LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 10 August 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

_ Amongst the jurors who sought exemption this morning at the Supreme Court was one whose explanation was accepted by his Honour Mr. Justice MacGregor. "You are engaged in work to prepare for the reception of the American fleet?" queried his Honour. "Very well, you are excused."

" I want to see New Zealand progress and get ahead," remarked the Prime Minister in concluding his speech at Eketahuna on Saturday. " I want' it to be a delightful place in which to live, and I want the people who come here to know that this Dominion is a land where freedom, progress, and justice are running hand in hand."

A Press Association message from Ohristchurch states that, owing to a van plunging into the Avon on Saturday morning, three hundred city consumers did not get their milk. The driver. A. Moore, narrowly escaped drowning. The accident was caused by a defective control.

"There are, we believe, a dozen different kinds of vinegar," remarks the '.'New^ Zealand BakeiV and Grocers' Review." The journal reminds grocers who purchase in bulk to assure themselves of the origin of the goods. If "malt" vinegar is asked for by a retail customer, trouble may arise if vinegar brewed or derived from any other basis is supplied.

" New Zealand stands for the Empire without any wavering at all al*ut it,'? said the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) at Eketahuna on Saturday. We stand for something that is definite and completely definite, and that aefimteness starts with the King as the keystone of our Imperial Constitution. There are othera who talk about our Empire and would like it,to be a Republic, but our system is the'beat in the world, the most liberal and humane, and. the one that suits the temperament of our people better than any other could do. We can all help to strengthen and further the cause of the Empire to which we belong, and we can do it by managing our own show as well as we can, and by helping our kinsfolk in the Motherland to come here and settle.".

Speaking at the luncheon tendered to him at Eketahuna in connection with the opening of the Makakahi Bridge on Saturday, the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) intimated in regard to agricultural banks that the Government did not intend to do anything of an experimental- nature (says a Frags Association message from Masterton). The Commission of three, which was going abroad, was well equipped with knowledge from the commercial, banking, and farming aspects. They would inquire into what was being done in other countries in the way of rural credits and financing the farmers and to what stage' the respective countries had reached. On their return they would report and produce a Bill on which the Government would act. They would then know that the matter would be a success from the start. He was determined not,to follow any other course. ,

Some months ago Mr. F. Armstrong, of i the Akitio Station, presented ten stud Aberdeen Angus heifers and one bull of tho purest blood to the Government as a foundation of a stud herd of this breed of cattle. As the activities of Government farms, as far as cattle are concerned, are devoted mainly to the breeding of milking strains it appeared later to Mr. Armstrong that greater benefit could be secured to the Dominion by hanging the cattle over to tho trustees of ""the Sheepowners' Fund for Flock House Station, where a herd of Aberdeen Angus is already established. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) approved of tho transfer, states a Press Association message from Palmerston North, and last week the cattle- were sent to Flock Hodko from the Central Development Farm at Weraroa. Mr. Armstrong's sole desire is thai the gift may be of service to tho 'Dominion.

Some words of advice were specially addressed to the children by the Prime Minister in the course of his. speech at the opening of the Makakahi Bridge, Eketahuna, on Saturday. Mr. Coates said they should consider themselves ye* lucky to live in New Zealand. "We realise," he said, "that we are lucky to be a part of the great British Empire, lucky indeed to live in this Dominion. Remember that • the flag that flies over you is the best flag i n the world." Mr. Coates urged the children to do what they could to help the Motherland by buying British goods whenever they could. He reminded them that Christmas would soon be here, and he urged them to buy British toys in preference to others. If they did that they would be doing a great deal to help the people at Home. Everybody had to give the very best service they could to the country and Empire, and must give of their best for what they received in return. \

Complaints concerning the nature of certain posters displayed in Auckland recently received the attention of the City Council, and it was decided to enlist the assistance of- the Government censor. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, in a letter to the City Council, states it is not practicable with the limited space available at the censor's office to deal with the censoring of cinematograph posters, but. that proposals wcr.e no foot to erect more suitable premises. When this waa dono consideration would be given to amending the law to'govern tho censorship of posters. Bliss E. Melville said it was not a very satisfactory reply, in view oE tho indignation expressed in the city, reports the "New Zealand Herald." Sho moved that the Minister be asked when the buildings would be ready, and that in the meantime the law be amended or regulations framed so that the matter could be dealt with as soon rs the buildinsj was available. The motion was carried.

The Fijian Legislative Council has recognised at last t]jat the soldiers' dairyscheme at Tailevu is a failure to date (writes a Suva correspondent). It was decided that of the 21 farmers, at least four of them must go, and their holdings divided between the others, as the average farm was too small and none had sufficient flat land for growing fodder. The whole country is smothered in koster's curse, one of the most tenacious of weeds, and one which costs much to keep down. Then again many, if not most, of the men were absolute "new chums" to dairying, and the Government did not provide any proper training or teacher, until the men had spent a great deal of their capital. Tho scheme has cost tho colony £100,OCO, without any benefit so far. It was stated that none of the men were making a decent living, and the sum of £5000 was voted to pay for reconstruction expenses. Tho proposal to close tho whole concern has many supporters, and it will not be unlikely that this will have to, be done before iong, as the Government cannot afford to waste any more public money, and the men cannot afford to waste any moro years in trying to do the impossible, namely, to make a living by dairying on Tnilevu.

Wanganui v getting weary of begging for all sorts of "good objects." The local Grocers' Association decided to prominently exhibit in their shops notices to the effect that all applications for donations of cash and goods should be made to the secretary of the local association.

Many bakers appear to liave fallen into the error of speaking of "wholemeal" as "wheatmeal' bread, remarks the "New Zealand Bakers' and Grocers' Review." The. ■ Government regulations make provision for white bread, wholemeal broad, and brown bread. The journal suggests that bakers will be wise if they restrict themselves to the use of the correct term. "Wheat-meal bread is a term which should not be apph'ed to bread."

That old boys of secondary schools had a duty to their country was emphasised by Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P., in speaking at the Old Boys' reunion on Saturday night. No doubt many of them felt when they left their old school that they had received great advantages, but the test lay in their desire and ability to use their talents for the berfefit of the community, to bring the spirit of the school into public life. He did not think that old boys in the past had taken the part which might be expected of them in public life, and he urged them to consider what service they could give. ,The association of expupils of all the secondary schools, "all holding the same ideals, would, he believed, be a strong force for service to the community.