LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 39, 15 August 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A protest against the Government Statistician's monthly abstract oast of living figures relating to rent was made by Mr. E. D: Martin in the Arbitration Court at Ghristchurch, "They are absolutely incorrect," said .Mr. Martin, "about 100 per cent, below what we have to nay., D.uring tha last few days I have been visiting some houses in this city, andl it is astounding the places that really ought to be condemned;. People ai'e paying 35s a week for such houses, while the Government . Statistician puts the rent down at 15s a week, or something like that.'* "I am one of those people who are called 'wool kings.' " said Major-General Sir. Andlraw Rusaell in a speech at Auckland when referring to the distance or hia home from a town, and to his difficulty in keeping in close touch with the organisations with which he was connected. "There's not much 'king' about it," he continued, 'with % shrug and a" smile. "There is some wool, of course, but no one seems to want it just now. Really I'm hard up. I've about twopence in my pocket." Instantly a voice interjected, "Start! a two-up school, sir," a joke which, waa greeted, with a great outburst of applause by the men who remembered the, pa-ins and penalties of "the ring."

Referring to the local in Saturday's Post relative to stocks on Thorndon Flat in' the early days, H. Fildes writes: "I 'should like to state they were placed in position on Thorndon-quay by the Council of Colonists, the ruling body of Port Nicholson in the first five months of settlement. ; Following the visit here of Lieutenant Willoughby Shortland, Governor Hobson's representative, on the 2nd June, 1840, he gave instructions to his posse of mounted police, who came without horses, for their removal, and this was done and I am not aware they iWere ever re-erected. If they were not, I cannot see how there can ijow be several old residents of Wellington who remember the stocks well. Auckland pioneers have stated in 1860 that the Courthouse in that city, then at the corner of Victoria and Queen streets, contained a set of stocks which they had no recollection of ever having been Used. The incident of the erection and removal of the Thorndon stocks is an extract from a letter of a settler written at the time to his kin in England."

Great excitement prevailed at th« Athletic P,ark on Saturday afternoon when'the news of the AH Blacks' victory over the Springboks was received. When the half-time score—s-0 —was exhibited, the crowd, which numbered about 8000, was rather S'down in the mouth," and those who are alleged to have been punting heavily on New Zealand's chances obviously "had the wind up," for many long Jaces were to be seen. Intense was the anxiety until just after 4 o'clock, when Mr. F. J. M'Comisky, secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union, emerged through the little wicket gate at the north-eastern- end of the Park. By the broad smile on the secretary's countenance it was' thought that there was good news. "Five all!" those in the,stand were told, and cheer after cheer went up. Those on the bank had no knowledge of the sepre, but they cheer.cd too. The enthusiasm was rehewed when the numbers were hoisted. Meanwhile interest in the representative match in progress-—Wellington v. Canterbury—lapsed. When the final score was hpisted on the result-board the crowd let itself go, and roars of cheers followed from all parts of the ground. The enthusiasm reigned for several minutes, and everybody felt satisfied that in the first trial of strength the New Zealanders had upheld their country's reputation. The Wellington Eugby Union secretary and other offiicals are to. be complimented on the excellent arrangements for having the progress scores posted at the Park. •

Speaking -of • the standard of living iiv an address nfc Auckland, Mnjor-Generul Sir Andrew Russell, president of tho National Defence League, said tho only standard of living that a country deserved and what it got was dug out of the ground, "I do not believe in the bogey," he said, "that the Eastern nations will lower the Western standard of living, because they can ■ work 'on the smell of an oily rag.' We are not going to he submerged by the East, because we are superior in those qualifications which go toward the building up oi & nation."

A young man named John Joseph Allen, who had'pleaded guilty previously to theft of £4 in money and a velour hat valued at £4 4s, came before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the > Magistrate's Court to-day' fov sentence. On the recommendation of Mr. T. P. Mills (Probation Officer), Allen was admitted to probation for a 1 period of twelve months, and was ordered to make restitution of the sum of £2 8b Bel.

In the course of a lecture at the Trades Hall on Saturday night, Mr. A. Hanson, of the New Zealand Forestry' Depai-tment, stated that it was estimated that one-fourth of the area of Canada was covered by forests, but that only one-tenth was coveted with saw timber, a greater part of which had not yet been properly explored, and was still undeveloped and inaccessible, Of the 140 tepecies of trees found in Canada, only 18 conifers and 12 broadleaf trees were of commercial importance. As the broadleaf species only comprised 3 per cent, of the total cut, it would be readily cccii that the forests of Canada were essentially coniferous.

