NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Spirit of Service,

'■Members of the Railway service are expected to be cheerful and obliging, and it is. up to the public to be the same when dealing with the railway," said Mr. Rodie when addressing the Rotary Club on railway matters at its luncheon yesterday. The spirit of service could and should be on both sides, and, the speaker added he was glad to say that the public responded to the new spirit now pervading the Railway service. This resulted in increased efficiency and general pleasantness all round. Motor-bus Eegulations. The motor-bus regulations were discussed at last night's meeting of tho council of the Chamber of Commerce. A letter was received from the Civic League asking that the chamber should be associated with the league in protesting to the Prime Minister against the regulations." Mr. J. R. Simpson (president) opposed linking up with thel Civic League, as the chamber had already made its protest in writing. Mr. L. A. Edwards, however, thought that tho chamber should support the league to the fullest extent. A majority of the council supported Mr. Edwards, and-it was decided that a small deputation from the chamber should be attached to the Civic League's deputation when it waited on Mr. Coates. Help for the Poorer. Having decided yesterday morning that the time was not ripe for the nationalisatib'n of the various war funds, and that there should be no further amalgamations of smaller administering bodies for the present, the conference of patriotic societies subsequently discussed the question of assistance for societies whose funds became impoverished. After some discussion the conference decided to express the opinion to the Government that it is the duty of the National War Funds Council to provide money to assist patriotic societies whoso funds are exhausted. It was was also decided that the National War Funds Council and the secretaries of the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Hawkes Bay, and North Canterbury Societies should be a committee to suggest to tho various societies a more uniform system of relief. The People's Spirit in War. "It was not the armies in the field, the ships on the sea, nor the squadrons in the air that won the war," declar-d Mr. W. Perry, one of tho representatives of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, at the patriotic societies' conference yesterday: "it was the spirit of the people." .'he returned soldiers, he said, had not forgotten the efforts made by the people on their behalf, and wero thankful that their interests had been watched. Many men returned from tho wf with the idea that they could consumo indiscriminately the funds that had been accumulated for service men. Fortunately, the R.S.A. and the patriotic societies thought otherwise, with tho result that there was still a great deal of money available for tho men. Commercial Men and Lorries. Members of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the commercial community generally, are in the dark on a requirement of the motor regulations which carc^ into force a year ago. At last night's meeting of the council of tho chamber a letter was received from the Wholesale Merchants' Association asking the chamber to support its protest against the City Council requiring returns to be furnished under the motor-lor:y regulations showing the distances traversed by motor-lorries and the areas in which lorries operate. Mr. Andrew Fletcher said tho regulation was one of the most iniquitous things he haa met with in the course of his experience. Mr. G. Mitchell said that the regulation could hardly have been observed, as it would be a matter of the utmost difficulty to supply the information. He did not know for what purpose the information was required. Other memhera condemned the regulation as being harassing, and on Mr. Mitchell's motion it was decided that a small committee should wait on the Minister of Public Works to ascertain why such a provision was ever framed. The matter was also referred to the Associated Chambers of Commerce. 1 ■■ \ ■ ■ ■ Gisborne's New Harbour. Such rapid progress is being made with the new Gisborne harbour that there is a possibility that vessels drawing up to 18 feet will be able to use it within the next twelve mdnths. Every section of the. work is ahead of schedule, and so far the work has cost less than the amount estimated. For more than forty years, says an exchange, the problem of providing a satisfactory harbour lias been before successive Gisborno" Harbour Boards, but the silt-laden Turanganui River hm always been the handicap. Now, the river is to be diverted; the new harbour will be situated where the river formerly ran, and the river itself will bo diverted to a point on the Waikanae beach to tho westward. Tho first stago of tho work—the cul'.ug and: dredging of the cut through which the river will flow—is estimated to cost £750,000, and will provide \arbour facilities for coastal vessels. The second stage.of building tl > diversion walls would allow overseas vessels to use the harbour, but the eventual completion of the project is to a very great extent dependent upon the success' of the preliminary section of tho work. The hulk Monowai is being used to L ing a good supply of stone from Whareongaouga Bay, some distance from the town, and a small breakwater will be' made at the exposed beach at Whareongaonga, so that barges can assist in tho transportation. To divert a river and thus form a harbour is a feat which has never, before been attempted in tho history of Australasian engineering, and tho project is therefore of more than ordinary interest. The scheme was first brought forward by Mr. Leslie Reynolds in ' 1918, and tho present scheme follows closely the lino of his original plan. If success attends present efforts, Gisborne's old-time harbour problem will bo at an end, and tho ultimate development of the port and district assured. Saved by Blood Transfusion. Blood transfusion was successfully resorted to in a case at Ashburton of a farmer, Mr. Peter Barrio, of Tinwald, after being seriously injured. Ho had jacked up a whare for repairs, and was ■underneath on his bad' when the jack slipped. Mrs. Barrie attempted to release him by digging with a spadr. Assistance came at length, and Mr. Barrie was admitted to the' hospital in a sen.i-couscious condition. Blood transfusion being necessary, a neighbour's employee gave the blood required. Mr. Barrio's condition has improved, but is still critical.

