LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

_ To-day is the anniversary, of the establishment of the Evening P.ost, the first, daily published in Wellington. The first issue was produced on Bth February, 1865. "The sea is our life. -By ihe use of it the Empire was formed. By holding it the Empire has been preserved. If we fail to appreciate its value the Empire wills perish. ' When Admiral Lord Jellicoe/was asked by the local,branch of the Navy League to give a message to the school children, he submitted the above lines. On the same,-idea as the Prince of Wales's souvenir, the Education Committee of the Navy League has brought out a "Jellidoe Souvenir" for the school children of the district who are members of the Navy League. The souvenir is got up with a photograph of Lord Jellicoe on one side, and his message to the children on the other. It is intended to have the souvenirs available for distribution, shortly. One of Wanganui's beauty spots just now is the plantation of scarlet, gums along the No. 3 Line, about a mile from, the town bridge., Over 100 trees were planted about nine years ago by Mr.,G. W. M'Caul along the hillside facing No. 3 Line. Scattered among the gums are many other: shrubs and trees. Many of these are wattles for winter flowering. The result is now that beautiful shades of green from these trees give effect to rhe scarlet flowers of the gums. At the present time, states the Wanganui Herald, the sight is" unequalled by anything in New Zealand. Sir Thomas Mackenzie was shown this plantation recently, and expressed great admiration at the beautiful sight, and! was surprised to see so many different shades in colour. Along the No. 3 Line there is not only this plantation, but the roadside for fully a quarter of a mile is brightened by these beautiful flowers. To increase the beauty of this walk the residents in the vicinity arc proposing to take in hand this winter the further, planting of this and other roads from Shakespeare's Cliff onwards. The Wellington Central phamber of Commerce has decided to repeat its', request for the appointment of a commcr-. cial agent for the New Zealand railways.

H.M.S. Veronica arrived at Timaru from ,I)uuedin yesterday morning. A civic welcome was accorded those on the warship, which will stay at Timaru till Saturday, and then go on to Lyttelton. The Auckland Industrial Association had a discussion last night in reference to trade reciprocity. It was urged that reciprocity would be to ,the advantage of Australia, which should approach New Zealand, not vice versa." Australia, it was said, was quickly becoming a manufacturing country and might harm New Zealand through damping. Charges additiona' to the price of admission to the Basin Reserve formed the subject of ? letter received at last night's meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association Committee from the New Zealand Sports Protection League. The communication stated that as it was recognised that 1g admission to the Basin Reserve for sports gatherings, did not meet the expenses at the present time, it would be prepared to assist the committee in bringing the matter before the City Council with, the object ol having the fee raised. , " A feature of the present season is the prevalence of blight in various forms," remarks the Auckland Star. " The brown spot is doing a Jot of damage to the stone-fruit crops; while the recent heavy r»ins played havoc with tomatoes in some districts, the halfformed fruit rotting before ripening. Even oak trees appear to have a,blight like mildew, the leaves being white in some cases. In this connection it is of interest to note that the plane trees in Christchurch are.attacked by a fungoid growth this season." A spectacle which recalls a chorus of "Miss Hook of Holland," about "bottles, bottles, bottles, bottles, bottles all day long," may ~be., seen at the office of the Department of Industries and Commerce—but there is. nothing in the bottles to cause anxiety. They are plain-glass empties, showing the wide range of manufacture which a big firm hopes to achieve in or near Miramar. The specimens on view are in all manner of shapes and sizes, suitable for. medicine, cordials, condiments, ,milk," and other liquids. The collection is also to include bottles for beer and other liquor. . ' "The Labour position .in Australia, has to be faced," said Mr. W. E. Wray, ex-Mayor of Ereinantle, to a Christchurch Star representative. "We must go in for more production to hold our own. The cost of living has been steadily coming down for some time past, and coincident with that wages must be adjusted to'meet the case. New Zealand, in common with all the States of the Commonwealth, is faced with a huge deficit steadily /mounting up each mouth, and! there must be an end to it. The natural resources of the two countries are so great that there is no occasion for alarm provided the situation is sensibly dealt with. To a large extent it will adjust itself." "France does not forget what has been done for her," said the Rev. M. Mullineux at Christchurch on Monday, ami as an instance he remarked upon a certain British cemetery in France wherethe people had been asked to do the work of the Director of Graves Registration, clearing the paths, planting flowers, replacing obliterated plots, and generally putting the cemetery in order. A picture of the cemetery was thrown on the screen (states the Press), and showed that not only had the whole place been put into irreproachable order, but on each headstone had been placed a Union Jack. "Surely," said Mr. Mullineux, "this is not the action of a nation with hatred in its heart." 1 ■' .

