NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 80, 5 April 1926, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Record Price for Merino Wool,

A statement circulated I'roia Wellington last week by the Press Association that tho price of 23d, realised at the Wellington sales for 43 bales of Richmond Brook merino wool, constituted a rocord for New Zealand for.tho season was made without a full knowledge of the facts (statos the "Otago Daily Times"). At the Decembor sales in Dunedin Messrs. Strouach, Morris and Co. sold five bales o,f Puketpi merino wool at 23jd and 23 bales at 23Jd. Aim of the Employers. "I always feel a repugnanco at having to discuss a man's wages on tho basis of what it costs him to live and keep his family," remarked Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of tho Employers' Federation, when speaking at a meeting of the Wanganui Employers' Association. That basis of fixing wages, ho considered, was wrong in principlo, somewhat undignified, and uneconomic (roports the "Wanganui Chronicle"). However, that system of adjusting wagos had come into vogue, and it would be some timo before any other system could be adopted. The federation was there to conserve the interests of employers, but at' the same time to work amicably, where possible, \vith the men and produce commercial rost and prosperity. Their aim was to secure a greater measure of co-operation, and that was likely to be obtained by strong organisations on both sides rather than a weak organisation on on hand and a strong ono on the other. Hemp Industry. t Deferring to hemp prices, Mr. A. Seifort statod at a meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association at Palmerston North, that, although tho market to-day ranged about £30 10s per ton for high fair, this was not equal to the average pre-war price taken over a period of about ten years, whon the avex-ago cost of production to-day was taken into account. The average rate for wages just before the war started had been 9s 4d, while todays it was 14s 4d; so that the percentage of increase was greater than the increase in the value of tho hemp. Taxation, railway charges, and various other matters had increased over 100 por cent., and, altogether, the flaxmilling industry was in a worse position to-day than it was before the war. Some time ngo it had been stated that tho stocks of hemp throughout the world were so low that a considerable increase in price would shortly take place. That had not eventuated, and, instead, the production of sisal in Yucatan, Sumatra, and East Africa was increasing. Ho did not wish to be pessimistic about the future, but there was no disguising the fact that millers had to be very watchful and keep down the cost of production to tho lowest possible point and at the same time dress the quality of hemp that would suit the trade. Twenty years ago there was not tho competition there was to-day from East Africa and Java. Our Happy Lot. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Employers' Association, Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the Employers' Federation, said that if they compared the industrial conditions of New Zealand with those of any other country, it would be seen that they were in a particularly happy position (reports tho "Wanganui Chronicle"). No other country had had the freedom from industrial trouble that they, had in Now Zealand. During'tho reconstruction period since tho war they had had only two strikes. Tho federation had beon largely responsible for this immunity from industrial unrest, but a good deal of credit was also due to the j honesty, commonsense, and integrity of tho workmon of the Dominion. On a Population Basis. , Complete agreement has been reached by the 33 local bodies in tho Auckland Heavy Traffic District as to the method to bo employed in the distribution of the heavy traffic license fees collected for tho year 1925 (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The' fees, which covored the period from Ist January to 31st December of last year, were collected by the Auckland City Council on behalf of the local bodies in the district and amounted .to £34,689 10s lOd. This amount less 5 per cent, allowed to the City Council for the cost of eollec■tion is now available for distribution. A conference of the local authorities concerned was held on 24th March, whon an endoavour was made to reach a basis for the allocation of the money. A majority of the delegates approved of; a schomo, under which the money would be allocated, especially upon the population basis and tho capital value of'each body's district. Tho roprusenfcatives of the , Manukau County Council and the Manurewa Town Board declined to ae'eept this arrangement until they had consulted with their colleagues. Those two bodies have now announced their acceptance, of the basis imposed, and the three bodies not represented at the conference, the Otahuhu Borough Council and the Helensvillo and Tuakau Town Boards, have also notified their agreement with the scheme. Pure White Whales; Pure white whales were seen by the Algarrson North Pole scientific cspoditio3x last year, according to Mr. Gordon Burt, of Dunedin,'who .was'chief engineer on the island. In an interview in Dunediu he said a ahoal of the whales was sighted when the ship was returning from the Arctic to Franz Joseph Land. He believed that white, whales had been rarely seen. The expedition had endeavoured to kill a specimen, for zoological purposes, and although men had gone out in boats and fired rifles, the attempt was not successful. The whales were between 20 foot and 30 feet in length., Deputy Valuer-Genaral. The Public Service Association's executive has decided to raise with the Public Service Commissioner tho question of the appointment of a Deputy "Valucr-Ge.ner.il, as provided, in the Valuation of Land Act. Scenic Boad on Rangitoto. The construction of the scenic roadway on Rangitoto (tho volcanic island at 'the entrance to Auckland Harbour) is proceeding satisfactorily, according to a report by tho resident engineer (Mr. 11. T. Griffiths), under whose supervision the work is being carried out. Since operations wero commenced by prison labour in December, approximately half a milo of roadway has boon constructed, and this section requires only a top-dressing, of lino pcorisi to complete it. Owing to the difficult nature of the island at the point through which the road has been formed, rapid progress was not possible, but tho section about to be undertaken lends itself to easier treatment, there being plenty of material at hand, and no. blasting will be required. It is estimated that within a few weeks over a mile will havo been completed (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). At present twelve men are engaged on tho work, but as three additional huts have been erected, a further twelve men will bo transferred to tho island aftor Easter. Although thoro is an abundance of scoria available for tho formation of the road, the fine scoria required for making ail easy walking surface is not within easy reach of the present road work, and it has boon suggested tliat v portable crusher should be procured. .__.._..

