LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"When I cccae to New Zealand," said the president of the Forestry: League, Sir J. G, Wilson,' while advising full support to the Native Bird Protection Society, "there were thousands of pigeons, parakeets, and kakas, but I haven't seen one for many yaare. One of the sights of New Zealand at the time the Manawatu Gorge Bridge was being built—and to me more pleasing than the scenery—^vas the thousands of pigeons fluttering like so many butterflies on both sides of the river. Even the kingfishers are now extremely scarce, and the society is established none too soon. I am sure that the society has our cordial support.",

In reply to a question asked by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki), the Minister-in-charge of the Mental Hospitals Department (Sir Maui Pomare) stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that it is not proposed to materially increase accommodation at Porirua, but it is intended to meet the overcrowding by a, policy of adding to the smaller institutions, increasing the area' from which patients for these hospitals shall be admitted, and at the same time decreasing the area- from which patients are* ad° nutted to the larger institutions, and transferring the surplus population as accommodation is available. Meantime, certain additions and alterations will be made at the larger institutions to increase the comfort and well-being of the mmates. ..' . .

Sir J. G. Wilson, president of the forestry League, ■ is a strong believer in New .Zealand trees for New Zealanders, but he also believes in the planting of other timber trees when there is a demand for other classes of timber, eucalypts, for instance, which timber was required in increasing quantities for telegraph and power-line poles, and, said Sir James at the annual meeting of the league last evening', the advice to plant.,pears..for your heirs might be jaraphrased into : "Plant eucalypts a 6 an endowment, for every child when born " and it would beat all possible insurance investments. The only drawback to the ■eucalypts was that in some districts they were attacked by a. scale which had done great damage on the West Coast but its natural enemy, the lady-bird, had been liberated m the plantations, and it was hoped would bs able to cope with the pest—as it had already done, in the South Island.

The extension of the suburban area on the JUanawatu line from Plimmerton to Paekakariki, and of the workers' tickets concession from Johnsonville to Plimmerton, so as to reduce the congestion in the city and afford people' of . small means a chance of residing under wholesome country and seaside conditions, was urged on the Minister of .Railways in the .House of Representatives. yesterday by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki). Mr. Coates contended in reply that the traffic between Paekakariki and Wellington was not sufficient to justify the extension of the suburban area. The average number o f passengers using the morning tram was only four per day. Assuming that a passenger made- one return trip per working day, the cost, based on the price of the monthly season ticket, was 8 l-3d for the twenty-seven miles to Paekakariki 7id per trip of eighteen miles to Plimmerton. A twelveJtrip ticket was also now issued at a- cost of lOd per trip of 18 miles. "These rates, said the Minister,, "are much cheaper than tram fares in the city areas, and are so low that there should be no obstacle to travel between the points specified. I cannot comply with the request to extend the workers' -weekly tickets to Plimmerton."

The Brooklyn School Committee has decided to purchase all school requisite and retail them.to the scholars at cost price. The Health authorities have reported to the .committee that as the result of their inspection, the local school was placed-highest on the list from a health point of view, the number of infections and other cases being considered lower than any other metropolitan school. In order to maintain the reputation, the caretaker was instructed to disinfect the premises twice daily. The Education Board is about to proceed with the work of erecting a concrete fence, to replace the present unsightif wooden one in Washington avenue, and the school is to be repainted during the Christmas vacation. • Surprise was expressed at the committee's meeting on Monday at Me published report 'of the discussion.at ths last meeting of the School Committees' Association regarding the number of conveniences at the Brooklyn School. It was pointed out that the Education Board had already, authorised the erection and remodelling of the sanitary ar rangements. • . . .

"The question of the export of timber is-no\y in the hands of the Forest Department," said the president of the Forestry League, Sir J. G. Wilson, at the_ annual meeting last evening, "and while the league in general is in favour of New Zealand timber for New Zealanders, there may lie some special cases m which a relaxation of the stringent rules might be politic, so as to enable the poorer classes of timber which otherwise would be wasted being classed as exportable. The sawmillers have given us cordial support and have worked well with the Service,- and we should at all times give their interests full consideration. Another point which more and more will become important when pri-vately-owned timber areas are cut outis the question of royalties. As royalties go up owing to the scarcity of available forest, so must the price of timber rise and the additional cost be passed on to the user. Although no doubt more and more use will be made ol'. concrete for building purposes, there must ever be.a demand for timber. The Forest Service, which in a couple of decades must be the holders of most of the millabje timber, should be chary of unduly raising the royalty. They have not shown any indication of this;' but it is a point which must be kept in view."