Tawa Flat Deviation. AVhen is the Tawa Plat doviation going to start? This question is going to be asked of Mr. Coates by a deputation from the Tawa Flat Progressive Association and the Chamber of Commerce which, will wait on him to-mor-row morning. Mr. W. H. Field_. M.P., will introduce the deputation. Mr. Andrew Fletcher will represent the Chamber of Commerce. l Frozen. Swordfisli. A letter from the Bay of Islands Swordfisli Club was received at last night's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in which it was stated' that inquiries were being made to see if the swordfish caught there could not be frozen and sent to the United States. The secretary of the club had been informod by Mr. Zane Grey that the swordfish thrown away at the Bay of Islands last season was good food wasted. The chamber decided to await further particulars before taking any action. War Funds Council Constitution. As a result of consideration by the Patriotic Societies' Conference yesterday afternoon, the Government is to be asked to reconstitute the National AVar Funds Council so that its members may be nominated annually by patriotic societies and appointed by the Government. The conference also decided to recommend that the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association should have increased direct representation on the War Funds Council. "Who said Heather?" "It is with sincere regret"—an appropriate beginning—that the president ami secretary, of the Tararua Tramping Club, in the club's annual report, notice the spread of heather in the Tongariro National Park. This exotic plant "is rapidly gaining ground, and no effort has been made to carry out the Tongariro National Park Board's resolution for its eradication." The Churches and Gambling. /hile the "Big Three" art union was being drawn on Monday evening, the question of art unions was being discussed by the Council of Christian Congregations. In a resolution, the Prime Minister was urged to prevent the issue of permits, and to cancel any permits that might have been promised but not granted. The Eev. G. Gordon Bell deplored the fact that nothing was done in regard to tho greater evil of totalisatdr permits. The council ought not to be satisfied with congratulating Mr. Coates oh his stand with regard to art unions when so much remained to be done in connection with horse racing. The greater evil of totalisator betting went on with practically no active protest from the churches. The Eev. J. J. North said he thought it a great thing that the Prime Minister should have spoken as ho did. Art unions were a popular and vicious form of gambling. He thought Mr Coates's recent utterance was the first voice of clear moral leadership given by the Prime Minister. As for what Mr. Bell had said with regard to there being no protest against the granting of totalisator permits, every church in New Zealand except one was a standing protest against the evil. "The Golden Sow.'' Mr. J. D. Hall astonished members of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce when he told them of a farmer who had five sows, each of which yielded a profit; of £60 (reports the "Lytteltoa Times"). "That's not a sow," commented the chairman (Mr. W. Machin); "it's the golden calf!" Later Mr. Hall referred to complaints by the tomato growers. "Yet," he said, "they made £1000 an acre." "Are there any poor farmers?'.' queried Mr. Maehin. "Oh, yes," responded Mr. Hall, "there are those who grow wheat!" A Long Walk for Work. A story, described by Sub-Inspector Harvey as being rather pitiful, was told in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when a youth of 19 pleaded guilty to being an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient lawful means of support. "He was fo\fnd last night sleeping in a motor-lorry at the rear of the Huddart-Parker building," said the Sub-Inspector. "He says that he arrived in New Zealand from Home in April of last year,* and secured work with a dairy farmer at Whangarei. At the close of the milking season he \vaa dismissed, and to find work he walked from Whangarei to Wellington. He arrived here on Saturday, but had no money and no friends, and was forced to" seek a Lied in tho lorry. The Salvation Army authorities are willing to take the lad until he can find work, and I would ask, under the circumstances, that the charge be withdrawn." Tho Magistrate (Mr. E. Page,. S.M.), a/roed to this course, and ordered the youth to remain in the Army homo until he found work. Tongariro Park Accommodation. In its seventh annual report the Tararua Tramping Club notes that its August party a' Tongariro National Park reached Whakapapa thirty-four strong, which "resulted in a certain amount of congestion at meal times. However, now that the Park Board, has constructed the new dining and recreation hall near the hutments, future parties should be able to arrange things much more comfortably. The weather during, their stay last August was fairly mixed, but to a winter sports crowd, rain, wind, and snow come alike, and time passed all too. quickly. Visits were made to the various places of interest, and tho majority wera fortunate enough to make tho ascent of Buapehu to the Crater Lake. Although the clay was bitterly cold, the view from the top was magnificent, and worth every step of the journey up. A fair amount of ski-ing, glissading, etc., was indulged in whenever opportunity offered, and the evenings were enlivened with, dancing, music, games,- etc. This year accommodation has again been booked, and interest in the ski-ing portion of the programme should be quickened by the generous donation of Mr. Cyril Briclgen, of Tokaanu, towards a trophy for championship in this sport." Evidently the popularising of the Park is proceeding. A great deal will depend on the success of' the hostel project explained in yesterday's "Post."