A Car Lost. While Mr. Lough, of Waipu, and an assistant wore engaged mending a puncture, their service car got udrift in the W;iipu Gorge, and plunged over a precipitous bank into tho stream below, a drop of well over 100 ft (states a Whangarei correspondent). The water is about Oft in depth at the spot, and only a small portion Of the machine appeared above the surface. It is proj bablo that the ear is so badly smashed as to bo beyond repair, even if it were possible to recover it. Messengers to Ministers. Each Minister of tho Crown is entitled to have a messenger attached to his office. When the recent Cabinet appointments were made two new messengers wero taken on at Parliament House, and this has roused the iro of the Public Sorvice Association. At a meeting of the executive of the association it was decided to protest strongly to tho Public Service Commissioner that no opportunity to apply for these positions had beon given to messengers already in tho Service. As the oxtra emoluments drawn by the Ministers' messengers arc by way of allowance, the executive points out that there is no right of appeal even though such messengers havo been appointed from outside tho Service, and that the situation created ia distinctly unfair. Among the Swordfish. The commodore and officers of H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede struck bad easterly weather for their swordfishing at Russell. They got three fine swordfish tho first day, and if the good weathor had continued they would have had a great time. Five of tho officers bocame members of the Bay of Islands Swordfish Olub, and some of them hope to do some fishing later in the season. The residents of Kussell gave the officers a dance las'; Monday evening and entertained the men in similar way on Tuesday evening. Other catches are: Dr. Barton, Sydney, swordfish, 2901b; Mr. C. Wiseman, Auckland, swordfish, 2221b; Colonel Phipps, Australia,swordfish, 2501b; Mr. G. S. Keade, England, m'ako, 2401b; Captain Ritchie, H.M.S. Diomede, swordfish, 2641b; Commander <iJ. H. Godfrey, H.M.S. Diomede, swordfish, 2751b; Engineer-Commander R. M. Jones, H.M.S. Diomede, swordfish, 2601b. The malto of 4281b caught by Mr. Marsden Caughey, Auckland,, has been beaten by Mr. M. W. A. Home, of Tc Kuiti, who secured one of 4341b, and established a now record for the season. Yacht for Sydney. Tho ten-ton yacht Psyche left Evans Bay on Saturday on a voyage to Sydney. The Psyche was built in Picton in 1915, and has sleeping accommodation for eight. She has a length. of 45ft, a beam of lift, and draws 7ft 9in. The Psyche is fitted with a-30 h.p. auxiliary Atalantic (Scotch) engine, which gives her a speed of eight knots. Captain Townsend, of Auckland, who is over 60 years of age-, is in command of the yacht, and he has with him.a crew of three —all Wellington men. The Psyche is owned by Mr. Gr. H. Jackson, of Lyall Bay, who is at present in Australia. It is expected by Mr. Jackson that the yacht will make the passage in from ten to twelve days, but Captain Townsend has allowed himself fifteen days for the voyage. Lewisham Hospital Site. For some time past funds havo been collected for the erection of a Lewisham Hospital in this city on the lines of similar institutions in Sydney and Christchurch. Testimony as to the success of these hospitals has been given by such eminent authorities as Dr. W. J. Mayo (of the famous Mayo Clinic of America), Dr. Franklin Martin arid Dr. M. T. MacEachern (of tho American Collogo of Surgeons) and by other high authorities. The local efforts to establish a Lcwisharn Hospital have been successful, and a site of four acres for the building and grounds has beon secured in Rintoul street, facing the Athletic Park. It is intended to proceed shortly with the erection of the hospital^ building. A Talk on Town-planning. 'Town-planning is not for tho present, was the text to which Mr. C.' F. Clapcott, engineer to tho NapieV Council, spok6 when addressing tho Napier Rotary Club last week. At first sight, he said, any town-planning scheme might appear to be too elaborate^ but -,vith the growth of New Zealand during the last fifty years one was justified in looking ahead to still greater fiivcdopment. Ho instancod the schemes carried out by several big companies overseas, and maintained that if, a few individuals could attain such desirable objectives, suraly communities of 20,000 people or more could do likewise. New Zealand, he continued, had approached townplanning in a piecemeal fashion, but though there was no comprehensive scheme, there was most desirable legislation aiming at town-planning, fo- instance, that referring to road widths. What was wanted was a combination of much of the legislation already enacted. Napier, he considered, was a town which would lend "itself admirably to development along the most desirablo town-planning lines.