On Saturday last 110 tons of coal were taken through the Otira Tunnel. Most of it came from Reefton and Rewanui. «

In order to reduce the heavy lorry traffic and thus lessen the damage to main roads, it was agreed at a meeting "I the, Co™cn of Agriculture yesterday that the Government give, serious consideration to a drastic cut in railway freights. . ■' J

There had never been any intention to discontinue publication of th» "Journax of Agriculture," stated the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy), in reply to a question in the House °jj ,K fP resentatives' yesterday. He added that the journal served a. very useful puipose.

Hautapu Sawmill Syndicate, Ltd has been registered as a private company. ?™rV Hlhltahl- Ca Pital= £1000, into 1000 shares of £l e;K h. Subscribers: vr&T-^'f^-W- J- Hohman; Hihitahi—A. Brown, J. <3. Ratcliffe, L. Sanch—2oo shares each. Objects ■To carry on the business in all or any of ]U branches of sawmillers. Registration is reported by the "Mercantile Gaz

Three large . shipments of oil fuel shortly will have reached Auckland within eight days. The Pinna, which arrived from Singapore on Sunday morning, is discharging 40,000 cases of oil, as well as 100 tons of fuel oil. The Cragness was due from Texas- yester£t y *T- j out--10,000 cases of oil. Ine third shipment will arrive by the Las Vegas, which is due from Los Angeles on Saturday. She has 23.500 cases of oil. ■ ■ _ .

In the opinion of the retiring president of the. Council.of Agriculture, Mr. J. D. Hall, the whole system of taxation requires reviewing. Mere reduction of company income tax was not • sufficient, remarked Mr. Hall in his presidential address yesterday. The cost of production on farms was overlooked when the country was described as having had an 'exceptionally good season for the primary producers," but it was a matter that farmers, and farmers' organisations, had to pay attention to if they did not wish to see their industry overburdAied with costs and taxes, and their land greatly depreciated.

Charges of removing part of his property withiir.a certain period - from the presentation of a bankruptcy petition •against him resulted in the appearance of iSorman Horace Jury, formerly a garage proprietor at Lower Hutt, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. Lengthy, evidence was called by the prosecution, which was conducted by Chief-Detective Lewis, and the accused, who was represented by Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, reserved his defence and pleaded not guilty. He was ' committed to the Supreme Court for trial. An application by Mr. Treadwell that-the case should be dealt with summarily was refused.

The president of the Council of Agriculture, Mr, J. D. Hall, Canterbury said at a meeting of the Council of Agricuture yesterday that he was glad of tne opportunity of expressing, on behalf of the faTinei-6_ the council represented their very keen appreciation and gratitude to Sir .Walter. Buchanan for hi ß generous benefaction in providing funds for the establishment of a Chair of "Agriculture at Victoria College, Wellington. The speaker expressed the hope that it might serve as an inspiring example of. the responsibilities of our leading agriturists. Other members of the council also made appreciative reference' to Sir Walter Buchanan's gilt. ■ '• ' . •

The Wellington Education Board yesterday 'accepted ■ the following teachers' resignations :—E. Adams: T.C. studentE. R. Reader. Paekakanki; A. M'Lennan, Carterton D.H.S.; D. I. Prince, Marlboroughtown ; J. Connor, Blenheim • L. Matthews, Waihakeke; Z. Hunter, Northland; H. Sutton, Tinui; F. W. J". Cree, Pukehinau; M. Wastney, Oyster Bay; R; Savage, office. Leave of absence, on account of sickness, was granled to the following:—A. James, r!ewtown; L. Spence, T.C. student; G. Warren, Berhampore; R. . Darroch, Mount Cook Boys'; A. Lockwood, Petone D.H.S.; F. G. Carson, Kohinui; R. Renham, Featherston; L. Matthews, Waihakeke; M. TJ. Loftus, Worser Bay; T. M'Kenzie, Karori; t. Harris, Levin D.H.S. M. M'Gowan, Roseneath; H. Crandle, Makara; E. Engsti-um, Ngaio; H. Stephenson,: Khandallah.