Replying to a deputation at Auckland introduced by Sir Frederick Lang, the Hon. J. Q-. Coates said that he was unable to state what his proposals were with respect to a tire tax. It would be in the vicinity of what was suggested by the motor associations (10 per cent.), and possibly slightly more. The board proposed would have- complete control, and would make any recommendations and say what work was essential, and the order in which it should be done. There must be no parochial view. If it were thought advisable that some outstanding man with outstanding knowledge should joinjthe board that would be done. •.'•.'

"We work as hard as any Court li> New Zealand," said his Honour Mr. Justice Frazer, at the Arbitration Court at Christchurc«ft, when objection was made to inconvenience caused , by the Court not sitting hi Timaru, '"but according to the law we are supposed to get round to each centre in New Zealand four times a year. I don't know whether it is possible to do that, but we are trying our best to do so. If, however, the Court has to visit the small > towns on the occasion of each round, it will be quite impossible for us to keep up with th© work.v We will do the best we, can; but we cannot do more." . '

The price of oysters in Auckland has increased greatly during the laßt few years owing to the additional cost of labour and freight, and also to the wanton carelessness of pickers iri past- years (says the New Zealand Herald). Prior to 1908, wttien the Government took charge of the oyster beds, those in the Hauraki Gulf were depleted for the markets, while much damage was done by casual pickers who removed only half the shell and so spoiled the rocky surface. In those days thousands of sacks of "oysters were Sent to Australia, and (a. sack could lie obtained in Auckland for ss. When, the Government took the business over, the freight from Russell was only Is a sack, and from Great Barrier only 9d a sack. But of recent years the carriage has been 3s a sack from Russell and 2s 3d from Great Barrier. There also must be taken into account the cost of maintaining', the launch and its' crew of skilled pickers, -who are paid 7s 6d for each sackful obtained. The cost of sacks has risen from 6d to Is 4£d each,' and the cost of maintaining the oyster depot and ife staff has increased also. The damage done .to the beds must be made good now by methodical planting of new oysters and protecting the existing supply, so that when all these expenses are added to the cost the price of a sack of oysters is now 21s. One gallon is sold for. Is 6d, and as a gallon: averages five dozen, the cost of a single oyster is a little less than a third of a penny.

-The necessity for selecting men who' "plafy the game" was stressed by Mr. W. A. Leadley at a meeting of the Unemployment Committee (says the Lyttelton Times). Mr. Leadley said that some employers complained that returned soldiers who were gdven work were particular as to what they took on, and were not reliable regarding the length of time they stayed on the job. He said that that was true in a few cases, but the majority of the men at present out of work were genuinely anxious to find employment, ajid the committee should' be careful not to penalise them by sending ""unreliable men to jobs, as that had the effect of alienating the sympathy of the employers. As an instance of the keenness of tihe majority of the men to earn a livelihood, Mr. Leadley quoted the case of an ex-captain-of the Royal Air Force, who was working in Canterbury a« a labourer. 'This man had four and a-half' years' wan. 1 service to his credit, and had been decorated with the D.C.M., Military Medal, Cross of St. George, and the Croix de Guerre. He had 1 come out to the Dominion because he considered it preferable to i take his chance here than starve at Home. He had shown while in charge of a gang_ of labourers that he was a good organiser, and had the ability to handle men, and it was the speaker's opinion that he would eventually do well in thii young country.

Allegations regarding the removal of a bottle of beer from a man's pocke.t led to a somewhat one-sided fight in Vivian-street on Saturday That was the first act. The second act took place in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when a man named John Stewart was called on to answer charges of drunkenness (his first offence), assaulting one Alexander Wilson, and using obscene language.' Stewart, who was represented by Mr. A. B. Sievwright, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault. It was stated,,by the complainant that on leaving a- hotel, where he had been securing a bottle, he was assaulted by a man whom he did not know, and he Teceived rather grievous injuries to his face. The defence was that the complainant had also been imbibing freely, and, it was alleged, had removed a bottle of beer from the accused's pocket. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., remarked that the bottle of beer did not enter into the question; even if his beer had been stolen the accused had no right to strike anybody. Stewart was fined {is for drunkenness, 40s for the assault, and was convicted and discharged for the use of the obscene language. ''