Many and varied are the subjects which come under the purview of the Central Chamber of Commerce. The latest matter to receive its attention is the much-abused Hutchison-road tip. At' yesterday's meeting of the executive of the chamber, Mr. H. H. Oxley suggested that a resolution should be passed protesting against the City Council going on with the tip. Mr. A. L. Hunt, the president, thought the. chamber would be wiser to. urge the council to " adopt a scientific scheme of development sufficient to meet the needs of the city for the next twenty-five or fifty years. "We are .behind the Mosaic days in Wellington," said Mr. J. R. Salt, who' solemnly drew attention to the mode of dispdsing of refuse described in the Book of Leviticus. To Mr. Salt it appeared that in Wellington, instead" of taking rubbish outside the city walls, the local municipal authorities got rid of it within the walls. "Wellington is considerably behind other cities," remarked Mr. Salt. "We seem to take no pride in the city at all." After, further discussion, the chamber carried the following motion, moved by Mr. Hunt: "That this chamber supports the Townplan- ?- ning Association in its request to the City Council to adopt a development plan for the city to enable it.,to extend on scientific lines instead of the present haphazard manner." A proposal was placed before the conference of swimming delegates last night that diving competitions should be judged on points, insteacj of by comparisons, as is the case at present. Mr. B. J. O'Neill pointed out that the rules regarding diving had been drafted by the International ,■ Federation, and it would be somewhat presumptuous for a country like New Zealand, where diving had not readied the high standard it had attained in Sweden or Norway, to suggest alterations to the rules. The international rules had been framed as the result of many years' experience on the part of experts. Should the rules be changed it might prejudice the chances of success of New Zealand competitors at international, contests, should they compete ,at such. It was decided to adhere to the conditions prevailing at present. ** ■

Irish affairs, tlie Washington Conference, Genoa Economic Conference, and various other subjects were incorporated in the proceedings of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. The President (Mr. A. L. Hunt) said he thought they could look forward to a very much better year from a business point of view than that which they had just experienced. He prognosticated a stimulating effect as the result of the Washington Conference, and considered that the fact that people's minds were to be lakeu off thoughts of war' would enable conditions generally to become more stable. In addition, the changed outlook in the Irish question and Hhe rise in Uhe financial barometer tended to a more hopeful feeling. Mr. Hunt also dealt/with the prices being realised for the country's produce, and went on to say that if the coming Genoa Economic Conference could evolve a system of international credits the whole outlook for trade would be improved. In New Zealand pujblic expenditure was- being adjusted, and in that' connection he considered tliat a fall in the cost of living should precede and not follow any reductions in salaries. On every occasion' they should ■ strike a hopeful note, and thus make it clear that they had "turned the corner" so far'as trade was concerned. Mr. C. B Bn.xton supported Mr. Hunt's remarks, and,; in doing so, said lie thought the Government would take advantage of the fall in interest rates at Home to re-finance the .country. He felt that New Zealand was a country second to none in natural opportunities, and considered that there was every possible chance of getting back to the old days of prosperity.

' A. petition praying that Petone form part of the proposed Hutt Valley electric power district is now open i'<jr signature by ratepayers at the Petoiie borough offices. ' "Swimming carnivals' are not held to decide who is the fastest swimmer," observed a delegate at last night's con-, ference of swimmers. "We hold championship meetings to show the public ■ v what can be done in the art of swimming, and particularly in life-saving." "During- the war I met many New Zealand troops going through Fremantle, of which I was Mayor then," said Mr. W. E. Wray to a" Christchurch Star representative. "I could not fail to note their splendid behaviour, which was without exception good—so much so that ,ou one occasion! sent a letter to Colonell Fulton, who subsequently losl his life, complimenting him on their behaviour, and I have learned since coming to New Zealand that a copy was posted on board the troopship. The first ship that came to Fremantle with wounded men on boan'. was the Wandilla, carrying New Ze_landers.". ; ' ■ The treasurer of the Auckland Harbour Board (telegraphs The Post's Auckland, correspondent) reported to the board yesterday that the issue .of loan debem tures, making £50,000, placed on thf. market last month, was almost sold outi He recommended, as the issue was so successful and the money was sljil! .being offered, that another issue of £50,000 at 6 per cent, for 20 years be authorised, the debentures to be sold at par. Tho ■ < board, it was stated, was in no actual need of money at present, but it seemed advisable to take whatever money was offering that, would- complete' the ' £100,000 . authorised in October last. Tho bbardVidopted the recommendation. : In discussing business to be brought . ■ before the /coming ■ conference of I the Industrial Corporation, the general com- , mittee of the Wellington Industrial '" Association dealt briefly with the question of reopening trade with Germany. Mr. F. Vickerman thought importers should receive at least twelve months' notice of this. sThe. president (Mr. C. J.,Ward) stated.that he had been making inquiries, and had been informed that some 2000 motor-cycles had been landed in England at £17 apiece, and 2000 motor-car^chassis. bearing no marks at all, obviously from Germany. They might expect them in New Zealand sobber or later. The whole of the members of the committee of the association were appointed delegates to the conference. , ' "The step proposed is a most..momentous one for this country," remarked Miv A. L. Hunt at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of' Commerce, when the meat pool was under consideration. Mr. Hunt doubted whether the proposed board of control would exercise the whole of the powev which would be vested in it. If the board attempted to throw down the gauntlet .to the. big interests at, Home it possibly would be taking on a very big thing. He believed that the board could bring about reforms at this end,. and that it would justify its existence ■■ if it did nothing else but make comprehensive contracts with the overseas shipping* companies for freights. , Criticism of the pool might very well be postponed until the workings'of the scheme were actually observed. Mr.-C: B. Buxton also viewed the pool favourably. No i doubt it was going to tread on the coi™ of many people, and they would not like it, but it had to be remembered that New Zealand was much better off financially already as the result of the meat-pool proposals. Mr. Hunt suggested that the working of the . board ' of control should be placed.in the hands of the Imperial Supplies Department, which had done very capable work during the. war in handling the country's produce. The Central Chamber was asked to support the Canterbury Chamber in its attitude of opposition to the pool scheme, but it was decided to take no action. ~