"Our league is in need of more numbers," said Sir J. G. Wilson; president of the New Zealand Forestry League lasKevehing, "and I would urge that even a few of both sexes (for what men are wont to call 'the weaker sex' are often the' greatest. tree-planters) should meet privately,* and appoint an honorary secretary, and decide to.make an effort to form a branch. The executive will give all help and information to assist. There is something inherent in the human family which impels us to love the forest and its inhabitants. It maybe dormant and require cultivation, but it is there if one "would but encourage it. The public knows .that efforts must be made to grow timber, and if only a few enthusiasts will make a beginning, there should be no. difficulty in having branches dotted all over the Dominion. We must remembe* the grain of mustard seed." - ;

Asked by Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central) whether he would take immediate steps to have the present Terrace Gaol buildings demolished, with a view to. placing the site at the disposal of the Education Department for the purpose of erecting a new school, and whether, pending 'the. removal of the prison buildings, he would give instructions that no more executions should be carried put at the gaol, the Minister-in-charge of the Prisons Department (Hon. C. J. Parr) stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that steps havebeen taken to obtain a _ suitable site for a trial and remand prison within easy distance of the city. Immediately the site had been definitely fixed and provision had been made for the accommodation of some of the inmates of the Terrace Prison, a commencement would be made with the demolition of a section of the old building. The representations that had been made- regarding the prohibition of executions at the prison would receive the fullest possible consideration.

• A matter which the New' Zealand Forestry League deems very important" and bearing upon the encouragement of private planting is taxation," said the president, Sir J. G. Wilson, in his address to members at the annual meeting last evening. "When a farmer fence! off a part of his farm.to form a plantation, the land in use is taxed upon the unimproved value of it at the same rate as his adjoining land from which he receives—or at least hopes to receive —and there have been many cases of disappointment in this direction recently —an annual return. The trees will return nothing for many years, and this discourages many from planting Ifc most certainly is to the advantage of the State that tree planting should be encouraged, and it is hoped' that some fairer basis of taxation will be arrived at. Even if these areas were tax free it would be'no serious loss to the State' and I am sure would result in much more planting being done. Already we have seen the great increase of planting which has. taken place owing to State assistance by way of young trees bein-» supplied for shelter and timber purposes, but when-they find they have to pay an annual tax upon the land devoted to this purpose, their enthusiasm will to say the least of it, be dampened."

The secretary of the Commercial Tray. ellers and Warehousemen's Blind Sot diers and Sailors Fund has received £3 3s 9d from an anonymous donor.

No decision was reached yesterday ia the Conciliation proceedings concerning the freezing workers' dispute, and thy Council adjourned till 27th July. It was decided by | the Council o£ Agriculture yesterday that the appoint* ment of a plant breeder to develop th#" growth of grasses be favourably recommended to the Department of Aericuk ture. .

"What about 'smoko'?" (for female employees) asked one of the butchers'assessors at a sitting of the Conciliation Council at Chnstchurch. "All women smoke_ in these days," he added. -Tha: Council decided to take no action- in the matter. , , .

The Minister of Education (Hon C J (Hntlwv? i n, formed Mr- -T- M. Wilford Ulutt) that he proposes. to place before Cabinet the matter of a high school at the-Lower Hutt. Mr. Parr says that,he does, not think that additions to Petone West school are a matter of first vr E ency, as .Trices building, in which the infante are accommodated, is not unsuitable iat the purpose.

