General News

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 14

General News

Remembering La Perouse

The memory of their countrymen, who perished at the hands of savages on Mauna Island, in the Samoan group, 150 years ago, will be honoured shortly by the officers and men of the French sloop Rigault de Genouilly, which is now visiting Auckland. These massacred men were members of an expedition notable in French history, which was led into the Pacific in 1786 by the famous navigator, La Perouse. The Rigault de Genouilly will visit Mauna in a few weeks' time and the graves of the murdered explorers will be given whatever attention is deemed necessary.—" The Press" Special Service.

"Selfish Unionism"

"Unionism as we knew it in New Zealand is largely selfishness, and not the least selfish of unions is the Watersiders' Union," said the president, Mr A. E. Dobson, at the annual meeting of the Temuka branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday. Mr Dobson reminded members of the statement made recently that the Watersiders' Union cost the country £1,000,000 a year through wastage on the waterfront, but he had heard on good authority that no less than £4,000,000 a year was being wasted. "Farmers are accused of individualism," stated Mr Dobson. "Well, there are two kinds of individualism. There is the kind devoted to selfish ends and the kind which is devoted to the common good. I do not say that this union is wholly unselfish, but I do think it tries to do its best for the common good. Anyway, it is up to the farming community to raise the level of unionism in New Zealand."

Bible Society Contributions

Remarks of Lord Bledisloe about New Zealand contributions to the British and Foreign Bible Society were quoted by Mr A., C. Marks (organiser of the society for Canterbury, Westland, and Marlborough) at Rangiora. Speaking in England, Lord Bledisloe said that nearly a third of the whole contributed income of the society last year had come from the Dominions, and of this 45 per cent., or nearly half, came from Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand contributed a larger sum a head of popu* lation than any other country. It was also interesting, said Lord Bledisloe, that a translation of the Gospel of St. Luke was the first book to be printed in the Maori language, in 1837.

Primary Production and Rearmament

"An aspect of the British Government's policy which was bound to affect New Zealand was the increase in British primary production," said Mr A. E. Dobson, president of the Temuka branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, at the annual meeting of the branch yesterday. "This increase in primary production must eventually affect New Zealand's export market, and for that reason fresh markets will have to be found. To-day mutton and wool are fetching high prices—such prices as would lead one to believe that there was an acute shortage of these commodities. Actually that is not so. The prices are high because Britain is rearming. No matter how many aeroplanes and guns she may have when her programme is completed, Britain must realise that armament is no protection against a food shortage. A food shortage is the deciding factor in war. That is one of the reasons why Britain is encouraging primary production." Winter Reading for Camps The secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. Roy Smith, had a much more roomy office yesterday than for some weeks past. The extra space came from the posting of scores of books to men in public works camps throughout the province. The books had been sent in from members of the chamber and had been awaiting distribution for some time.' They should provide reading matter for many winter nights.

House Building Affected

In good times in Wellington it was customary for the City Engineer's department to issue about 50 or 60 permits a month for new houses. As a result of rent restriction and building of houses by the Government, people appear disinclined now to invest their money in new houses. During the last month only 17 permits for new houses were issued. At one time each suburb—Karori, Onslow, Melrose/and Miramar —would have as many new houses building each month.

"Auckland, Australie"

The general committee of the Paris International Exposition, which is to be held this year, might be expected to have a knowledge of international affairs, but apparently this does not extend to New Zealand. An envelope containing a copy of the official magazine of the exposition, received by an Auckland businessman, bore the address: "Queen street, Auckland, Australie." The recipient suggests that New Zealand might be represented at the exposition by a large map to show Paris and the rest of France exactly where this country is, to avoid a repetition of the address "Australie" instead of Nouvelle Zelande.

New Zealand Produce Used

The extensive use of New Zealand dairy produce in the staff canteens at English motor-car manufacturing works was mentioned by Mr F. H. Leffler, factory representative for Australia and New Zealand of Joseph Lucas, Ltd., who arrived at Auckland by the Wanganella. He said that in his company's factory in Birmingham, where there were 20,000 employees, the use of New Zealand produce implied an effort to encourage the staff to advance reciprocal trade. He added that motor-car construction had not been affected by the manufacture of armaments, which was done in different factories.

"Science No Longer a Servant"

A surrender to science and attempts to escape the implications of science were signs that science was no longer the servant of society, said Professor W. A. Sewell, of Auckland University Colle'ge, in an address to the Auckland branch oi ithe Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Social organisation to-day was such that science could not be used. Inventions were left unused and technological advance was not wanted. Science was being diverted from production to destruction.

Maori Relics

Of national interest at a meeting of the Native Land Court at Otiria, Bay of Islands, was the disposal of three slabs of greenstone and two large greenstone meres. Two rough pieces of greenstone in crude state, one quite heavy for a man to lift to the level of his head, originally came from Mahia Peninsula, and there are many Maoris who can relate their history, dating back to 1818. Te Wera, a Ngapuhi chief belonging to the Bay of Islands, married a chieftainess, Hine Maioro, of Mahia, near Gisborne. Her tribe presented this greenstone to Te Wera as a peace offering on -the occasion of inter-marriage between the tribes. The couple went north, but after their deaths some of their descendants returned to Mahia Peninsula. A decision was made by the Court by which the largest greenstone slab is to be divided, half to go to Mahia for insertion in morial there and the other half for a memorial on Te Ahuahu Hill, in the north, to be left in the War Memorial Museum, Auckland, suitably inscribed, till* memorials are ready. A large greenstone mere was handed bv Judge Acheson to Porowini Kaka, blade first, signifying that it is only to be held in trust by him. Another handsqrrie mere for the Wiremu Ngati grout) was received, on trust, bv Messrs S. and A. Ngawati, sons of the late Wiremu Ngawati, whose mother was a relative of Te Wera. .