NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

If the Wellington Zoo does-not succumb froip the criticism being aimed at’it, the institution will have shown a vitality that few might suspect after an inspection of its collective shabbiness. Councillor Semple would abolish it altogether. The S.P.C.A. adds to the City Council’s embarrassments by urging the provision of more natural conditions for the animals. The society mentions Auckland as an example but the cost there of creating more natural conditions has been estimated at between £70,000 and £lOO,OOO. Wellington could not consider the expenditure of so large a sum for such a purpose. Motives of economy cause councillors to look rather ruefully at the present establishment. . **♦ . ♦

With the advent of the National Credit Corporation and other financial supports it was thought that an effective check would be placed on the failures of small banks in the United States. A certain slowing-down in the process was in fact noted but the fall in gold prices still continues and deflation still claims its banking victims. A short message published on Saturday recorded the closing of seven more banks in Chicago with aggregate deposits of 6,000,000 dollars, In 1930 1345 banks in the United States were closed. Last year that number was considerably exceeded. The process of elimination has been going on for years but naturally it is speeded up in bad times. Many banks close, like other ■ concerns, simply because there is not enough business to support them. Their losses with those of depositors have been colossal although many succeed in paying 100 cents in the dollar. The remedy has exercised the American mind and many reforms have been proposed and some enacted. But the best reform is being applied naturally by the survival of the fittest. Gradually small banks are becoming fewer, but stronger and better managed.

Denmark is making a deliberate and comprehensive effort to put more business in the way of her best customer, Great Britain. The movement has the Government’s backing and is carried right down to the individual producer through the wonderful Danish co-operative system. The fact that a British firm has practically secured a £2,000,000 contract from the Danish Government, as reported this morning, may be quite unconnected with this movement but it is worth noting. Recently in the House of Commons Lord Scone .asked whether the President of the Board of Trade would enter into negotiations for an agreement to encourage reciprocal trade so. manifestly desired by Denmark. The official reply was that negotiations could not be undertaken until after the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa, Some impatience, with this reply was expressed by The Dundee Courier and Advertiser, and probably in other organs. It said, “the growing feeling is that a great deal too much is being sacrificed to this conference at Ottawa.” It is as well that the Dominions should realise that there are other candidates for the British market and should note the practical manner in which Denmark, for instance, is going about the wooing. * * * *

When there is so much real concern about juvenile unemployment, it is surprising to learn that so far the applications by sons of New .Zealand ex-servicemen to enter Flock House have been so few. Only 14 out of 60 vacancies were filled immediately. The age qualification has since been broadened but even so little more than half the first quota is offering. Lack of means canndt be the trouble because local organisations have been set up to find the money (£29 per boy) required to supplement the Government subsidy of £25. As the secretary of the central committee, Mr. A. O. Leach, has remarked, “It is a tragedy that so many lads are unable to realise their natural expectation of absorption by the agricultural and industrial life of the country.” Flock House would turn them out' with exceptional equipment in training and knowledge. Its reputation built on results would be behind them. It has put 763 overseas boys on the land without a single failure. Its success, as Mr. Leach has emphasised, is due not only to practical training but to morale and a tradition of right conduct, discipline and good citizenship with which the boys are endowed. It will not be a creditable thing—indeed in present circumstances it will be a very ill thing—if full advantage is not taken by boys of the opportunity offered at Flock Housa,