' TIJ 6 "c?? for Llle issue by the Government of Dominion licen ß es""for electrical wiremen, jn place of the present unsatisfactory system of licenses being issued by local districts,, has been brought unto- the notice of the Minister of Public Works by Mr J A. Young (Hamilton). The Hon. J. G Coates hap informed the member that the Department is at present considering the question of Dominion licenses as' against local licenses. A-plea of not guilty was entered at the Magistrate s Court yesterday afternoon by Harry Patrick Hodains, an officer of the Eepatriation Department, who had to answer charges of making a false inventory of furniture, foro-erv ed% ?ft> was ea by mi. H. 1. 0 Leary, -was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. ."', .

The Deacons Court of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church has decided to erect a Young People's Hall and bunday School adjoining the church in Pine street. Plans of an up-to-date twostory building in brick have been prepared by Mr. E. M. Blake. In order to secure light and to m-ovide for future expansion an adjoining" property has been purchased. . ■ proVelW

A^ed by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) .whether steps have yet been taken in the interests of public health and convenience to provjde that banks shall iseu e . tenslullins; and one-pound notes of similar size.respectively; and, so far as sossible that only clean notes shall be in circulation, Mr. Massey (Minister of Finance) replied.'in the House of.Renresentatives yesterday as follows :-«I "am advised that the banks have this well in hand and I expect the proposal will ere lon<? be given effect to."

- The immediate installation of a safety ctevice ' at, the awkward level railway crossing at;Petone, opposite the Grand JNational Hotel, . was suggested -.to the Minister of Railways: in the House of Representatives by Mr. T. M. Wilford, member for Hutt. The Minister (Hon. J. G-. Coates) replied' that the installation of a safety device, or, alternatively the improvement of the view at the point referred to, was engaging the attention of the Department at the present time.

, Thej depredations of rabbits, more particularly in the South Island than in, the North, were emphasised in the House of .Representatives yesterday by Sir G W. Forbes (Hurunui), who urged thai' epeoial investigation, should J>e made by experts into more efficient methods oil ridding the country of the pests. Th« Department of .Agriculture advised th* use .of pollard poison; this was.emplo.Ti ed in sonic places, but seemed to resu'Hj in little benefit. Th? rabbits/ in fact, appeared to be thriving upon. it. Thai Government, said Mr. Forbes, should do everything in its power to deal wittt the rabbit menace. One had' only tq look at the agricultural returns froinj the South Island to realise the damaea being done.' '

'!The'provision of free school' books fa i school children would involve bo largS an: expenditure that the Government' could not. undertake it at present," stated the Minister of Education (Hon.' C. J. Parr); in replying to Mr. G. Witty (Kiccarton) in the House of Representatives'yesterday. "It should be noted that the majority of parents are quita well able to provide books dot their children, and that provision is also made 1 for supplying free school books in all necessitous cases' certified to by tha head teacher. With regard to the questwn of booksto he supplied at cost price' by the State, I have to say that a very large amount of work has. been done by the Department in preparation for such a plan, and that the director is to report* <• as:to whether a practicable scheme can be provided presently." ■

It-was resolved at the annual conference of the Council of Agriculture yesterday:—"That the executive be empowered to proceed with the formation of a Royal" Agricultural Society; that: the first show be held at Palmerston North and the second at Chriatchurch; that thd provisional president of the proposed Royal Society be the president of the Council of Agriculture, and that the executive of the councilbe the provisional' councillors of the Royal Society; that the rules of the Royal Society -as re-* commended by the executive be approved and submitted to the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies with requests for suggestions; that the Government be requested to recommend to His Majesty the King, through the Governor-General, the granting of a Royal Charter to the proposed Royal Agricultural Society o£ New Zealand." '... .. :

The production of cereals, such a» wheat and oats, varied far too much from year to year, and was undertaken with too little method or knowledge as to how much was required or' how much was grown, remarked the president of the Council of Agriculture, Mr. J. D. Hall, at the annual meeting of that body yesterday. The last year under Government control, he added, resulted in a substantial surplus of wheat, while from the last.season there was barely sufficient good milling wheat to supply New.Zealand with bread and seed for next year. A drop in price of 2s per bushel probably accounted for this, and the country was now placed in the position of having to decide whether it' was desirable that New Zealand should grow enough wheat to feed herself, or whether she shall depend for her supplies upon other overseas countries, where wheat can be grown more cheaply.. , '.