discounted That Italy would never challenge Britain in the Mediterranean was an opinion expressed by Mr lan Bowater, a director of the British newsprint manufacturing firms of Bowaters and Edward Lloyds, in an interview here yesterday. Mr Bowater has, travelled considerably m Europe recently, and is in touch with political opinion in London. “It is obvious that Italy pursuing the same course as before the war, he said, “which means a gradual defection from the Central European triple alliance and a return to friendship with Great Britain. It is inconceivable that Italian policy would ever range itself against Britain in the Mediterranean. It must be borne in mind that Britain is still the strongest naval power in the world, and on her retaining that position depends the future of Imperial safety. “The impression in England of Germany, and German intentions, is divided,” said Mr Bowater. Speaking broadly, there is the belief that the democratic nations of the world are bound to remain in some form of alliance.” Education in New Zealand That a better appreciation and a wider application of science are needed in New Zealand was the view expressed by Professor P. W. Burbidge, of the Auckland University, in an address given to the Hamilton Rotary Club. Professoi Burbidge urged that more general scientific subjects should be taught in the schools and that the educational system should be planned to suit the requirements of the country. New Zealand was primarily an agricultural country, and more attention should be given to the teaching of agricultural science, he said. The New Zealand University was modelled on the London University, with a touch of the Scottish institution. In other words, it was an urban university wrongly oriented to an agricultural country. It had not been planned for New Zealand. “Even Here” Emphasising the importance of a large and properly equipped flying field to a district, a speaker at a welcome at New Plymouth to Captain E. C. Johnston, Controller of Civil Aviation in Australia, referred jocularly to the mcorporation of fine dairying land in the New Plymouth airport. Captain Johnston responded happily to the mood of the moment. While he was in charge of ground organisation in Australia, he said, Colonel Brinsmead, the previous controller, told him to take any land set aside for any purpose, except a golf links, lam glad you are sacrificing your dairying land to give you an adequate aix'porti” added Captain Johnston. “but”—and he looked through the window of the club room —“I have a there is something like a golf links even here. Napier History Members of the Hastings Historical Society, it is hoped, will pay a visit to Napier this season, when, under the guidance of Bishop Bennett, they will visit various historical spots in the town. In making this suggestion at the annual meeting of the society, Bishop Bennett said that there were about 16 places in Napier rich in early history. He mentioned that one of the most sacred spots to the Maori in Napier was behind the Drill Hall. This was where the rite of baptism and dedication was performed by the tohungas, or priests, and was also the sacred place where the tohungas made offerings to the Maori gods. Railways and Motors in South Africa Discussing railway conditions in , South Africa, Mr Harry Welsh, who was associated in commercialising the New Zealand- railways and is now in business in South Africa, said in Auckland that in the Union of South Africa they did not mince matters when making up their minds as to the form of transport which was necessary, and which had to be protected for the benefit of the Union. Motor-lorries and motor-buses are absolutely prohibited from running in opposition to the railway, except in very special areas, where the railway authorities agree and approve of road services. The full benefit of this policy is such that during the 12 months’ period which ended just before he left, the Railway Department had a £2,000,000 surplus for the credit of the Central Government Funds or for improved conditions of service for the staff, as well as additional services for the public. As a South African resident, he added, the country had suffered no inconvenience through this curbing of the development of motor transport. Putiki Church An historic painting has been sent to Canon W G Williams, of Aramoho, by Mr Lionel Sherriff of Westmere, depicting, in oils, the second church built at Putiki. The picture is the work of the late Mr George Sherriff, one of Wanganui’s earliest artists, ans is a copy of an earlier picture of the same subject. The painting shows the late Rev. Richard Taylor walking from the church at the head of a band of Maoris in native dress. The church was built in 1843, the timber being supplied by the Maoris,, in proportion to the number of converted natives in each pa. The new church at Putiki in which the painting is to be hung, is the fourth.