LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 14, 18 January 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

; Recent prices at the stock sales in the Wairarapa, although showing no decided improvement, are enough to make breedera look a little more cheerful, and hopeful for an improvement later on. The optimistic outlook (says The Post|s correspondent) is ' attributed to 'the meat pool proposals; ■ "We commemorate and revere to-day the memory of those from this district w^io gained "for our armies, in a. just cause, <t great and glorious victory. Let us not be deceived into imagining that we can reap the fruits of victory unless in our daily lives we in our turn act up to the high principles of those great and gallant men whose memory we honour to-day."—His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Jellicoe), at Pahautanui yesterda.y. , . . The principal guest at the first Rotary Club lunch for the year 1922, held at the V.M.C.A. yesterday, was Mr. E. J. Hawkes, resident inspector at Sydney far the English and Scottish Australasian Bsmk. Mr. Hawkes, who is spend-, ing a brief holiday in New Zealand, expended to local Rotarians, on behalf of the Sydney Club, an invitation to make themselves known when they visited Sydney. Several local Rotarjans described, with touches of humour., their experiences during the recent holidays. J A recent visitor stated, during the course of an interview with; a representative of The Post, that if .New-Zealand-, were better.known in the United States and Canada there would be a rush of tourist? to these shores.- This point was mentioned to-day to Mr. W. F. Pearce, ■ a retired surgeon, who practised for many years in the State of lowa, and who is now touring the world. -Mr. Pearce, who is an'old newspaper man, is a keen observer, and he is impressed with the attractiveness of the Dominion i "If you want to attract American tourists," h« said, "you must provide- a better steamship service. I can think of no better investment for this splendid coxuitry' than the provision of a couple ■of first-rate steam ers—grey hounds—to run between New Zealand and America. So long as they are compelled to spend' three weeks or more coming, and the same.time returning, Americans are likely to shy clear. You must cut down the time of the journey, or you can never hope to compete with other places.". The [ boats at present engaged in the service Were - all right in their way, but they "just moved -along." Fast . steamers would" attract tourists ; tourists, were, very often, wealthy "men,, spying out the world for suitable investments, and New Zealand offered unique opportunities for the investor. - . j

It was decided at a meeting of the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor-boat Club^ held laßt evening- to hold the second annual picnic for limbless soldiers on sth February at either Scorching-o.r Mahanga Bays. >. » ■ , The president of the iiiutt Valley Horticultural Society, Mr. J. G. Helyar, mentioned in his remarks when opening the 'Summer Show at Lower Hutt yesterday that the Government had imposed • a tax on the funds of horticultural societies. The statement was greeted with cries of "Shame." ■ Proceedings at the conference of councillors of the Lower Hutt and Petone , councils .last > evening were somewhat protracted, and became dreary. While Councillor Brasell was protesting against the multiplication of boards, saying there was the Hutt, Park Board, the' Cemetery Board, the,1 Hutt River Board, Councillor Anderson interjected: "And I'm bored." At the last meeting of theY Claims Board of the Wairarapa- Patriotic Association a loan of £50 was 'granted 'a returned soldier now engaged ia farming. Another applicant was granted a loan of, £150 to stock a dairy farm. An application for a,business loan of £190 was declined, as the case was not considered within the, scope of the association. Three claims for temporary financial relief were dealt with. The work of the board show* no sign as yet of decreasing. ; . The past competitions year has been •.happy one, and last night's1 annual meeting of the society was correspondingly happy, but one unpleasant matter was mentioned, tile approaching of judges by competitors or teachers. It was not suggested that influence had been brought ito bear upon a judge or judges, but it was though that the maxim of the society in that matter should be " safety first." Accordingly the matter was referred to the incoming executive in the form of. a recommendation that a definite ruling should be given on the question. . .' "I think farmers and manufacturers should spend a year'or two. at our university, colleges studying economics and science,' said Sir Robert Stout at Auckland. Such a course, he said, would tend to greater efficiency, and would make them better farmers. Clergymen, lawyers, and doctors attended the university in order to train as professional j men; and if it was good for them, surely a course of • chemistry, biology, and economics would give the farmers an understanding of problems which to-day confront the people. Three Wellington petitions were reported •' upon by the Defence Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday. The Government was recommenced to N give favourable consideration >to the prayer of 3ulia King, of Petone, for a pension ,i« respect of the war services of her Husband, who disappeared from hospital two days before: \ peace was signed. Another petitioner, A. T. Griffin, of Wellington, who alleged that he contracted tuberculous while serving in the N.Z.E.P., and was now unable to earn sufficient to maintain his family, asked for suitable p«jmanent employment "or financial assistance. The Committee recommended the Government to give the petition consideration with a view to some suitable employment being found for petitioner. The third petitioner, George Jones, of Petone, stated that his son, H. C. Jones, late gunner in the N.Z.E.F., wag stranded in England with his family. 'He asked that .they might be granted a free . passage to New Zealand. The Government was recommended by th« Committee to give the petition consideration. ■■■■''• v. \■'. '■■ ■•< ■■'. v '.-'■. . ■'-,' Examinations held during 1921 are thesubject of reference by the Chancellor of the University, Sir Robert Stout, in his annual report to the Senate. Her states that the number of examinations during the year showed a large increase over that of the previous year. In the November examinations there were not less than • 3837 candidates, the previous year there were 2892. In the medical, dental, and public health examinations there were 1127 persons examined in '1921, and 779 in 1920. "It will be ob--served from the list that will be annexed to my report," says Sir Robert, "that the number seeking for distinction in the various professions is very large. I regret that I see few, if any, of our industrial people availing themselves of university education. I do not see why those who are to Become our fanners, our manufacturer's, and who are engaged in our industrial life should not avail themselves of the higher education that can be obtained in the various university colleges. I hope the various. collegqs will be able to further extend their efforts in arranging for university extension and popular lectures by the^ professors I so'-that; our highest education may be democratised, and bur. industrial people encouraged to pursue the highest studies, both literary and scientific. The number of those examined for the entrance examinations was 3775 as against 3163 of last year. . ! "There has been a, certain amount of trouble over iminigrationAstations in the States," said Dr. W. F. Pearcej an.American railway*corporation surgeon passing through New; Zealand', while speaking to a Post reporter this morning in regard to an article which was published last evening, "but evidently come of the folk mentioned in the 'story were unfortunate in the officials they had to deal with. Everyone in the States but an^ ignoramus knows that Austx-alians dospeak English, though I do not say that Australia- and New Zealand are as well known as they should be. Believe me, Australia and New Zealand have no better friend than America. In the past twenty years I have~had my share of travelling, and in the light of that experience I must say that the statement' as to the neglect of the British Consul at San Francisco came as a big surprise. The British Consul, as I know him is a lively man and a good fellow; he does not wait.to get into touch with anyone, he does something." Dr. Pearce summed up his opinion of the New Zealander who wished to reside in America in a very few words: "He has' a mighty fine little country here,, and he deserves to be sent back." Certain of the States, he said, were overdone; and folk were moving north to nearby Canadian States. In one month ■a ; million dollars was transferred from one American banking concern to a Canadian bank over the border. That remark did not, of course, apply to all parts, but America was closing her doors for her own protection, opening them for such folk as she considered desirable.' There was no slur upon Australians in the new immigration laws, for the shutting-to of the door was aeainst all